The manufacture of porcelain, which requires a special clay and extremely high firing temperatures (1,300-1,350°C), was first developed in China. In Korea, white-bodied porcelain wares became popular with the advent of the Choson dynasty (1392-1910) and continued to be produced throughout the period. The early phase of porcelain production, from the founding of the dynasty at the end of the fourteenth century to the mid-seventeenth century, is characterized by undecorated white wares, although blue-and-white decorated wares began to be produced in the fifteenth century. These white wares reflect the austere tastes associated with Neo-Confucianism, the Choson state's official ideology, displacing Buddhism which had been promoted by the court rulers of the preceding Koryo dynasty (918-1392). This jar is among the most striking of the large, utilitarian objects made of porcelain. It was produced by joining two bowl-shaped forms at their rims. The pale blue tone of the thickly applied glaze enhances the impression of whiteness and freshness. Jars of this type, which reflect a uniquely Korean aesthetic, would have been especially admired for their irregular shape, a result of slight sagging during firing.