Bronze Bell of Bongseonsa Temple in Namyangju / Courtesy of the Korea Heritage Service
A towering bronze bell cast for a king’s prayers more than five centuries ago has been elevated to Korea’s highest cultural status, officials said Thursday, in a move that underscores renewed efforts to safeguard the nation’s artistic legacy.
The Korea Heritage Service said the "Bronze Bell of Bongseonsa Temple in Namyangju," long designated as a treasure since 1963, has now been upgraded to national treasure status. The bell was commissioned by King Yejong, the eighth monarch of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, in honor of his father and has remained at its original site since its creation.
The heritage service said the bell represents the culmination of early Joseon Dynasty design, blending elements of Chinese bell forms with distinctly Korean decorative patterns. Its inscription, composed by Kang Huimaeng and written by Jeong Nanjong, details its origins, artisans and purpose.
Also designated as treasures are a 13th-century celadon work, the "Celadon Inlaid Dish with Twin Dragons and Chrysanthemum Design,” and the “Portrait of Yu Hyo-geol and Chest,” a Joseon-era painting linked to a decorated military official.
An additional portrait and related record have been added to the existing treasure designation for portraits of Yun Jeung, a famous Confucian scholar and political reformist of the Joseon Dynasty.
Officials said the celadon dish, notable for its rare twin dragon motif and intricate inlay technique, likely served royal or government use. The portrait of Yu captures the formal style of early 17th-century meritorious subjects, preserved alongside its original storage chest.
The administration said it plans to work closely with local governments and custodians to ensure systematic preservation and use of the newly designated heritage items.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
Source: Korea Times News
