DANCHEONG
Dancheong: The Art of Symbolic Ornamentation Dancheong is the traditional practice of Korean architectural ornamentation in which wood is painted and decorated with vibrant colors and symbolic motifs. More than decoration, this practice expresses cultural values rooted in both Buddhism and Confucianism in its preservation of traditional and historic Korean architecture. Geunjeongjeon at Gyeongbokgung, photo by author Color Systems in Dancheong The term dancheong literally translates to "red-green," referencing the dominant hues often used in structures: reddish-brown on lower elements and blue-green on upper ones, evoking the colors of a tree trunk and its canopy. This natural palette reflects Buddhist ideals of harmony with nature. Example of red-green color scheme at Gyeongbokgung, photo by author However, dancheong employs a much broader system of color rooted in obaengsaek , or the five cardinal colors. Th...
