You have probably seen Korean traditional palaces and the main prayer halls of Buddhist temples painted in vivid colors. These colorful paintings are called dancheong. Learned gentlemen of the Joseon era preferred simplicity and modesty, but colorful and decorative dancheong was an exception. Back in those days most of the buildings were wooden structures. Dancheong helped prevent the lumber from rotting and protected the wood from termites and other wood-harming pests. Dancheong also served to symbolize the special uses or prestige of the building, so not just any structure could sport dancheong. Dancheong was allowed only for palaces, government buildings and Buddhist temples, and law prohibited the use of dancheong for decorating ordinary homes. The houses that did not paint over the wooden materials were called baekgoljip or skeleton homes. Even in the palatial or temple grounds the private quarters of kings and Buddhist monks were left bare as baekgoljip. So when you see buildings with dancheong, you would know that those places were special.

Daily Life at a Peaceful Mountain Temple/ Daegeum by Shin Ju-hee

That piece you just heard was “Daily Life at a Peaceful Mountain Temple” with Shin Ju-hee at the daegeum. Dancheong originated from the prehistoric-era practice of painting the altar or the face of a priest. Using such vivid colors was meant to ward off evil spirits and symbolize authority. Unfortunately, structures from the Three Kingdoms period have not been preserved to this day, but the murals from ancient Goguryeo tombs show multicolored depictions of lotus flowers, clouds, flames, flying horses and other fantastic objects. Also, roof tiles with the imprints of dancheong brush strokes or containers of dancheong paint had been discovered at the bottom of Anapji Pond, an artificial pond from the Silla Kingdom. In a book written by a Chinese diplomatic envoy about the sights he saw in Goryeo, the Chinese official describes how “palace buildings were painted in red lacquer and decorated with bronze flowers, and dancheong was magnificent and splendid.” Goryeo’s dancheong must have impressed this Chinese diplomat very much. There are five basic colors or obangsaek of dancheong – blue, white, red, black, and yellow. These five colors denoting five directions – east, west, south, north, and center – form the foundation of Korean artistic heritage.

Cheoyongmu accompaniment/ Piri by Jeong Jae-kook, daegeum by Park Yong-ho, haegeum by Jeong Soo-nyun

Jeong Jae-kook, Park Yong-ho, and Jeong Soo-nyun performed the accompanying music of the royal court dance Cheoyongmu. In this dance, five dancers wearing the masks of Cheoyong are dressed in costumes representing each of the five basic colors of obangsaek. The mythical guardian gods of four directions – the Blue Dragon of left, the White Tiger of right, the Red Phoenix of south, and the Black Snake of north – are based on these five colors as well. Even when arranging the placement of musical instruments for important ceremonies, blue instruments are placed on the east side and white ones on the west side. Even each musical note corresponds to one of these five colors, as does food and the organs in human body. Children’s colorful hanbok jackets contain all five of these colors as well. The virtual omnipresence of the five basic colors in our lives indicates that the world is comprised of these five colors and dancheong is a way of actualizing the harmony observed in this world. The exposed ends of lumber pieces used in the eaves feature bright, conspicuous designs of lotus flowers, pomegranates, chrysanthemums, and clay urns, which are auspicious signs representing an easy passage to eternity or fertility. These designs are not found in Chinese or Japanese edifices, only in Korean ones. Ancient Koreans must have communicated their wishes through such paintings. The last piece you’re going to hear is called “Sky Painting” with the 25-string gayageum played by Kwak Su-eun.

Sky Painting/ 25-string gayageum by Kwak Su-eun