[KS] Koryo Ink Bar Discovery

[Frank M. Tedesco]

>               Ancient Koryo Ink Bar Found                  
>               07/03
 
>               A piece of an Oriental ink bar from the Koryo (918-1392)
>               period, the knowledge of which was limited except for some
>               accounts in historical documents has been found from a burial
>               site, said the National Museum of Korea yesterday.
> 
>               The Chongju National Museum conducted a large-scale
>               excavation work at a freeway construction site in Chongju,
>               Chungchong-pukto and found a multitude of early 13th century
>               relic, including the calligraphic tool, coins and blue
>               ceramic wares last month.
> 
>               The ancient ink bar measures 11.2 cm in length, 4 cm in width
>               and 0.9 cm in depth, and its overall condition is sound with
>               one fourth the body in the lower end lost.
> 
>               Judging from the inscription on the surface, the relic is
>               presumed to have been made now in Tanyang, Chungchong-namdo,
>               said officials of the museum. Its back carries the pattern of
>               a flying dragon.
> 
>               Koryo ink bars enjoyed a high reputation as some of the best
>               of their kind in Asia, something heretofore confirmed only in
>               written history.
> 
>               ``It is the first time to secure knowledge on them as a
>               tangible piece. It is now possible to figure out its `secret'
>               content and basic formats,'' said museum director Chung
>               Yang-mo in a press presentation.
> 
>            --------------------------------------------------------------------
>                            (C) COPYRIGHT 1998 THE HANKOOKILBO
http://www.korealink.co.kr/14_6/9807/t4651222.htm


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