Regional Characteristics and Reception Patterns of White Wares from the Southern Region of the Song Dynasty Excavated from Koryŏ Sites

This study investigates the transmission and consumption of white wares from the southern region of the Song Dynasty (960–1279) within Koryŏ-period (918–1392) contexts, focusing on 884 excavated specimens from archaeological sites across Korea as well as pieces housed in institutions such as the National Museum of Korea. These wares, produced in Jiangxi, Fujian, and Guangdong provinces, are classified based on comparative analysis with Chinese kiln site materials, taking into account distinctions in quality, form, decorative technique, and motif. On this basis, the porcelain is grouped into two regional traditions: Jiangxi, and Fujian–Guangdong. The analysis reveals three significant aspects of the distribution of white wares from the southern region of the Song Dynasty in Koryŏ. First, variations in vessel type and quality are evident between the Kaesŏng region and peripheral areas, suggesting differentiated patterns of elite and regional consumption. Second, in provincial sites, Buddhist temples functioned as primary loci of porcelain usage, indicating a close nexus between Koryŏ monastic institutions and Song commercial networks. Third, distinctive modes of consumption emerged at maritime waystations such as Jeju Island and Hŭksando, diverging from inland patterns. Notably, the inflow of white wares from the southern region of the Song Dynasty can be divided into two distinct phases around the mid-12th century, each characterized by shifts in vessel typology, material quality, comparative relationships with Liao and Japanese imports, trade routes, and the subsequent influence on Koryŏ celadon. By tracing these spatial and chronological dynamics, this study situates white wares from the southern region of the Song Dynasty as an actively selected material object in Koryŏ society—one whose circulation and reception were closely aligned with contemporary tastes, institutional networks, and the broader cultural logic of consumption.