Historical records show that during the Shilla Dynasty (57 BC ~ 935 AD), trade between Shilla and Japan was very much active, not only in the form of exchanges of goods as in commerce but also the traffic of students. One of these students was a monk named Guang Sung. It’s still unclear whether he was a Japanese monk studying in Shilla or a Shilla monk who traveled Japan. What is clear is that Guang Sung gave face powder to the Queen of Japan named Jito (born in year 645) in the year 692, aged 47. She was the widowed wife of 41st Tenmu, taking the throne 4 years after her husband’s death and ruled until 697. According to the Japanese historians, this is the only record found on any cosmetic product, probably due to the then advanced technology that was embedded into the face powder. Historical records also show that the 'Hwarang' of Shilla Dynasty also put on this face powder. Hwarang was a group of young men who excelled in every way and dedicated themselves for their country. They were known for their good looks, fighting skills, and knowledge.
During the 1st quarter of 2023, according to the Japan Cosmetic Import Association, Korean cosmetic products took the majority share (25.4%) of all imported cosmetic products by Japan, taking away the 3 decades of number one position lead by the French products. Why? Analysts think this is due to the value for money (high quality given low price) of Korean cosmetic products.
Please read further about this interesting take on cosmetics from Shilla Dynasty at our website below.