Set in 12th Century Korea, Tree-ear, an orphaned little boy, lives under a bridge with a disabled older friend and caretaker named Crane-man. Tree-ear is fascinated with a local potter named Min and dreams of creating his own ceramics. The trade of potter is unfortunately passed down from father to son, therefore Min can't teach Tree-ear the trade. The Royal Emissary tours the village in search for a new potter for the palace. Min and Kang, another pottery-maker, compete for the honor. The emissary chooses Kang but tells Min that if he can create more work and bring it to Puyo he will reconsider his choice. Now, Min's fate rests in the hands of Tree-ear, who must deliver the pottery to the palace.