Traditional Minhwa Art on Korean Historical Drama and K-pop

Minhwa is traditional art in Korea. Especially it is used different and opposite coloring but these coloring is similar and compatible like a puzzle. Usually minhwa art is natural and flower drawing. Minhwa art is not only on paper but also on wood and wood like floor.

Recently we see minhwa art in the K-drama. Especially in historical drama was used minhwa. Maybe firstly watching people don’t see this art but later they don’t ignore because of art or artist made this traditional art. For example, K-Drama “Under the Queen’s Umbrella (슈룹)”. This drama was traditional K-drama and it was published in 2022 on Netflix. Opening generic was been only minhwa art but this minhwa wasn’t natural or flower, this minhwa was only library minhwa art.

Picture 1: Under the Queen’s Umbrella (슈룹) opening generic Minhwa art

This picture is minhwa art’s one of types. Exactly, we are looking to “Under the Queen’s Umbrella (슈룹) opening generic minhwa art”. This painting is known “Munjado and Chaekgeori”. In the Under the Queen’s Umbrella (슈룹) opening generic is used Chaekgori minhwa art and this painting have different ideas about historical drama. This reason, Chaekgori minhwa is not only painting art but also it is kind of the drama.

Picture 2: Under the Queen’s Umbrella (슈룹) opening generic Minhwa art salty bowl

One of examples, picture 2 is in the Under the Queen’s Umbrella (슈룹) opening generic Minhwa art and in writing name Kim Hae Suk is Big Queen (Queen Dovager) in this drama and she has characteristic property in this drama . And so in the Under the Queen’s Umbrella (슈룹) opening generic Minhwa art, her name is written with salty bowl and salt. Other example, this minhwa art is drawn books and these books number is similar prince number…

Especially Munjado and Chaekgeori Minhwa Art

“In 1791, King Jeongjo (1752-1800), the 22nd monarch of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), had a folding screen painted with a chaekgado (책가도, 冊架圖), placed behind his throne. The chaekgado depicted a scholar’s books and belongings, such as pottery and writing tools placed on bookshelves. [1]”

Picture 3: A folding screen of chaekgado, a style of painting that emerged during the reign of King Jeongjo in the late Joseon period, depicts shelves stacked with books, pottery and curious objects.

Especially two different terms are used for these minhwa paintings. Chaekgado refers to paintings that feature bookshelves, while chaekgeori, as found in the title of the exhibition, is used to refer to paintings that only portray books and other items without the shelves. However, when referring to both forms of painting collectively they are called chaekgeori.

Chaekgeori were divided into royal court paintings and folk paintings, or minhwa. The court paintings were used in ritual ceremonies or as decoration, while the folk paintings were used for the sole purpose of decorating people’s homes. And recently many people use chaekgeori for homes or store decoration.