A Study on the Origin of Dark Burnished Marks of Koguryo Pottery

This paper is to examine the origin of dark burnished marks, a distinctive feature of Koguryo Pottery. Dark burnished marks is a decorative pattern in which the surface of pottery with intricate designs using a sturdy tool, It is primarily found in pottery of northern ethnic groups such as Xiongnu, Xianbie, Koguryo, Balhae, and Khitan. In Koguryo, dark burnished marks appeared in the late mid-period when the use of fine clay became widespread. It is characterized by relatively simple pattern motifs like horizontal lines, square shapes, vertical lines, and continuous ring patterns, inscribed in various locations including the body of pottery. It is primarily found in relatively large and medium-sized vessels, such as jar, large jar, steamer, and large bowl. Dark burnished marks is not a decorative technique that originated in Koguryo. It was also found in Xiongnu pottery, which preceded Koguryo, as well as in the Three Yan or Northern Wei dynasty of pottery, which had close relationships with Koguryo. Xiongnu pottery was popular in the northern steppes, including Mongolia, from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD. Therefore, it is not directly related to the origin of dark burnished marks in Koguryo pottery. The Xiongnu had a significant influence on the development of Xianbei pottery culture. Dark burnished marks has been confirmed in Xianbei pottery from the 3rd century. It is difficult to establish a direct relationship between the pottery of Koguryo in the middle period and that of the Three Yan. This is due to differences not only in basic forms but also in aspects such as the types of vessels with dark burnished marks, the preferred locations of the application, and the preference for patterns. However, it is reasonable to understand the origin of dark burnished marks on Koguryo pottery in the context of the material culture exchange between Koguryo and the Murong Xianbei, who constantly competed for control of the Liaodong region from the 4th to the early 5th centuries. This is also the case with the introduction of mural tombs in Koguryo. It is likely that dark burnished marks of Koguryo pottery was the result of selective adoption of some elements, such as the ark burnished marks technique that has been passed down from the Xiongnu, rather than the formal elements of pottery, in the context of various forms of cultural exchange with the Three Yan.