• Joseon Dynasty, 15th century
• Horim Museum

These are buncheong ritual vessels known as bo (簠) and gwe (簋). The square-shaped bo, symbolizing earth and associated with the yin principle, was used to hold unhusked rice and glutinous millet. It was placed at the center of the ritual table alongside the gwe. The globular gwe, symbolizing heaven and associated with the yang principle, was used to contain non-glutinous millet and panicled millet and was likewise positioned at the center of the ritual setting with the bo. These ceramic vessels closely resemble the metal bo and gwe illustrated in the “Gillye” (Auspicious Rites) section of the Five Rites in the Annals of King Sejong. Their form and use correspond closely to historical records from 1423, when the Bureau of Rites (Bongsangsi) produced ceramic ritual vessels for the Round Altar to Worship Heaven in response to a shortage of metal, and from 1430, when the bureau commissioned ceramic replicas modeled after metal ritual vessels.