Everything I mentioned in my post paraphrases what Seong il has told me about onggi. Did I say that onggi was a clay? Or, did I say that there are many sources of clay used for onggi production?TIM wrote:You lost me there again Tead... when you said onggi is a clay.Tead Off wrote:The word onggi is used in various contexts. I have never seen onggi defined as vessel, jar, or, lidded jar, but within a certain context, it can refer to these things. When I ask Seong il what does onggi mean, he says earthenware. It can also mean the tradition of making earthenware storage jars. These jars, made by onggi potters, use a different technique in building these jars than most other traditions.TIM wrote:Great that we share some similar interest. Onggi means vessel, jar or lidded jar. So different area have different clay and glaze. Just so you know.Tead Off wrote:Good choice! Onggi is an overlooked clay.
The clay used for onggi production is iron-rich clay with a mixture of mud and sand. There are different sources for this type of clay throughout Korea. Not all onggi clays are the same but they share some common characteristics. They are particularly good for aging(fermenting) food because of their mineral structure and firing. The glazing is used to make them waterproof, otherwise, they are too porous.
In Seong il's case, his onggi teaware uses a mixture of stoneware so it can be fired at a higher temperature and glazed with shino. This takes care of the leaking that would occur and gives more possibilities for artistic interpretation and interesting glazing effects.
Hope this helps clarify a bit for those unfamiliar with this tradition/clay/usage. I'm sure I'm leaving lots of details out but just trying for a general explanation.
You are interpreting the meaning of onggi, not translating the word onggi. Onggi in Korean means vessel or Jar. That's when most problems occur when a foreigner try to personally injects an idea to Asian Art, eg: Yixing Zisha.
Here are some of my research towards this subject. The core of Korean art is humbling, functional and simplicity. Shino is a mere shadow of a off spring of Korean pottery imho.
http://themandarinstea.blogspot.com/2009/05/onggi.html
http://www.adamfieldpottery.com/Gallery.htm#Onggi.html
http://youtu.be/twgJ6ZGYrT8
You have not shown any translation of the word onggi. You have just said it means vessel. Yet, when I ask Seong il what does the word onggi mean, he says earthenware. He is a native Korean and has studied with the onggi master Lee in Boseong whom I think you are familiar with. You, who are Chinese, would also be considered a foreigner in Korea. Does this mean that you would also have difficulty understanding what a word like onggi means?
Seong il is not a traditional onggi potter. But he uses the same clay that onggi potters use then does some alteration to suit his own artistic vision. Is he somewhat lowered in your eyes? It sounds like it.
I am only passing on what has been told to me. Isn't that what you are doing? I really don't understand your point.