Teacher Gang Se-hwang Praised Kim Hong-do's Folding Screen, to Become a Treasure

'Kim Hongdo's Calligraphy Seowon Ajipdo Folding Screen' Treasure Announcement
'Namnwon Daeboksa Temple Bell' by Monk Artisan Jeongwoo Also Included

'Kim Hong-do's Calligraphy Screen of Seowon Ajeepdo' and the 'Namhwon Daeboksa Bronze Bell' by monk artisan Jeong-u will be designated as national treasures. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 27th that it will finalize the designation after collecting opinions from various sectors for a month and undergoing a review by the Cultural Heritage Committee.

The Kim Hong-do Calligraphy Screen of Seowon Ajeepdo, housed at the National Museum of Korea, is a work painted by Kim Hong-do in the 2nd year of King Jeongjo's reign in the Joseon Dynasty (1778). The theme is 'Seowon Ajeep (西園雅集).' It depicts the literary and artistic activities enjoyed by Wang Xian, the son-in-law of Emperor Yingzong of the Northern Song Dynasty (around 1087), along with several literati such as Su Shi, Li Gonglin, and Mi Fu at a seowon (private Confucian academy) in the capital Kaifeng.

Although borrowing the iconography from Gu Yong's works of the Ming Dynasty introduced to 17th-century Joseon, the background elements such as willow trees, rocky cliffs, and pine trees are boldly rendered, bringing vitality to the space. Deer and cranes, symbols of auspiciousness, are also included, transforming it into a Joseon-style Seowon Ajeepdo.

Composed of six panels, the work is expressed in light ink and color wash. On the upper parts of the 5th and 6th panels, there is a 14-line inscription by Kim Hong-do's teacher, Kang Se-hwang, recording the production background and appreciation. The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "The work was completed in September 1778, and three months later in December 1778, Kang Se-hwang praised Kim Hong-do as a 'divine brush (神筆).'" They evaluated it as "a valuable literary resource for understanding Kim Hong-do's artistic world."

The Kim Hong-do Calligraphy Screen of Seowon Ajeepdo represents the elegant gathering (雅會) culture popular in late Joseon and holds significant art historical value as a dated work that allows examination of Kim Hong-do's style at age 34. It is also noteworthy for presenting a new model for later Seowon Ajeepdo folding screens. The Cultural Heritage Administration added, "It localized and creatively developed a painting style originating from China, making it an important benchmark work demonstrating the uniqueness and creativity of Joseon Dynasty painting history, thus possessing high artistic and historical value."

The Namhwon Daeboksa Bronze Bell was made in the 13th year of King Injo's reign (1635) by monk artisan Jeong-u (淨祐) along with seven others including Sinwon (信元). The bell's body is inscribed with a bell inscription (주종기) detailing the production background, makers, and materials, confirming its origins. It was made to be enshrined at Yeongwonsa Temple, but as that temple was abolished, it is presumed to have been relocated to Daeboksa Temple in Namhwon where it is currently enshrined.

Jeong-u and Sinwon were monk bell casters (鑄鍾匠) active in the early 17th century in regions such as Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheong-do, and Jeolla-do, where temple reconstruction projects were underway. The Namhwon Daeboksa Bronze Bell is their early work, clearly inheriting the style of Goryeo Dynasty bronze bells. Representative features include the standing lotus petal band decoration (立狀蓮瓣文帶) adorning the bell's shoulder?the decorative boundary between the top plate and shoulder?and the bodhisattva figure descending on clouds. The bell's clapper features a hybrid style incorporating foreign twin dragons.

The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, "The depiction of figures staged like the lotus birth scene (蓮花下生) on the standing lotus petal band and the introduction of a prayer plaque (원패) wishing for the spread of Buddhism reflect the late Joseon period's characteristics and the artist's individuality, which deserve close attention." They evaluated, "It allows examination of Jeong-u and Sinwon's artistic styles and activities, and the bell inscription reveals various historical details, giving it great historical and academic value."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.