Epitaph Tablet for Bak Eun (1479-1504), from a Set of 14

When important individuals died during the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), they were commemorated in lengthy epitaphs that were inscribed on durable surfaces for posterity. This set of fourteen plaques (we are showing only part of the set) records the biography and family history of a celebrated poet, Park Eun (1479–1504), and even includes examples of his verses. This is an unusually early example of the use of porcelain for preserving epitaphs. Prior to this period, epitaphs were carved into stone. In this early period, iron oxide was used to write the text, whereas later cobalt blue would be preferred.