Royal court of the Joseon Dynasty established a branch institute of Saongwon(司饔院) to manufacture white porcelain for their own use. Among them, the Thousand-Character Classic inscripted white porcelains such as Chun(天), Ji(地), Hyun(玄), Hwang(黃) type were made with engraving on glaze surface inscription during the second half of the 15th century to the first half of the 16th century. These kinds of white porcelain which tributed for the royal court could changed their distribution and administration condition when they use. For this reason, the manager of the tributed white porcelains could do with something change the original inscription to add new one. However, permanent inscription already put on the tributed white porcelains, the new inscriptions made with dot carved type by a chisel.
Through these procedure, there are many inscriptions made with dot carved type around some palaces and old town seoul. The palaces are relatively clear destination for tributed white porcelains with dot carved type, but many tributed white porcelains with dot carved type were found around Jongno where many kinds and classes of people were to lead a life of variety. The tributed white porcelains were used many kinds of ceremony of the royal court like as formal party, diplomatic occasion and the ceremonial walk of the king and the royal family. On this account, management places and officers of the tributed white porcelain were changed permanently so the inscription also need to change. The content of dot carved inscription could be classified six groups. when main agent of tribute white porcelain administration and the use or purpose of the vessel changed, dot carved inscription need to be added to clear new purpose and use.
There are many Hangul dot carved inscription which demonstrate use place, purpose and administrate officer of the tributed white porcelains. In the case of the ’Honey’ means ceremonial vessel, ’Dongsho’ expresses east office. Hangul, the Korean alphabet, mostly used by female members of royal court and nobility. After that, the application of Hangul was spread widely around the royal court.
Court ladies and hands-on staffs of royal court were familiar with Hangul, so there were many more Hangul dot carved inscription added on original inscriptions engraving on glaze surface. Through this atmosphere, Hangul dot carved inscription was made during the second half of the 16th century mostly.
Through examination the tributed Thousand-Character Classic inscripted white porcelains such as Chun(天), Ji(地), Hyun(玄), Hwang(黃) type, demand condition and distribution channel of the first half of the Joseon Dynasty white porcelain’s tribute system determined more specifically and concretely.