Written by: Shivani Singh Chhaunkar, Delhi

Edited by: Pooja Vishwanathan, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh

Do you love exploring different handwriting styles? Take a look at some of the famous Korean calligraphers and discover the magic and science behind these imminent writings, as well as their timeless flow.

The term calligraphy has been derived from the Greek words kallos, “beauty,” and graphein, “to write,” which means beautiful writing. Various regions of the world, including the East Asian region, practice this elegant writing art. Countries such as China, Japan, and Korea have their own distinctive styles of calligraphy. The Chinese people introduced calligraphy to the Korean peninsula in the second century CE, and it gradually gained popularity. Artists created calligraphic artwork using earlier Chinese characters (Hanmun). However, the introduction of Hangeul (Korean script) in 1443 led calligraphers to start writing in Korean. In the Korean language, calligraphy is called “Seoye” (서예). Through this article, we aim to introduce our readers to five eminent Korean calligraphers and their writing styles.

Kim Jeong-hui (Chusa)

Kim Jeong-hui is considered to be the most famous Korean calligrapher and scholar of the 18^th century (Joseon period). He was born in 1786 in an influential family which consisted of government officials and artists. He was a child prodigy and was greatly inspired by two scholars of the Qing Dynasty of China, namely Weng Fanggang and Ruan Yuan. Soon, he developed an interest in epigraphy and literati painting. His penname was Chusa and therefore the calligraphy script that he invented was called “추사체 ” (Chusa writing style).

On September 4, 1840, he was exiled to Jeju for almost nine years and during those tough years, he used up to a thousand brushes and ten inkstones to hone his skills and through his tenacious efforts developed Chusache. Its characteristics are intense strokes, angular and bold thick lines, and unique pictorial composition. His works have continued to inspire numerous calligraphers in Korea even today.

Kim Kyeong-ho (Oegil)

Kim Kyeong-ho is Korea’s most revered “Sagyeong” calligrapher. Sagyeong is a 1700-year-old ancient practice of transcribing Buddhist scriptures. It requires a lot of patience, precision, and perseverance to perform this task. This art flourished and reached its zenith in the Goryeo Kingdom (918–1392). It is a delicate and intricate art that requires self-discipline because even a small distraction can potentially ruin the whole artwork. A room temperature as high as 43 degrees Celsius is essential for working with the amalgamation of gold powder and glue to draw thin lines on a dark blue sheet. The Korean government has recognized him for his tenacity and for being the only expert in his field. His ultimate aim is to revive this traditional practice among Koreans.

Kang Byung-in (Yeonmuk)

Eminent Hangeul calligrapher Kang Byung-in is well known for transforming traditional calligraphy art by using a modern method of visualizing the sounds of Hangeul letters to create visual images. He aims to promote the elegance and charm of Hangeul fonts through a modern reinterpretation. Kang Byung-in has integrated Hangeul’s principles into his work philosophy. According to him, the best writing comes from a writer’s personal experiences and stories. His biggest inspiration is King Sejong, and since he earns his livelihood through writing, he is eternally grateful to him. He has created calligraphic designs for TV shows like “Misaeng,” “The Great King Sejong,” and “Jeong Do Jeon,” as well as the Soju brand’s “Chamisul.” He also heads a Korean calligraphy institute known as “Sooltong.”

Kim Choong-hyun (Iljoong)

Kim Choong-hyun style of calligraphy originated from the conventional “goche” (old style) font. Kim was the pioneer of Hangeul calligraphy. He produced works by using Chinese characters (hanmun) as well as Hangeul characters. His writing style consists of bold and uneven strokes which imitates woodblock printing. Additionally, he is renowned for “honseoche” (mixed script) style of writing which combines Hangeul and Chinese characters. In 2012, the Iljoong Memorial Foundation inaugurated the Iljoong Calligraphy Hall in Insa-dong, Seoul to preserve his rich artistic legacy. He is also referred to as the national calligrapher of Korea. His calligraphic artworks can be seen at places such as Gyeongbuk Palace, Hyunchung Temple, and Jeseungdang Shrine.

Lee Hong-jae

Lee Hong-jae, a Korean calligrapher and Ta-Muk performance artist, believes that calligraphy is not meant to be enjoyed silently because it is an ebullient art. Ta-Muk is the abbreviation for “Ta-Phil-Bi-Muk,”  which means the ink flies away when you hit the brush. He uses a big brush made of white horsetail hair and energetically writes on the sheet laid on the ground. He faced criticism at the start of his career for not adhering to the traditional method. However, due to his continuous efforts, he is now a well-known performing artist, especially in South Korea. His writing style has transformed static calligraphy into dynamic art. In one of his interviews, he said, “After 60 years of calligraphy, the only thing that I still want to do is “calligraphy’.” People often refer to him as the “dancing calligrapher.”

In the East Asian region, the art of calligraphy is still prominent in China and Japan. However, South Korea is recording a gradual decline due to excessive reliance on modern technology. It is also not a part of their school curriculum which further pushes this art into a deep abyss. It is a part of Korea’s rich traditional culture and serious efforts and initiatives are required to preserve it for the future generations.

_{Video Credits: Great Big Story}

Have you ever tried Korean calligraphy? Share your views in the comment section below.