Face Mangwa — A Grin on the Roof

A mangwa (望瓦) — the ornamental tile that sat at the end of a hanok roof ridge, guarding the house against evil spirits and fire. The spot usually calls for a fearsome goblin or beast face; this one had other ideas.

Two round eyes, a bold nose, whiskers incised across the cheeks — it looks, by any reading, like a cat. From a country tilemaker’s hands came mischief instead of menace, and that sly humor of Joseon folk craft is precisely the charm that cannot be imitated.

Down from the roof, it is perfectly at home on a bookshelf. A face that spent centuries chasing off evil spirits should have no trouble chasing off idle thoughts at your desk.

Related Objects in Museum Collections

A few related objects found on Korea’s e-Museum by searching for “망와”. Comparing their forms is a quiet pleasure.

Reference images: e-Museum (emuseum.go.kr), National Museum of Korea — the holding institution is noted in each caption. Click an image to open the museum record.

Today, as ever, this face grins quietly from a corner of our storeroom.