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Cinerary chest

Cinerary chest

  • Place of origin:

    Korea (made)

  • Date:

    1150-1250 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Carved slate

  • Credit Line:

    Given by Mr Aubrey Le Blond

  • Museum number:

    A.117-1918

  • Gallery location:

    Korea, room 47g, case 14

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This container for cremated remains is one of the few such examples outside Korea. Constructed of six pieces of a grey slate, it originally contained the ashes of a member of an aristocratic family. The outer vertical faces are incised with images of the Four Guardian Animals: the Dark Tortoise of the North, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the Blue Dragon of the East and the White Tiger of the West. The inner walls are incised with lotus flowers. Apparently the chest was excavated in North Korea, near Kaesong, the capital of the Koryo dynasty (918-1392).

Physical description

This container for cremated remains is likely to be the only one of its kind outside Korea. It contained the ashes of a member of an aristocratic family, and was constructed of six pieces of a grey slate. The outer vertical faces are incised with images of the Four Guardian Animals: the Dark Tortoise of the North, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the Blue Dragon of the Left, the White Tiger of the Right. The inner walls are incised with lotus flowers. Apparently the chest was excavated in north Korea, near present-day Song-do, near Kaesông, the former capital of Koryô.

Colour: Grey

Place of Origin

Korea (made)

Date

1150-1250 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Carved slate

Dimensions

Height: 39 cm, Width: 39 cm, Depth: 74.5 cm

Materials

Slate

Techniques

Carved

Subjects depicted

Bird; Dragon; Lotus; Tortoise; Tiger (animal)

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O16602
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