True character of Paekche Kingdom earthenware

The Puyo National Museum holds the nation¡¯s oldest earthen pots, from the Paekche Kingdom (B.C.18-660). There are two -- one for men and another for women. One is shaped like a tiger and is therefore called the ¡°tiger¡¯s son¡± Many people presume they are chamber pots.

Is this the case? It¡¯s true that there is a high possibility they are chamber pots, but a closer examination results in many suspicions.

First of all, let¡¯s look at the ¡°tiger¡¯s son,¡± which is believed to be a chamber pot for men. It stands 25 centimeters high. If it is placed on the floor, men have to kneel down to attend to their needs. Fortunately, it is not that heavy, and it seems that there is little inconvenience for men to hold it with one of their hands to use it. Yet, it is still far from easy to use. Some opine that the pots are simple water containers. The problem with this theory lies in the women¡¯s pot.

Scholars who believe this earthenware is a chamber pot for women say that ¡°the front part is high and the back is low, so that it is easy for women to sit down on.¡± Its rear end is sharp to help urine pour into the ground as fertilizer, they say.

But it is very risky to sit down on the pot because it is likely to collapse. Ceramic ware is strong, but earthenware is fragile. Its fragility makes it unsuited to be a chamber pot for women. Either for men or women, a practical article like a chamber pot should have been made with wood. So, some insist that the earthenware was not a practical household article, but most likely served a ritual function. There are Chinese relics whose shapes are identical to the ¡°tiger¡¯s son,¡± but they are mostly ceramic ware. Ceramic ware does not break down, even if one sits on it. Therefore, the Chinese relics are evidently utility articles.

These two earthen pots are the only ancient remains presumed to be chamber pots. The one for men may be regarded as a night stool, but it¡¯s hard to view the piece for women as a chamber pot. At present, we have to wait until similar relics are excavated in ruins such as housing sites.

Lee Kwawg-Pyo kplee@donga.com