The forms were decorated with naturalistic themes of leisurely, idealized life. Line drawings of water fowl, willows, reeds, chrysanthemums, cranes and fish reflect both the spiritual beliefs and the refined taste of the nobility of the time.
Symbols used in celadon
The interpretation of celadon's symbology is not as simple as it may appear. The popularity of celadon undermined the purity of the Buddhist symbology and propelled the evolution of layered meaning behind the motifs on the pottery.
Some of the symbols and their meanings
Dragon and hawk: Bravery and fortitude
Phoenix: Good omens
Turtle, peach, crane and pine: Long life in good health
Mandarin duck, butterfly and duck: Love, friendship, happiness and harmony
Peony blossom and peacock: Living in luxury
Apricot, bamboo and reed: Chastity and stamina
Crane: The crane represents Immortality
Circle: The circle represents the Sun and worship for the Sun
Fish: The fish represents a superior realization
Lotus: The lotus stands for the Sun and mercy of Buddha
Tiger: The tiger design symbolizes a guardian, and charm
Peony: The peony depicts richness and honors
Dragon: The dragon stands for the all mighty
Duck: The duck symbolizes the Premiere ranking
Chrysanthemum: The chrysanthemum symbolizes health and well being
Pine Tree: The pine tree depicts royalty and fidelity
Other motifs include the plum, orchid, and bamboo, which, together with the ubiquitous chrysanthemum, constituted the "four gentlemen plants" symbolizing the virtues of learned men of noble demeanor.
Shapes of Celadon pottery
Many of the shapes found in celadon are adopted from nature. More figurative representations can be found in pieces such as incense burners which are often in the form of animals such as turtles.
These ornaments and stationery which are in the shape of dragon, lion, mandarin duck and other animals convey a message of bravery, integrity, love, friendship and harmony.
Other pieces are based on more abstract references to everyday items. Bamboo, the melon and the pumpkin, as well as the essence of living creatures are evident in the form of many of the works.
For example, kettles, bowls, wine-glasses, braziers and so on are shaped like melon, pomegranate, lotus flower, gourd and other plants to symbolize good health and longevity.
The human figure is also subtly represented in celadon. The bottles and vases (Ju-byeong, Mae-byeong), represent female and male respectively.
The long slender shape of the bottles with a gentle slope at the bottom expresses the voluptuous beauty of femininity, while the wide shoulder and stockiness of the vases displays the masculine form.
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