Shamans, surgeons, and prosecutors have one thing in common: They all use knives in a real or in a symbolic way. There are two types of knives: one to kill, the other to save. The same knife that kills can save. It all depends on how you use it. That is why people in those jobs are always under enormous stress. Thus, it is important for them to know how to shrug off work-related stress. With the help of alcohol or by playing golf? How about cultural activities?

Chang-Jong Ryu, a 63 year-old lawyer residing in Buamdong, Seoul, seems to have found his way of releasing work related stress. He established a roof-tile museum in the neighborhood and opened it to the public. He used to go by the nickname “roof-tile prosecutor” due to his affection of roof-tiles when he was in the prosecutor’s office. Whenever possible, he would travel to historic sites to get a glimpse of antique tiles and return with no extra cash, collecting rare roof-tiles.

It all goes back to 1978 when he worked at Chungju District Court and first saw the roof-tiles of Korea’s Three Ancient Kingdom era. In his 30s then, he was mesmerized by the beauty of the roof-tiles unearthed from the Jungang Pagoda. Chungju was under the cultural influence of all three ancient kingdoms of Korea. Accordingly, the traits of all three kingdoms can be seen in the roof-tiles excavated in the region. The light grey color shows the hue of Baekje. Their strong shape represents Goguryeo’s spirit. The pattern of six lotus flower leaves belongs to early Shilla. You can have a glimpse of grandiosity of Goguryeo, softness of Baekje, and simplicity of Shilla from their roof-tiles. The artistry, culture, history is all captured in their roof-tiles. Such roof-tile culture cannot be found in the West, and the roof-tiles of the West are not as patterned or diverse.

“Blue Tiles” are the prime example. Why did our ancestors decorate roof-titles in such a luxurious manner? The roof of a house is hardly seen by people. Not only Korea, China and Japan, Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Thailand have this “roof-tile culture”, where roof-tiles are considered as an art. Chang Jong Yu, a world renowned roof-tile collector maintains that we can trace the history of cultural influence of ancient kingdoms by comparing their roof-tiles. For this reason, roof-tiles of the Namdaemun (Great South Gate), which recently burnt down, should not be thrown away. Those roof-tiles have vestiges of history and culture.