The Korean Moon Jar: What It Is and Why It’s Iconic

Last Updated on April 27, 2026

The world of ceramics is filled with treasures that span centuries and cultures and Korea is a country that has an immense history with ceramics in a variety of forms. The Korean moon jar is a uniquely beautiful piece of Korea’s ceramic culture and stands as an iconic symbol of simplicity, elegance, and cultural significance.

These unique porcelain vessels, with their milky white glaze and distinctive shape, have captured the hearts of artists, collectors, and connoisseurs for generations and more recently, thanks to RM of BTS, a new and younger generation of people around the world have learned about the iconic moon jars.

Get ready to learn about the iconic Korean moon jars and why BTS’ RM collects them and you should too:

• What Is a Korean Moon Jar?
• Why Does RM of BTS Collect Moon Jars?
• History
• What Were They Used For?
• What Made Moon Jars Iconic?
• Where To See Moon Jars in Person
• Where To Buy a Korean Moon Jar
• How Moon Jars Are Made
• FAQ

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What Is a Korean Moon Jar?

A Korean moon jar, dal hangari (달항아리) in Korean, is a large, near-spherical white porcelain vessel made during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The name comes from the jar’s shape and the milky color of its glaze, which together evoke the look of the moon.

Unlike most jars, which are designed for stability with a wide base and a narrow mouth, moon jars deliberately invert this logic, they have a wider mouth than the diameter of their base, creating an unusual and intentional sense of visual instability. This is one of the things that makes them so immediately distinctive.

They are made by joining two separately shaped hemispherical halves, the upper and lower, at the middle. The horizontal seam where the halves meet is visible and is considered part of the design rather than a flaw. The material is baekja, a refined white kaolin clay with minimal iron oxide content, which allows for the signature milky white color but requires firing at extremely high temperatures.

The name “moon jar” wasn’t always used. Before artist Kim Whanki (1913-1974) named them in the 1950s, they were known simply as baekja daeho, “large white jars.” It was Kim Whanki’s repeated portrayal of these vessels in his paintings and his name for them that shifted their cultural status from utilitarian objects to works of art worth collecting.

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Why Does RM of BTS Collect Moon Jars?

RM, Kim Namjoon, leader and rapper of BTS, has spoken publicly about his passion for Korean art and his particular affection for moon jars and Joseon-era white porcelain. His interest goes beyond casual appreciation: he has visited Korean museums extensively, discussed specific pieces in interviews, and credited Korean aesthetics with influencing his own creative thinking.

For RM, moon jars represent something he has described as the beauty of imperfection, the Korean aesthetic concept of finding meaning in irregularity, natural variation, and the evidence of the handmade process. In a context where K-pop is often associated with precise, polished perfection, his interest in objects that are valued specifically for their asymmetry and unpredictability is notable.

His public engagement with Korean traditional art has drawn significant attention to moon jars from BTS’s global fanbase, many of whom had never encountered Joseon ceramics before. Whether you came to this article because of RM or not, the moon jar is worth knowing.

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History

The history of the Korean moon jar is inseparable from the Joseon Dynasty and the Confucian ideals that shaped it. Throughout the five centuries of the dynasty, Korea followed a neo-Confucian belief system in which plain white porcelain was everywhere, an expression of Confucian values of purity, restraint, and simplicity.

Moon jars first appeared in the late 17th century and remained popular through the mid-18th century. They are considered a quintessential example of Joseon white porcelain, and notably, they were never produced in China or Japan, they are uniquely Korean.

After Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945, moon jars gained renewed prominence as symbols of national cultural identity. Korean artists and potters returned to studying and recreating them, cementing their significance as both historical artifacts and living artistic tradition.

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What Were Moon Jars Used For?

Moon jars were both aesthetic decorations and utilitarian. In royal palaces, they were vases, but for more common uses, they held dried goods like rice and grains.

Today, most people use them for decoration. I was recently given a beautiful moon jar from the Sulwhasoo X Mundobang collaboration along with the other pieces in their cultural heritage set and they’ve found a spot to be displayed with pride. Though small, it’s our first moon jar.

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What Made Moon Jars Iconic?

The iconic status of the moon jar can be attributed to several factors:

1. Confucian Aesthetics: During the Joseon Dynasty, Confucianism held sway over Korean society. Moon jars, with their unadorned white surfaces, perfectly embodied Confucian virtues of purity, honesty, modesty, and simplicity. Their minimalist and restrained design attributes reflected the ideals of the time, making them highly prized.
2. Imperfections as Beauty: In contrast to the pursuit of perfection, the 17th and 18th centuries witnessed a preference for naturalism and spontaneity. Moon jars, crafted entirely by hand, exhibited slight deviations from perfect circular shapes, thanks to the unpredictable changes that occurred during firing. These unique imperfections added to their beauty and charm.
3. Cultural Symbolism: They signify the importance of white color in Korean history and mirror the subtle changes found in nature, resembling the ever-changing phases of the moon. They have become powerful symbols of Korean heritage and resilience.
4. Post-Independence Significance: Moon jars gained renewed prominence after the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. They came to symbolize South Korean cultural identity, standing as a testament to the nation’s enduring spirit. In the post-war era, Korean artists and potters studied and recreated these jars, further cementing their cultural significance.
5. Artistic Inspiration: Moon jars have not only influenced the world of ceramics but have also inspired contemporary artists across various mediums, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, installations, and even video art. Prominent figures like Whanki Kim and Choi Young Wook have drawn inspiration from these iconic vessels.
6. Global Recognition: Moon jars are featured in museum collections around the globe, with only a limited number of extant works from the Joseon Dynasty remaining. Their international appeal underscores their timeless beauty and cultural importance.

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Where To See Moon Jars in Person

To see original Joseon Dynasty moon jars:

National Museum of Korea, Seoul: The most comprehensive collection of Korean ceramics, including Joseon white porcelain. Admission is free. The National Museum of Korea has a fantastic collection and should not be missed if you’re in Seoul. Read the guide to the National Museum of Korea so you know what to look for.

Leeum Samsung Museum of Art, Seoul: A notable private collection with significant Korean traditional art holdings including ceramics. Read the guide to the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art and find out why locals love it.

International collections: The British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art all hold Joseon ceramics, including pieces that have made it into their permanent collections.

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Where To Buy a Korean Moon Jar

While the Korean moon jars from the Joseon period can fetch up to millions of dollars, in fact an 18th century moon jar sold for $4.56 million at Christie’s New York in 2023, and it’s what the collectors are out for, there are more contemporary artists making them. This means there are a variety of moon jars from quite small to large that are probably more palatable in price for the younger Korea lover or just someone working within a budget.

• Daurim: Daurim is a group of potters and tea artisans based in Korea and Taiwan. We specialize in handmade, wood-fired ceramics from Korea and high-quality, whole-leaf teas directly from tea gardens in Taiwan. Daurim works with over 20 potters in Korea and 5 tea gardens in Taiwan and carries more than 300 types of ceramics and 30 premium loose-leaf teas. The story of Daurim began in 2013 at a small Buddhist temple.
• The Moon Jar: Essential meets craftsmanship to create modern day heirlooms. Their stoneware is uniquely designed by artists and meticulously handmade by craftsmen from Korea. Each imperfect perfections are true portrait of the patience that endured the faithful process of throwing, moulding, drying, firing and glazing. The end product is beautiful yet durable stoneware that will be with you and your family over time.
• Studio Ko: Studio Kō represents that connection to home, a sense of identity, and discovery of your past within products that are both contemporary and specifically of historical Korean context and interpretation.

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How Moon Jars Are Made

The creation of a moon jar is a meticulous and intricate process that involves skilled craftsmanship and a deep understanding of porcelain as its an entirely handmade process.

Here is a brief overview of the steps to make a moon jar:

1. Clay selection: Moon jars are typically crafted using baekja, or refined kaolin clay which contains minimal iron oxide. This clay type allows for the signature milky white color but requires firing at extremely high temperatures.
2. Handmade construction: Moon jars cannot be made in one piece on a potter’s wheel due to the limitations of the clay. Instead, the upper and lower halves of the jar are separately shaped by hand on large wheels.
3. Joining the halves: After the upper and lower halves are shaped, they are carefully joined together at the middle, leaving a visible horizontal seam. This joining process requires precision and skill to ensure the jar’s structural integrity.
4. Drying and initial firing: Once the halves are joined, the jar is left to dry, often receiving an initial firing at a lower temperature. This step prepares the jar for glazing and the final firing.
5. Glazing and final firing: Moon Jars are glazed to achieve their characteristic milky white surface. The glazing process is followed by the final firing at the high temperature required for the kaolin clay, resulting in the unique white color and subtle variations in hue.
6. Imperfections as artistry: Moon jars are not perfect but the imperfections, including any slight asymmetry or variations in color, are a result of the handcrafted process and the unpredictable nature of the firing. These imperfections are not considered flaws but rather integral to their artistic appeal.

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FAQ

What is a Korean moon jar?

A Korean moon jar (달항아리, dal hangari) is a large, near-spherical white porcelain vessel made during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), particularly in the late 17th and mid-18th centuries. Made from refined white kaolin clay (baekja) and glazed to a milky finish, they are valued for their simple elegance and the imperfections that result from handmaking. The name was given by artist Kim Whanki in the 1950s.

Why does RM of BTS collect moon jars?

RM has spoken publicly about finding Korean traditional art, including moon jars, deeply compelling, particularly the aesthetic of valuing imperfection and natural variation over precision. He has visited Korean museums extensively and discussed specific pieces publicly, bringing significant global attention to Joseon ceramics and moon jars in particular.

How much does a Korean moon jar cost?

Joseon Dynasty originals can sell for millions of dollars at auction, a notable example sold for $4.56 million at Christie’s New York in 2023. Contemporary moon jars made by living potters range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on the maker and size.

Where can I see a Korean moon jar in person?

In Seoul: the National Museum of Korea (free admission) and the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art both have significant collections. Internationally: the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art all hold Joseon ceramics.

What is dal hangari?

달항아리 (dal hangari) is the Korean name for a moon jar. Dal means moon; hangari means jar. The name was popularized by artist Kim Whanki in the 1950s; before that they were called baekja daeho, or “large white jars.”

Are moon jars only Korean?

Yes, moon jars were never produced in China or Japan and are considered uniquely Korean. They emerged from the specific conditions of Joseon Dynasty aesthetics and the availability of baekja (white kaolin clay) in Korea.

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The moon jar is undoubtedly beautiful in a timeless way and when you know how it’s made, it becomes even more inspiring, I think. Whether displayed in museum collections or reinterpreted by contemporary artists, they are a gorgeous representation of Korean heritage and have a deep story to tell.

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