Korea

The geographical location of the Korean peninsula, which lies at the eastern edge of Asia between China, Russia, and Japan, has been crucial to its history and culture. Divided into several states or kingdoms from early times and suffering invasion and occupation from China, Manchuria, Mongolia, and Japan, Korea nevertheless remained a unified country from the seventh century to the twentieth.This book traces the development of its culture through art and archaeology, beginning in the Neolithic period (c. 6000 B.C.). Buddhism, introduced to Korea from China during the first millennium A.D., was to become the dominant religion throughout the succeeding centuries, reaching its height of wealth and influence in the Koryo dynasty (918-1392) as the aristocratic lifestyle at court became increasingly lavish. Confucianism replaced Buddhism during the Choson dynasty (1392-1910), but both traditions continued to be represented. The illustrations include some of the highest achievements of Korean craftsmen, from precious metalwork, sculpture, and lacquer to celadons, painting, and printing.