‘A Story of Cultural Heritage in Hands-On Exhibits for Young Children’ at the National Museum of Korea

「Dooji’s Magic Jar」

[Subtitles]

rhythmical music>

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‘A Story of Cultural Heritage in Hands-On Exhibits for Young Children’

at the National Museum of Korea

Dooji’s Magic Jar

Subtitles>

[Dooji] Wow, my Moon Jar is so pretty!

Dooji had a magical Moon Jar that could hold anything inside.

On nights when the full moon shone brightly, the Moon Jar would grow as big as the moon!

One night, under the full moon, Dooji filled the jar with 11 treasures he had hidden in the ground.

As the moon waned, the Moon Jar grew smaller and smaller, like a crescent moon.

[Treasures] (Whispering)

It’s so cramped in here!

Don’t push! I feel so squeezed in!

I can’t stand it anymore...!

The 11 treasures inside the Moon Jar saw their chance and escaped into the forest. 

Luckily, some of the treasures didn’t go far.

Dooji set out to find the rest of the treasures.

[Potter] What are you looking for?

This is the kiln site where we make earthenware and pottery.

[Dooji] I’m looking for the Vessel with Wheel-shaped Decoration and the Celadon Incense Burner with Openwork Design.

        The Vessel with Wheel-shaped Decoration has two small long-necked jars on top of a bent leg with square-shaped openings.

There are rods on both sides to hold the wheel.

Just like this!

<Learn More>

If you want to learn more about how the Vessel with Wheel-shaped Decoration is made, please watch the video from the Gimhae National Museum about making Gaya earthenware, specifically “The Vessel with Wheel-shaped Decoration.”

[Potter] As you told me, I’ve shaped the clay, let it dry,

and baked it in the kiln.

It’s done!

[Dooji] The Celadon Incense Burner with Openwork Design has three rabbits holding up a base shaped like a clover.

        On top of that is a lotus-shaped burner for incense, and at the very top, there’s a ball-shaped lid with holes to let the incense smoke escape.

Just like this!

[Potter] I’ve made it just like you told me, with three rabbits carrying the incense burner.

        But unlike the Vessel with Wheel-shaped Decoration, the Celadon Incense Burner with Openwork Design needs a special glaze.

        The glaze makes the outside shiny and smooth, and it also makes the pottery stronger and better at holding water.

After that, it goes into the kiln.

And now, all done!

[Dooji & Treasures] Yay, we found two treasures! Wow! Ye~!

[Blacksmith] What are you looking for?

This is a workshop where we make things from melted metal.

[Dooji] I’m looking for the Bronze Dagger that looks just like this!

[Blacksmith] To make a Bronze Dagger, we carve a sword-shaped hole into a stone to make a mold.

We close the two molds together and secure them. 

Then, we pour in the melted metal and wait for it to cool.

All done!

[Blacksmith] When it’s new, it looks golden, but as time passes, it turns greenish-blue.

That’s why we call it bronze!

[Dooji & Treasures] Wow! Oh~!

Now, do we have all the treasures? Let’s count them!

[Treasures] One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven! Eight! Nine! Ten..,

T... Ten.., Eleven

[Dooji] Oh, there you are! I found you!

The Handaxe was hiding under the stones by the stream

and the Ten-story Stone Pagoda from Gyeongcheonsa Temple was hiding in a big mountain of rocks.

Suddenly, a star twinkled and fell to the ground.

It was the Pensive Bodhisattva, the last treasure, hiding behind the star.

[Pensive Bodhisattva] You found all the treasures! Great job!

I’ve been watching you the whole time on your adventure.

After finding all 11 treasures, Dooji and the Moon Jar, now as big as the full moon again,

could finally go to sleep happy.