KOREAN CALLIGRAPHY
Calligraphy: enjoyed with the eyes and engraved onto the
heart
Calligraphy expresses the structural beauty of Chinese (or
Korean) characters with a brush and black ink on a white
page. The aesthetics of each calligraphic work depend on
its composition: for example, the balance and proportion
of dots and lines—large or small, long or short—and the
positioning of empty space. Also, depending on the rhythm
and flow of the writing—strong or weak, fast or slow—
the beauty of movement is created. It is this movement and
the various shades of black that result from it that
express the calligrapher's mood. All of these aspects
combined—the aesthetic of space created by the ink's
color, the positioning of the characters, and the
magnificence of movement of the written characters—
allow the personality of the calligrapher to shine
through the work. Calligraphy artists usually express
classic citations or well-wishing sentences in their pieces,
and in the process of creation engrave the words not
only on the paper but into their hearts.
<Calligraphy works by Kim Jeong Hui (1786-1856), a
calligrapher during the Joseon Dynasty considered to be
the finest in Korean history.>
The simple but strong beauty of Hangeul calligraphy
Contrary to Chinese character calligraphy, which
possesses a variety of fonts developed over several
millennia, Hangeul (Korean) calligraphy is only about 500
years old. Despite its relatively short history, Hangeul
calligraphy is beloved by many calligraphy enthusiasts
for its simple and restrained beauty, and unexpected
strength. Hangeul calligraphy is constantly being
developed, with increasingly more attempts to create new
fonts and writing styles. There are many places in Korea
that offer calligraphy classes for foreigners, including
Namsan Hanok Village. Such classes are open to all those
who have an interest in learning calligraphy; in fact,
they are widely enjoyed by members of foreign embassies
and companies operating in Korea. There are also a variety
of calligraphy competitions especially for foreigners held
each year.
<The first printed copy of a song composed by King Sejong
the Great, the inventor of Hangeul.>
<A calligraphic work by modern calligraphy artist Kim
Sung-tae. It reads, "Mountain, blue mountain," a line from
the poem Cheongsando by Park Du Sin.>
<A woman tries calligraphy on a visit to Korea.>
Calligraphy in Korea is a visual art reflecting the Korean
tradition of artistic writing in Hangul or Hanja