‘Great Ming’ Inscribed Ceramics in Post-Imjin War Chosŏn: The Material Culture of Ming Loyalism

Abstract This article explores the reinterpretation of Ming porcelain inscribed with ‘Great Ming’ (大明) in Chosŏn Korea following the Imjin War and the collapse of the Ming dynasty. Utilising archaeological findings, writings from Chosŏn literati and contemporary fieldwork, it argues that these objects transformed significantly – from luxury goods exchanged through tribute and wartime interactions to ritual vessels laden with ideological significance. As formal diplomatic relations weakened and Qing forces exerted political and cultural pressure on Chosŏn, Ming-marked ceramics emerged as powerful symbols of commemoration, moral sentiment and anti-Qing loyalty. Employed in westward-facing rituals honouring Ming emperors, they allowed Chosŏn elites to assert their claims to Ming cultural heritage and articulate a distinct Confucian identity in early modern East Asia. This study demonstrates how imported objects can acquire new meanings, highlighting the role of material culture in shaping Chosŏn’s self-identity as the guardian of a fallen civilisation.