By Choe Chong-dae
I feel nostalgic about an old painting of images of "sagunja," a term referring to the Four Gracious Plants: plum, orchid, chrysanthemum and bamboo. The name refers to the "four people of virtue" since the distinctive traits of each plant reflects a noble Confucian virtue appropriate to Korea's four seasons. I have a decades-old memory that sagunja paintings decorated the guest room of my father's old home in Gyeongju.
In particular, the bamboo ink painting is a distinctive art genre that utilizes black ink to depict the lines of bamboo alone. Bamboo has long been a source of inspiration that is one of the most useful and versatile plants for humans. It is associated with the virtues of moral integrity, modesty, flexibility and strength, as well as elegance and loyalty. Its leaves remain green in winter while other plants have lost their leaves due to the cold.
Korean literature and art have long held bamboo in high esteem, as it represents the harmony between nature and the human world. Much literature and paintings have been dedicated to bamboo throughout Korean history, ancient and modern. It is a significant subject in Korean and Northeastern Asian painting, calligraphy and poetry. Koreans' affection for bamboo is deeply rooted in our minds. Bamboo reflects our soul and emotions.
Bamboo musical instruments were introduced to the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392 A.D) from China and were played through the Joseon Kingdom. A bamboo flute and other musical instruments appear in the mural paintings of ancient Goguryeo tombs. Bamboo is primarily found in certain climactic zones of Asia but because of its many species, it can thrive in a variety of climates. It is found outside Asia as well now.
In Korea, Damyang County is famous for its bamboo. Located in South Jeolla Province, near Gwangju Metropolitan City, the rural town has the best environmental and geographical conditions for growing bamboo. We believe that bamboo crafts were produced in Damyang during the Goryeo Kingdom and introduced to Japan and neighboring countries. The "Juknokwon," an oxygen-rich bamboo forest in Damyang, has eight trails that attract many visitors. The Philosopher's Road in this forest reminds me of the Philosopher's Walk in Heidelberg. Exploring the Juknokwon forest during a recent visit to Damyang, I was able to experience not only the unique charm of the bamboo forest for myself but also observe many couples and families walking hand in hand. They were in profound contemplation of nature.
I was also impressed by the picturesque Soswaewon Garden in Damyang. It is a traditional garden of the Joseon Kingdom era. It was built by Yang San-bo (1503-1557), after he gave up his government position when his teacher Jo Gwang-jo (1482-1519) was exiled and killed during political turmoil in 1519.
Nestled at Jigok-ri village, Nam Township, the garden was beautifully designed to accentuate a crystal-like stream of clear water that flows through a valley and over a small waterfall into a pond. This garden within a bamboo grove harmonizes with nature in a distinctively Korean, traditional style. Sitting in a pavilion in the Soswaewon Garden and gazing at the fascinating scenery, I was deeply impressed by the rich legacy of Confucian culture and was transported to a dream-like state of a virtual utopia created in the 16th century.
Confucian scholars enjoyed a righteous life of "An-bin-nak-do" ("being comfortable and content in poverty and taking pleasure in an honest way of life") by studying and cultivating their minds in order to maintain moral integrity, which is symbolized by bamboo.
Even today, Korean elementary school textbooks teach that Damyang is the hub of bamboo handicrafts in the country. Unfortunately, the population of Damyang has been gradually declining over the past decades. We should do more to foster domestic tourism to invigorate economic growth in our historical rural towns.
Choe Chong-dae is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and Director of the Korean-Swedish Association. He can be reached at choecd@naver.com
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In particular, the bamboo ink painting is a distinctive art genre that utilizes black ink to depict the lines of bamboo alone. Bamboo has long been a source of inspiration that is one of the most useful and versatile plants for humans. It is associated with the virtues of moral integrity, modesty, flexibility and strength, as well as elegance and loyalty. Its leaves remain green in winter while other plants have lost their leaves due to the cold.
Korean literature and art have long held bamboo in high esteem, as it represents the harmony between nature and the human world. Much literature and paintings have been dedicated to bamboo throughout Korean history, ancient and modern. It is a significant subject in Korean and Northeastern Asian painting, calligraphy and poetry. Koreans' affection for bamboo is deeply rooted in our minds. Bamboo reflects our soul and emotions.
Bamboo musical instruments were introduced to the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392 A.D) from China and were played through the Joseon Kingdom. A bamboo flute and other musical instruments appear in the mural paintings of ancient Goguryeo tombs. Bamboo is primarily found in certain climactic zones of Asia but because of its many species, it can thrive in a variety of climates. It is found outside Asia as well now.
In Korea, Damyang County is famous for its bamboo. Located in South Jeolla Province, near Gwangju Metropolitan City, the rural town has the best environmental and geographical conditions for growing bamboo. We believe that bamboo crafts were produced in Damyang during the Goryeo Kingdom and introduced to Japan and neighboring countries. The "Juknokwon," an oxygen-rich bamboo forest in Damyang, has eight trails that attract many visitors. The Philosopher's Road in this forest reminds me of the Philosopher's Walk in Heidelberg. Exploring the Juknokwon forest during a recent visit to Damyang, I was able to experience not only the unique charm of the bamboo forest for myself but also observe many couples and families walking hand in hand. They were in profound contemplation of nature.
I was also impressed by the picturesque Soswaewon Garden in Damyang. It is a traditional garden of the Joseon Kingdom era. It was built by Yang San-bo (1503-1557), after he gave up his government position when his teacher Jo Gwang-jo (1482-1519) was exiled and killed during political turmoil in 1519.
Nestled at Jigok-ri village, Nam Township, the garden was beautifully designed to accentuate a crystal-like stream of clear water that flows through a valley and over a small waterfall into a pond. This garden within a bamboo grove harmonizes with nature in a distinctively Korean, traditional style. Sitting in a pavilion in the Soswaewon Garden and gazing at the fascinating scenery, I was deeply impressed by the rich legacy of Confucian culture and was transported to a dream-like state of a virtual utopia created in the 16th century.
Confucian scholars enjoyed a righteous life of "An-bin-nak-do" ("being comfortable and content in poverty and taking pleasure in an honest way of life") by studying and cultivating their minds in order to maintain moral integrity, which is symbolized by bamboo.
Even today, Korean elementary school textbooks teach that Damyang is the hub of bamboo handicrafts in the country. Unfortunately, the population of Damyang has been gradually declining over the past decades. We should do more to foster domestic tourism to invigorate economic growth in our historical rural towns.
Choe Chong-dae is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and Director of the Korean-Swedish Association. He can be reached at choecd@naver.com
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