Popular images of animals, plants, and natural elements often have symbolic meanings, which tell us something about what the culture that produced these images considered to be important. In agrarian economies, such as those of East Asian countries up until modern times, an image of a real or imaginary creature thought to have the power to bring rain would be very popular and important for all levels of society. Using these clues and looking carefully at the secondary elements that surround the main decoration on each vessel, try to determine which image has been credited with the power to bring rain since ancient times. Which of these ceramic vessels is decorated with an image associated with clouds and rain?

	Maebyong (Prunus Vase) Koryo dynasty		Jar Choson dynasty		Comb-Patterned Vessel Neolithic period
	Jar Choson dynasty		Flask-Shaped Bottle Choson dynasty

 

 

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