Funeral Urn

This urn consists of both an inner and outer urn; the former held the ash and was placed inside the latter. When Buddhism was introduced to Korea in the late 5th century, Buddhist funeral rites were adopted by members of the upper class and monks, and funeral urns for cremation were made widely for that purpose. Both the inside and outside of this urn were evenly covered with green lacquer, which was made by mixing lead into copper melts at a temperature of 800캜. Designs of circles, flowers, leaves, and diamonds were stamped on the outer surface of the urn for decoration. The four knobs around the shoulder of the outer urn are shaped like the face of a “dokkaebi,” a mischievous Korean spirit. A string or cord could be threaded through the knobs and to the knobs on the lid, to seal or carry the urn. The image of a dokkaebi was used to scare away evil spirits and guard the spirits of the dead.