국립제주박물관 홍보영상
복합문화관 개관 사전(D-100) 문화행사 한여름밤의 뮤지엄테라피
A place where Jeju's history and culture breathe
The Jeju National Museum is a complex cultural space that connects the past and the present.
Permanent Exhibition.
Central Hall
At the concourse is the diorama of Jeju-eupseong Fortress, and on the ceiling is a stained glass depicting the founding myth of Tamna (old name of Jeju). Jeju-eupseong Fortress was reproduced based on a depiction in Tamna-sullyeokdo painted in the 28th year of King Sukjong's reign (1702), and the remains of old Jeju provincial government buildings that have been excavated since 1990.
Island, Jeju
An island with mystical and beautiful scenery, featuring the soaring Hallasan Mountain, hundreds of oreums (volcanic cones), and covered in the lush green of Gotjawal forest. An island that holds the complete stories of the Jeju people, a tranquil home yet a space of intense trials, like the wind that blows gently (Jireumsae) then unexpectedly strongly (Gunggeunsae). We tell the story of that island at the Jeju National Museum.
Prehistoric Jeju
Jeju is a relatively young island. More than 1.8 million years ago, lava began erupting under the waters of what is now Jeju Island. Later, the lava broke the surface of the sea, causing land to form. This volcanic action eventually ceased, leaving behind Hallasan Mountain and numerous volcanic cones (oreum). About 40,000 years ago, during the Ice Age, Jeju Island was connected to the Korean Peninsula, China, and Kyushu in Japan due to low sea levels.
Island Village, Growth and Changes
Koreans of the past were regularly crossing the seas in boats. People from the central and southern areas of the Korean Peninsula traveled to and from Jeju Island, leading to the flourishing of a new Bronze Age culture on the island. Large villages were built in Samyang-dong and Yongdam-dong in Jeju-si, close to both land and sea routes. Several houses were gathered by the seaside and on the flat tops of hills. These houses, known as pit-dwellings, were constructed by digging pits, first square ones and later round versions.
Island Nation, Tamna
Around the second century, a time when the Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla Kingdoms and the Gaya Confederacy were emerging as ancient nations on the Korean Peninsula, smaller power centers in the villages merged to form a kingdom on Jeju Island. It was named Tamna, or ‘island country’ (“tam” meaning island and “na” meaning country). By that time, pottery in the same style was being used across all regions of Jeju, suggesting that the entire island shared a single culture. Tombs for the ruling class were also being constructed.
Jeju during the Goryeo Dynasty
The Goryeo Dynasty was established in 918 and at first acknowledged Tamna as an independent state. However, Tamna lost the status 180 years later in 1105 when the Goryeo government named Tamna a local administrative district, Tamna-gun. The new cultural elements of Buddhism and celadon were introduced to the island. Many temples were also built during this time. Following the war between the Goryeo Dynasty and the Mongol forces, the Sambyeolcho (a military unit that performed police and combat duties during the Goryeo period) resisted the invaders until the end from its last bastion on Jeju.
Jeju during the Joseon Dynasty
Jeju became a special administrative town known as Jeju-mok under the authority of Jeolla-do Province during the Joseon Dynasty, and a magistrate was dispatched by the central government. The Jeju-mok magistrate strove to live up to the Neo-Confucian ideal of rule through benevolence and virtue by caring for the lives of islanders. The people of Jeju Island maintained many indigenous beliefs but still embraced elements of Confucian thinking and lifestyles.
The People of Jeju Island
Jejudo means Jeju Province and Jeju Island. As a volcanic island, it had traditionally been a tough place for people to survive on. Since it was difficult to harvest anything from its soil, people went out to the ocean to find food. They gathered marine products and built ships to trade with the surrounding areas. Jeju Island was able to encounter different cultures while developing and maintaining a distinct culture.
Enjoy the Jeju National Museum online
VR Service
Go to the Jeju Museum bulletin board.
Collection