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Source Description
From ancient times, a mirror assumed various roles; a ritualistic tool, a diplomatic gift, and a luxury commodity. During the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392), which saw the great advancement of metallurgy, the royal court was the center of distributing sophisticated bronze artifacts. According to historical records, on the 7th day of the Lunar New Year, the king bestowed a bronze mirror inscribed with auspicious symbols upon each court official as part of a ceremony to celebrate the Day of Humans. This explains why a large quantity of bronze mirrors were excavated from elite tombs.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
103719
label
Eight-foiled Mirror with Flower and Phoenix Design
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
103719
contentType
object
title
Eight-foiled Mirror with Flower and Phoenix Design
description
From ancient times, a mirror assumed various roles; a ritualistic tool, a diplomatic gift, and a luxury commodity. During the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392), which saw the great advancement of metallurgy, the royal court was the center of distributing sophisticated bronze artifacts. According to historical records, on the 7th day of the Lunar New Year, the king bestowed a bronze mirror inscribed with auspicious symbols upon each court official as part of a ceremony to celebrate the Day of Humans. This explains why a large quantity of bronze mirrors were excavated from elite tombs.
date
1100s
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60758259
genreSpecific
Metalwork
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 13.4 x 0.5 cm (5 1/4 x 3/16 in.)
cul
Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)
accession
1921.66
Source extras
tec
bronze
tombstone
Eight-foiled Mirror with Flower and Phoenix Design (청동 쌍난·보화무늬 팔능 거울 [銅製雙鸞寶華文八稜形鏡]), 1100s. Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392). Bronze; overall: 13.4 x 0.5 cm (5 1/4 x 3/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of John L. Severance, 1921.660
titleInOriginalLanguage
청동 쌍난·보화무늬 팔능 거울 [銅製雙鸞寶華文八稜形鏡]
collection
Korean Art
didYouKnow
Due to its origin as an important tool in religion and politics, mirrors are often mentioned in many Korean proverbs that warn certain behaviors.
citations
citation
Choi, Eung-chon. “Metal Arts in the Late Goryeo Period [고려후기의 금속공예].” <em>Kangjwa misulsa</em> (2004): 125-156.
citation
Choi, Eung-chon. “Craftsmen in Metal Arts in the Goryeo Dynasty [고려시대 金屬工藝의 匠人].” <em>Misulsahak yeongu</em> (2004): 171-192.
citation
<em>Goryeo Dynasty: Korea's Age of Enlightenment, 918-1392</em>. San Francisco: Asian Art Museum, 2003.
citation
Horlyck Charlotte. "The Eternal Link: Grave Goods of the Koryŏ Kingdom (918-1392 CE)."<em> Ars Orientalis</em>, no. 44 (2014): 156-179.
citation
<em>Goryeo: The Glory of Korea </em>[대고려, 그 찬란한 도전]. Seoul: National Museum of Korea, 2018.
citation
Ch'a, Mi-rae, Kwi-suk An, Cleveland Museum of Art, and 국외소재문화재재단. <em>The Korean Collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em>. Edited by An Min-hŭi. First edition, English ed. Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Series, 16. Seoul, Republic of Korea: Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, 2021.
page_number
Mentioned and reproduced: p. 118, no. 82
creditline
Gift of John L. Severance
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:35:55.609000
sourceId
103719
dept
Korean Art
coll
Korean Art
med
bronze
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
f1bed39b4d2b6dd7