"Expressing Hierarchy and Authority Using Moro Dancheong in Palaces"

National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage Publishes 'Scientific Investigation and Analysis of Traditional Dancheong Pigments (Seoul and Gyeonggi Edition)'

It has been confirmed that Moro (毛老) dancheong was mainly used in palace buildings such as the Sujeongjeon Hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace to signify hierarchy and authority. Moro dancheong refers to dancheong where patterns are applied only at the ends of the components, and the middle is finished with lines.

The Cultural Heritage Administration’s National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage published a report titled “Scientific Investigation and Analysis of Traditional Dancheong Pigments (Seoul and Gyeonggi Edition)” on the 26th, containing these findings. The study investigated and analyzed 594 sites across eight nationally designated wooden cultural properties in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions. Scientific basic data on the types and components of pigments used, raw materials, colors, and painting layers were secured.

Dancheong refers to the traditional decorative coloring of wooden architecture using five basic colors: blue, red, yellow, white, and black, applied with various patterns and paintings. It serves both as decoration and protection for the wooden structures. The pigments used are broadly classified into three types: those made by grinding or refining minerals such as soil and rocks, synthetic pigments, and those derived from animal or plant organic materials.

According to the report, the dancheong layers were composed in the order of a base layer, an undercoat layer, and a coloring layer on the wood. They were formed in various ways depending on the patterns and components. It was also confirmed that white clay was used in the base layer and glauconite in the undercoat layer.

In the palace dancheong mainly investigated this time, it was found that Moro dancheong was predominantly used rather than the lavish gold dancheong seen in temple dancheong of the Jeolla and Gyeongsang regions. The institute stated in the report, “It is understood to represent the hierarchy and authority of the palace.” It added, “The noticeable presence of blue pigments made from expensive imported minerals such as azurite and malachite also confirmed the dignity of palace dancheong.”

The institute expects this report to serve as a reference for restoration research on traditional dancheong pigments as well as for selecting traditional materials in the repair of nationally designated cultural heritage dancheong. After completing the survey of wooden cultural properties in the Chungcheong region this year, the institute plans to complete the scientific investigation report on traditional dancheong pigments next year.

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