Appreciating the Characteristics and Influences of Joseon Korea’s Furniture Design

Abstract

In today’s increasingly globalized world, a solid understanding and appreciation of cultures outside our own is a crucial asset for scholars of many fields, including designers. This study aims to introduce the reader to the furniture design traditions of Korea, as well as examine possible explanations for why this country’s design has so far been studied less often in the West compared to other East Asian countries. This research focuses on furniture design from the time of the Joseon dynasty, which lasted from roughly 1392 CE to 1910 CE. Furniture from this era is heavily customized to the culture of its time yet enjoys a growing popularity in recent decades. Its main influences are shown in its adaptations to a daily life built on a floor-sitting culture and Neo-Confucian ideas alongside local preferences and attitudes. While these characteristics make Joseon furniture design unique, they also contribute to the difficulty of studying these traditional pieces, many of which have either been lost to time or resist categorization along the same definitions as other furniture design studies. Other contributing factors to the lack of study of Joseon furniture design are more political, including Korea’s history of interaction with other countries. Despite these obstacles, traditional Korean furniture design is highly relevant in the modern age and deserves attention from students and designers for the lessons it can provide.