2019 Korean History and Cultural Seminar for Educators - Handbook 2019 NKS Handbook-0617 | Page 59
National Korean Studies Seminar
Copyright 2014
Korean Folk Art (Minhwa)
Presentation and Art Activity
By Kee Soon Sung of the Korean Folk Art Association
The Sun, Moon and Five Peaks
What is Minhwa?
(Il-wol O Bong Do)
The Sun, Moon and Five Peaks
(Il-wol O Bong Do)
• Minhwa (“folk painting”) is an invaluable part of
Korea’s cultural heritage and conveys the
mythology, religion, and views of the Korean
people.
• Minhwa (“folk painting”) is an invaluable part of
• Korea’s
Minwha cultural
represents
the artistic
expressions
heritage
and conveys
the of
individuals religion,
who created
paintings
to Korean
decorate
mythology,
and views
of the
palaces and homes and to celebrate joyful family
people.
occasions, such as weddings and sixtieth
• Minwha
represents the artistic expressions of
birthdays.
individuals
• It has been who
said created
that the paintings
tradition to
of decorate
folk
palaces
and
homes
to celebrate
family
paintings
has
lasted and
so long
because joyful
minhwa
occasions,
such
as of weddings
and people.”
sixtieth
“touched the
soul
the Korean
What is Minhwa?
birthdays.
• It has been said that the tradition of folk
paintings has lasted so long because minhwa
“touched the soul of the Korean people.”
Minhwa The Tiger and the Dragon
• Koreans believed in the yin and yang and that
people’s life included both good and evil.
• They also believed that
minhwa could have
Minhwa
shamanistic powers to protect them from war,
disease, and famine. Paintings of animals could
• Because the dates and artists of minhwa were largely
drive
away their
evil art
spirits.
unknown,
was treated as being of little value.
However,
minhwa
is
now recognized
as a were
valuable
• The
animals
most
frequently
depicted
the art
form and one that represents the life of the Korean
tiger,
dragon,
and
turtle.
people
during unicorn,
the Joseon
dynasty.
• The
The
unknown
artisans
who
created motif
folk art
an
tiger
was
the
most
popular
in had
this
• • Because
the
dates
and
artists
of
minhwa
were
largely
optimistic outlook on life. In their
agrarian
society,
they
category.
unknown,
their
art
was
treated
as
being
of
little
value.
perceived a miraculous order of the universe that they • Tigers were believed to prevent national
disasters, such as fire, floods and wind.
• Tiger skin, bones, Minhwa
claws, and whiskers
could exorcise mystical powers.
• Folk paintings are grouped into two major
categories
folk belief:
wishing
for good
• The
dragon of
would
protect
people
from luck
evil
Minhwa
and repelling
spirits.
forces
together evil
with
symbolizing the king
• Every
folk authority.
painting contains people’s wishes for
and
royal
Symbols Additional Symbols
Minhwa
happiness.
• Folk
paintings are grouped into two major
• categories
Folk paintings
have
two wishing
underlying
themes:
of folk
belief:
for good
luck
longevity
and evil
blessings
and
repelling
spirits. for all people.
Wishing
longevity,
artists people’s
displayed
paintings
• • Every
folk for
painting
contains
wishes
for
of the sun, clouds, pine trees, bamboo, cranes,
happiness.
deer, turtles, water, and rocks.
• Folk
paintings have two underlying themes:
longevity and blessings for all people.
• Wishing for longevity, artists displayed paintings
of the sun, clouds, pine trees, bamboo, cranes,
deer, turtles, water, and rocks.
However,
minhwa
is now recognized as a valuable art
attempted
to express.
form
and one that represents the life of the Korean
• They used symbolism to express their feelings of
people
during
the
Joseon
happiness, anger, love, dynasty.
and delight in everyday life.
• The
unknown
artisans
created elements
folk art had
an
• Humor
and satire
are who
important
of the
optimistic
outlook on life. In their agrarian society, they
paintings.
perceived a miraculous order of the universe that they
attempted to express.
• They used symbolism to express their feelings of
happiness, anger, love, and delight in everyday life.
• Humor and satire are important elements of the
paintings.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fire – benevolence
Grain – life
Mountain – dignity
Magpie – harbinger of good news
Pheasant – fidelity
Bamboo and pine tree – longevity
Chesnut – filial piety
Peony – wealth
Turtle - endurance
•
•
•
•
•
Paintings of Characters
(Munja-do)
Paintings of the Peonies (Moran- do)
• Peony paintings were
among the most popular.
For its color and beauty,
the peony blossom was
regarded as a symbol of
wealth. Images were
found on folding screens
that were used to
Unicorn – mercy
Lion – power
Duck – fidelity
Deer – honor and success in one’s studies
Peach and pomegranate – plentiful
offspring, long life, and happiness
57