| Korean calligraphy | |
| Hangul | 서예 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 書藝 |
| RR | seoye |
| MR | sŏye |
| Part ofa series on |
| Calligraphy |
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Korean calligraphy, also known asSeoye (Korean: 서예), is theKorean tradition ofartistic writing. Calligraphy in Korean culture involves bothHanja (Chinese logograph) andHangul (Korean native alphabet).
Early Korean calligraphy was exclusively in Hanja, or the Chinese-based logography first used to write theKorean language. During theGoryeo andJoseon dynasties, utilitarian objects were often inscribed with calligraphy such as brush stands, padlocks, incense burners, porcelain, lacquer, and branding irons.[1] Even after the invention of the Korean alphabetHangul in 1443, Korean calligraphers preferred Chinese characters as they saw it as more prestigious. Hanja continued to be used as the official script until the late 19th century. This changed when both North Korea and South Korea, after their split, separately institutionalized Hangul as the officialorthography of Korean. Today many calligraphers, particularly in South Korea, are experimenting with new styles of Hangul, which has become an important part of the larger practice of Korean calligraphy.[2]
Chinese calligraphy was introduced toKorea as early as the 2nd or 3rd centuryCE, and became popular in the 7th century. In the 8th century, Kim Saeng became known as the earliest Korean calligraphic master, producing work that was compared with that of master Chinese calligrapherWang Xizhi.[3] In the 9th century, poetCh'oe Ch'i-wŏn became known for his calligraphy both in his home countrySilla and in theTang Dynasty, where he worked and studied.[4]
The angular calligraphy styles of the early Tang masters,Yu Shinan,Ouyang Xun, andYan Zhenqing, persisted in popularity until the 14th century, when the more rounded style ofZhao Mengfu came into vogue.[5] Korean calligraphy became increasingly formalistic in the years that followed.[6]Gim Jeong-hui (김정희, 金正喜, (1786–1856), also known as Kim Jeong-hui, is considered the greatest calligrapher in the Joseon dynasty, and he was also a scholar-official, painter, epigrapher, and practicing Buddhist. He was a master of many calligraphic forms but is most famous forChusache, the bold, freeform style he perfected while in exile on Jeju Island.[7] He is known as thechusa style after his pen name 秋史, inspired by the ancient Chineselishu script.
As the scholarly classes used Chinese characters, Korean calligraphy usedhanja until the 1910–1945Japanese occupation of Korea. Nationalist sentiment led to the popularization of the nativehangul alphabet, and calligraphic works using hangul have since seen a revival, although hanja calligraphy is still popular today.
The Korean calligraphy is developing its own style, steadfastly. Fonts that are not square are being developed, considering jong-sung, or sound coming after the vowel.
There are five major types of Korean Hanja calligraphy, which are derived fromChinese calligraphy.[2]
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