Korean. <em>Epitaph Tablet for Yi Munseong (1503-1575), from a Set of 7</em>, circa 1579. Porcelain with underglaze, 9 7/16 × 7 7/8 in. (24 × 20 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Carroll Family Collection, 2017.29.25 (Photo: , 2017.29.25_PS9.jpg)

Korean. Epitaph Tablet for Yi Munseong (1503-1575), from a Set of 7, circa 1579. Porcelain with underglaze, 9 7/16 × 7 7/8 in. (24 × 20 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Carroll Family Collection, 2017.29.25 (Photo: , 2017.29.25_PS9.jpg)

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For the Epitaph Plaques, why is the text in Chinese instead of Korean?

Many people wonder the same thing. Hangul, the syllabary you recognize as Korean, is actually incredibly young. It was invented in the 1440s by King Sejong, along with a group of linguists, with the goal of inventing a writing system that would better fit with the spoken Korean language and allow the common people to communicate more easily with the government.

Many scholars and nobles continued to use Chinese characters for centuries afterwards, however, as they were reluctant to give up the power that came with being literate where commoners weren't.

It's also "fancier," having a similar effect as Latin used in modern Christian contexts.

Ahhh I see. Thanks!

Epitaph Tablet for Yi Munseong (1503-1575), from a Set of 7

Asian Art

On View: Asian Galleries, South, 2nd floor

CULTURE Korean

MEDIUM Porcelain with underglaze

DATES circa 1579

DYNASTY Joseon dynasty

DIMENSIONS 9 7/16 × 7 7/8 in. (24 × 20 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Asian Art

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Asian Galleries, South, 2nd floor

ACCESSION NUMBER 2017.29.25

CREDIT LINE Carroll Family Collection

RIGHTS STATEMENT No known copyright restrictions

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CAPTION Korean. Epitaph Tablet for Yi Munseong (1503-1575), from a Set of 7, circa 1579. Porcelain with underglaze, 9 7/16 × 7 7/8 in. (24 × 20 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Carroll Family Collection, 2017.29.25 (Photo: , 2017.29.25_PS9.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 2017.29.25_PS9.jpg., 2017

"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Epitaph plaque with 12 lines of script on the "recto." From a group of 7 plaques commemorating Hwang Yun-gil (1536-?), who served as Prime Minister under King Sonjo (r. 1567-1608). He served as part of the mission to Japan, where he met with Emperor Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He is known for predicting Japan's invasion of Korea in 1592. Epitaph plaques serve as memorials for the individuals with whom they were buried. They typically recount the career and ancestry of the subject, and were occasionally disinterred and replaced with updated versions. Most epitaph plaques were written in underglaze cobalt blue. This set is unusual because it is writen in underglaze iron red.

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