HISTORY OF KOREAN ART 1

The course is part of the related/supplementary subjects of the Korea curriculum within the Bachelor's Degree in "Languages, Cultures, and Societies of Asia and the Mediterranean." This course aims to frame the historical development of ancient Korean arts, from the Neolithic to the Goryeo period included (c. 8000 BCE – 1392 CE), contextualising artistic and architectural objects not only within their original production environment but also within the broader socio-political and cultural landscape surrounding the Korean peninsula.
NOTE: CONTRARY TO WHAT IS STATED BELOW IN THE "Teaching Language" FIELD, THE COURSE WILL BE DELIVERED IN ITALIAN.

By combining attendance of lectures (highly recommended) with careful study of reference texts and other materials provided by the lecturer, students will acquire a solid knowledge of ancient Korean art, also in relation to the artistic and cultural framework of neighbouring regions: China, Japan, and Northern Asia. Specifically:
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
- General characteristics of ancient Korean art through representative objects and monuments.
- Correlation of Korean art with the cultures and arts of neighbouring regions.
- Fundamentals of iconography and symbolism, with references to philosophical-religious, literary, and social contexts transposed into works of art.
- Chronological evolution of productions, styles, schools, and the interplay between different artistic media.
- Specialist terminology in the field of art, extending beyond the Korean ethnic and cultural sphere.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
- Skills in critically analysing artefacts and monuments as well as broader artistic and cultural themes.
- Ability to use acquired skills to express oneself accurately and effectively in the field of Korean art history — and beyond — at an academic level.
CRITICAL THINKING
The course provides essential tools for recognising diverse artefacts and monuments and situating them within their original context to deepen understanding of how they were made, why they were created, where and when, by whom and for whom, what they represent (explicitly and/or implicitly), and their historical journey over time.
LEARNING SKILLS
Ability to deepen historical-artistic issues related to Korea through bibliographic research, study of primary and secondary sources, visual analysis, and study of museum collections.

None. However, it is assumed that Korean language students have attended or are concurrently attending courses in Korean literature, history, philosophy, etc. Knowledge of these disciplines for other cultural regions of East and North Asia provides an advantage for the prompt understanding and assimilation of references made during the lectures.

"Korea: Art at the Crossroads of Three Worlds"
The history of art, like other disciplines, transcends the geographical and cultural boundaries of modern nations. Understanding the interactions and mutual influences among different cultures is not only epistemologically correct but unavoidable for a true comprehension of how a society developed and the foundations upon which it is built.
Over millennia, Korea has embraced the powerful and pervasive influence of China without being overwhelmed, instead reworking it while maintaining autonomy and an original identity. Chinese culture was integrated into a cultural substrate shared by Koreans and many other peoples — often characterised by a strong shamanic imprint — who lived in and traversed the Asian steppes from Manchuria to Mongolia to Central Asia and vice versa. Finally, the Korean peninsula has always served as a bridge between continental Asia and the Japanese archipelago, which adapted many cultural and artistic influences from the peninsula to its own specific context.
The course title encapsulates the concept to be developed and the directions to be followed: Korea is considered at the centre of a region where these three "worlds" (Chinese, North Asian, Japanese) merge on an indigenous background, giving rise to a unique culture and artistic expressions in East Asia.
While maintaining this broad regional perspective, the lectures will follow the classic chronological order for an introductory course on Korean art, namely:
- Neolithic and Chalcolithic Periods (c. 8000 – c. 1000 BCE)
- Bronze Age (c. 1000 – c. 300 BCE)
- Iron Age and Proto-Three Kingdoms Period (c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE)
- Three Kingdoms Period (1st century BCE – 668 CE)
- Unified Silla Kingdom (668–935)
- Goryeo Kingdom (918–1392)

All volumes containing mandatory texts are available for consultation in the designated 'Textbooks' section located at the front office of the East Asian Library, Palazzo Vendramin, 1st floor.
For the geographical and chronological orientation of East Asia, please refer to Barnes, Gina L., Archaeology of East Asia: The Rise of Civilization in China, Korea and Japan, Oxbow Books, Oxford 2015, Chapter I – Orientation: pp. XVI-XVII (chronological tables), 1-7 (Grounding / National Chronologies), 13-25 (East Asian Cultural Sequences). The indicated sections are also accessible at this Internet address: https://books.google.it/books?id=bAJDCwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=it#v=onepage&q&f=false .

MANDATORY:
The adopted manual is still one of the best references for framing the history of Korean art.
If you wish, you can buy it online at a price ranging from about 5 to 10 euros (shipping excluded): Portal, Jane, Korea – Art and Archaeology, The Trustees of The British Museum, London 2000. Pages 9-11, 20-107 + Appendix 1, pp. 215-227 are required (excluding information regarding Joseon ceramics).
However, since the manual is rather reduced in content and in some ways dated, it must be integrated with other materials that better explain some themes and expand others, while providing alternative approaches to research:
Choi, Jongtaik, “The Development of the Pottery Technologies of the Korean Peninsula and Their Relationship to Neighbouring Regions”. In Byington, Mark E. (ed.), Early Korea 1. Reconsidering Early Korean History Through Archaeology, Harvard University, Cambridge (MA) 2008, pp. 157-198.
Chung, Woothak, “Iconography, Technique, and Context in Koryŏ Buddhist Paintings” (excluding the paragraph Iconographic Succession from Koryŏ to Chŏson) + Joo, Kyeongmi, “The Gold Jewelry of Ancient Silla: Syncretism of Northern and Southern Asian Cultures”. In Kim, Youn-mi (ed.), Early Korea Project Occasional Series. New Perspectives on Early Korean Art: From Silla to Koryŏ, Harvard University, Cambridge (MA) 2013, pp. 11-40, 50-72, 243-302.
Kim, Sunkyung, “Sculptures of the Three Kingdoms and Unified Silla” + Choi, Sun-ah, “Koryŏ Buddhist Sculpture: Issues and History”. In Park, J.P. – Jungmann, Burglind – Rhi, Juhyung (ed.), A companion to Korean art, John Wiley & Sons Inc., Hoboken (NJ) 2020, pp. 57-82, 159-178.

SUBSIDIARY:
Hammer, Elizabeth (ed.), The Arts of Korea. A Resource for Educators, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 2001. Available for free download: https://www.metmuseum.org/met-publications/the-arts-of-korea-a-resource-for-educators
Kim, Kumja Paik, Goryeo Dynasty: Korea's Age of Enlightenment, 918-1392, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco 2003.
Kim, Lena. Buddhist Sculpture of Korea (Korean Culture Series), Hollym, Elizabeth (NJ) 2007.
Starkman, Christine (ed.), Tradition and Innovation in Korean Art, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston 2014. Available for free download: https://www.mfah.org/research/kinder-foundation-education-center/kinder-foundation-gallery-resources

A written exam lasting 45 minutes to evaluate acquired knowledge and skills, structured as follows:
1. Identification and iconographic and/or typological and/or technological analysis of an artefact or monument with contextualisation within its historical, social, and cultural framework (image and dimensions will be provided).
2. Briefly reasoned identification of four artefacts/monuments (images and dimensions will be provided).
3. A set of five multiple-choice or short-answer questions.
This test will assess, among other aspects, the ability to analyse and recognise an artistic object, describe it succinctly but thoroughly using appropriate language, and knowledge of general and specific issues related to Korean art history.

written

The exam grade (minimum 18/30, maximum 30/30) will be determined by the sum of the scores obtained in the three sections of the test.

Lectures supported by PowerPoint presentations. Interaction and dialogue between lecturer and students will be encouraged, including collective analysis of works and discussions on the topics covered. In the academic year 2024-25 the course will be delivered in Italian.

English

For contingent reasons, the course will be condensed into the months of March and April 2025, with 2+2 hours of weekly lectures.
Attendance is not mandatory but strongly recommended, especially due to the cross-references made during lectures to other Asian cultures, which are not always as precise or detailed in the available reference texts.