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Hanji (한지)

Briefly looking at the history of paper, Meng-Yeom(몽염) first developed paper in the Qin Dynasty of China( 진나라, 중국) , and the paper production technology improved by Cai Lun (채륜) in the Later Han Dynasty was introduced to the Korean Peninsular in 105 AD. It is presumed that Hanji (한지) was already used in the Korean Peninsular before Chae Ryun improved paper. Hanji (한지) has been widely recognized for its excellent quality since ancient times. Despite its subtle and soft color, it had the toughness not to tear easily, and it was thin and light, but it was well ventilated and absorbs moisture well, so it was suitable for writing and painting.  It has excellent light-emitting power that makes even the strongest sunlight transparent. Hanji is made from mulberry trees, oats (fixed pater), and mulberry trees, as well as hemp and grasses (bamboo, rice straw, and reeds). Paper making process Mulberry harvest - November~ December cut the first year branches of mulberry trees low. In the ...
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Korean traditional Court Decorative Paintings (1)

 What is Court Decoration? 

Court decorative paintings refer to paintings used to decorate palace spaces. Court decorative paintings are sometimes included in the category of folk paintings, but the they are also recognized as court paintings. The most representative court decoration paintings are 'peonies' and 'Ilwolobong-Do'

A peony painting is a painting for top-tier women, and it is a peony painting that is allowed only to women in the top position. If the painting allowed only to the king is 'Ilwolobong-Do', it is a symbolic painting only allowed to the queen.

    

(The prototype of a folding screen with peonies drawn for the first time among royal decorative paintings in the Joseon Dynasty. Preservation period: July 2009 ~ March 2010 (9 months)


(Peonies from the wall of 'Seonwonjeon Hall' in Gyeongbokgung Palace of the Joseon Dynasty)




(Minhwa, Ahn, Eun J. 2018)

Ilwolobong-Do

The sun and moon in the picture symbolize  'yin' and 'yang'. The five peaks symbolize the five elements.
In addition, since the sky, land, and water all appear, it means the universe, and it is a picture that governs the symbols representing the Yin-Yang five elements, the systems of creation, change, and operation of the universe.

When the king sits in front of the painting of 'Ilwolobong-Do', this painting is completed.

(Changdeokgung Palace Injeonjeon(인정전) Ilwolobongdo about 1840 )


(Minhwa, Ahn,Eun J. 2019)


There was an institution called 'Dohwaseo'(도화서) in the palace, and the painters of Dohwaseo mainly drawn in this way to the nobles as gifts.

Joseon Dynasty , Yu, Suk , 수계도(Literati Gathering of the Middle People),1853




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