''Dancheong'' ( ko, 단청; 丹青) refers to Korean traditional decorative colouring on wooden buildings and
artifacts for the purpose of style.
It literally means "cinnabar and blue-green" in Korean,
and is sometimes translated as "red and blue" in English.
Along with its decorations and the choice of paint colours, Dancheong carries various symbolic meanings.
It is based on five basic colours; blue (east), white (west), red (south), black (north), and yellow (center).
The use of those five colours reflected the use of the
yin and yang principle and the Philosophy of the five elements.
The Dancheong is usually used in important places, such as temples and palaces, and can even be found on the eaves of temple's roofs with patterns of animals (e.g. dragons, lions, cranes).
Dancheong also functions not only as decoration, but also for practical purposes such as to protect building surfaces against temperature and to make the crudeness of materials less conspicuous.
It also protects the wood against insects,
prolonging its lifetime.
Applying ''dancheong'' on the surfaces of buildings require trained skills, and artisans called ''dancheongjang'' (단청장) designed the painted patterns.
The Dancheonjang are considered living national treasures in
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
and are classified as being part of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Cultural Heritage Administration in South Korea.
While Dancheong origins was in ancient mural paintings, it has developed the distinctive characteristics compared to the other countries with similar forms of architectural paintings and became the long, distinct features of the Korean traditional architectures.
For example, the Korean Dancheong is characterized by bright, sophisticated and extremely delicate styles compared to the Chinese designs.
While the Chinese building designs are simple and bold in colour, the Korean Dancheongs are often colourful and have more highly decorative patterns.
Compared to the Japanese design, the Korean Dancheong is also used to decorate both the interior and exterior of buildings.
Japanese-style
polychrome
Polychrome is the "practice of decorating architectural elements, sculpture, etc., in a variety of colors." The term is used to refer to certain styles of architecture, pottery or sculpture in multiple colors.
Ancient Egypt
Colossal statu ...
isn't commonly seen on architecture due to Japan's
Shinto
Shinto () is a religion from Japan. Classified as an East Asian religion by scholars of religion, its practitioners often regard it as Japan's indigenous religion and as a nature religion. Scholars sometimes call its practitioners ''Shintois ...
emphasis on purity, with wood left in natural state, as exemplified by
Ise shrine
The , located in Ise, Mie Prefecture of Japan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. Officially known simply as , Ise Jingū is a shrine complex composed of many Shinto shrines centered on two main shrines, and .
The Inner ...
and
Izumo taisha
, officially Izumo Ōyashiro, is one of the most ancient and important Shinto shrines in Japan. No record gives the date of establishment. Located in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, it is home to two major festivals. It is dedicated to the god , ...
.
History
thumb
The thumb is the first digit of the hand, next to the index finger. When a person is standing in the medical anatomical position (where the palm is facing to the front), the thumb is the outermost digit. The Medical Latin English noun for thumb ...
Since the
Three Kingdoms era, the Korean Dancheong patterns have developed its own distinctive Korean characteristics, from tomb murals into wooden architcture.
The earliest example of Dancheong was found on a mural in an ancient tomb built in 357 AD during
Goguryeo
Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...
.
The Dancheong can also be seen today in the
Goguryeo Tomb Complexes,
Tomb of the General
The Tomb of the General (Korean: Janggun-chong, Hangul: 장군총, Traditional Chinese: 將軍冢), is an ancient Korean pyramid, also known as the Pyramid of the East. The pyramid is thought to be the burial tomb of King Gwanggaeto or his son Kin ...
, and other ''
Goguryeo
Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...
'' structures across
North Korea
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu River, Y ...
and
Northeastern China
Northeast China or Northeastern China () is a geographical region of China, which is often referred to as "Manchuria" or "Inner Manchuria" by surrounding countries and the West. It usually corresponds specifically to the three provinces east of t ...
.
In
Silla
Silla or Shilla (57 BCE – 935 CE) ( , Old Korean: Syera, Old Japanese: Siraki2) was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms of K ...
, the Dancheong was even used on commoner's homes.
The Dancheong has also been recorded in ancient documents, such as the
Samguk sagi
''Samguk Sagi'' (, ''History of the Three Kingdoms'') is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The ''Samguk Sagi'' is written in Classical Chinese, the written language of the literati of ancient Korea, ...
and the
Samguk yusa
''Samguk yusa'' () or ''Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms'' is a collection of legends, folktales and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea (Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla), as well as to other periods and states before, duri ...
.
The use of Buddhism as national religion contributed to the development of Dancheong.
In the 12th century a document titled ''Goryeo Do-Kyung'' () which literally means "Illustrated Account of
Goryeo
Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...
" (918-1392), the Chinese author
Xu Jing described the luxurious ''dancheong'' on the places at that time. ''Goryeo Do-Kyung'' illustrates the ''dancheong'' in detail that the
handrail
A handrail is a rail that is designed to be grasped by the hand so as to provide safety or support. In Britain, handrails are referred to as banisters. Handrails are usually used to provide support for body or to hold clothings in a bathroom or ...
was painted in red and decorated with vine-flowers. The colouring and patterns were very vivid, so that the palace stood out among other royal palaces.
There are several examples of the dancheong from the Goryeo period such as Josadang (조사당) of
Buseoksa
Buseoksa Temple (Hangul: 부석사, Hanja: ) is a Buddhist temple located near Mt. Bonghwang in Buseok-myeon, Yeongju City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, founded by the prominent scholar-monk Uisang in 676, the 16th year of Munmu of Silla. Buseoksa temple i ...
Temple in
Yeongju
Yeongju () is a city in the far north region of North Gyeongsang province in South Korea, covering 668.84 km2 with a population of 113,930 people according to the 2008 census. The city borders Bonghwa county to the east, Danyang county of North ...
, Geukrakjeon (극락전) at
Bongjeongsa
Bongjeongsa is a Korean Buddhism, Buddhist temple on the slopes of Mount Cheondeung in Andong city, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is a subsidiary temple of Gounsa, the head temple of the 16th branch of Jogye Order.(in Korean봉정 ...
Temple in
Andong
Andong () is a city in South Korea, and the capital of North Gyeongsang Province. It is the largest city in the northern part of the province with a population of 167,821 as of October 2010. The Nakdong River flows through the city. Andong is a m ...
, and
Daeungjeon
A Mahavira Hall, usually simply known as a Main Hall, is the main hall or building in a traditional Chinese Buddhist temple, enshrining representations of Gautama Buddha and various other buddhas and bodhisattvas. It is encountered throughout ...
(대웅전) of
Sudeoksa
Sudeoksa is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It is located on the southern slopes of Deoksungsan in Deoksan-myeon, Yesan County, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea.
Sudeoksa was one of very few temples not destroyed durin ...
Temple in
Yesan
Yesan () is a county in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. Famous people from Yesan include independence fighter Yoon Bong-Gil.
Sudeoksa, a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, is located on the southern slopes of Deoksungs ...
.
Since the
Joseon
Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...
dynasty, the Dancheong was greatly developed and began to diversified further, featuring various patterns and the use of more profuse colours.
The Joseon era dancheon usually uses green as the basic background while elaborate patterns of contrasting colour are then painted over it.
Those patterns are inspired by plants, especially the
lotus flower
''Nelumbo nucifera'', also known as sacred lotus, Laxmi lotus, Indian lotus, or simply lotus, is one of two extant species of aquatic plant in the family Nelumbonaceae. It is sometimes colloquially called a water lily, though this more often ref ...
, which directly connect the Dancheong to
buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
.
Types of Dancheong
The system of patterns is categorized into four different types based on the structural characteristics and positions within the decorative composition. The four types include:
* Morucho
* Byeoljihwa
* Bidan munui
* Dandong munui
Morucho pattern is mainly painted on the ends of the building’s upper supporting beams and upper corners like eaves, and it commonly incorporates natural forms such as water lily, pomegranate, and feather. Byeoljihwa is painted between two sections of morucho patterns. Often depicted in byeoljihwa are various auspicious animals or scenes from Buddhist sutras and it was mostly used in temples but not in palace buildings. Bidan munui (silk pattern) is the colorful geometric patterns that can be found throughout the building, and dandok munui (single/independent pattern) refers to pattern designs that are based on a single plant or animal.
Dancheong's Restoration Process
As part of the restoration process, the paint colours used in Dancheong need to be carefully prepared, and the entire process is supervised by the Cultural Heritage Administration with written documents.
The process of the restoration methods include: (1) inspection of the building's current state and its environment; (2) discussion surrounding the restoration method needed takes place; (3) rough sketches of the remaining dancheong patterns and colour pigment are selected.
The final decision concerning what is the best repairing method to be used for restoration purposes is made through professional advisory processes continually throughout the entire process.
The two main types of painting techniques are: (1) Gosae-dancheong (i.e. painting the entire building) and (2) Gosaegttam-dancheong (only paints the recently damaged parts).
Gallery
Image:Gyeongbok Palace.jpg, Dancheong on a building at Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung (), also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace, was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Built in 1395, it is located in northern Seoul, South Korea. The largest of the ''Five Grand Palaces'' built by the Joseo ...
Image:Injeongjeon (interior), Changdeokgung - Seoul, Korea.JPG, The interior of Injeongjeon, Changdeokgung
Changdeokgung (Hangul: 창덕궁, Hanja: 昌德宮; literally, "The Palace of Prospering Virtue"), also known as Changdeokgung Palace or Changdeok Palace, is set within a large park in Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the "Five G ...
Image:Korea-Chuncheon-Cheongpeongsa-10.jpg, Cheongpeongsa Temple in Chuncheon
Chuncheon (; ; formerly romanized as Chunchŏn; literally ''spring river'') is the capital of Gangwon Province in South Korea. The city lies in the north of the county, located in a basin formed by the Soyang River and Han River. There are some ...
Image:Korea-Changwon-Buddhist temple-Lotus.jpg, Lotus pattern
See also
*
Architecture of Korea
Korean architecture () refers to an architectural style that developed over centuries in Korea.
Throughout the history of Korea, various kingdoms and royal dynasties have developed a unique style of architecture with influences from Korean Buddh ...
*
Hanok
A ''hanok'' () is a traditional Korean house. ''Hanok'' were first designed and built in the 14th century during the Joseon dynasty.
Korean architecture considers the positioning of the house in relation to its surroundings, with thought give ...
*
Korean Buddhist temples
Buddhist temples are an important part of the Korean landscape. This article gives a brief overview of Korean Buddhism, then describes some of the more important temples in Korea. Most Korean temples have names ending in ''-sa'' (사, 寺), which ...
*
Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea
The Intangible Cultural Heritage (, ''Muhyeong Munhwajae'') are aspects of intangible culture that the government of South Korea has officially designated for preservation in accordance with the 1962 Cultural Property Protection Law. They are p ...
*
Caihua
''Caihua'' ( zh, s=彩画, p=cǎihuà), or "colour painting", is the traditional Chinese decorative painting or polychrome used for architecture and one of the most notable and important features of historical Chinese architecture. It held a sign ...
References
Sources
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
General information about ''dancheong''*{{in lang, ko}
''Dancheong''Naver/Doopedia
*(in English)
Dancheong: The meaning behind South Korea's beautifully painted temples'
Architecture in Korea
Architectural styles
Color in culture