The Korean nation with a 5,000-year-long history has a lot of cultural heritages evoking the admiration of the world people. One of them is Tanchong. Tanchong means paintings or patterns drawn on pillars, rafters, walls and ceilings in different colors to decorate the buildings gorgeously. Originally, the Korean ancestors applied mineral paints to the wooden structures in order to keep them from rotting by wind and rain or being moth-eaten. Later, Tanchong was developed into an element decorating the buildings. Doctor and Associate Professor Jo Hwi Nam, Section Chief of the Folklore Institute under the Academy of Social Sciences, says: "Tanchong had long been used in the architecture of our country. It has diverse kinds and perfect system of techniques. It is largely divided into luxurious, common and simple paintings according to the formation of the patterns. The common painting was most widely used. It was applied to all buildings as it was neither too simple nor complicated." Patterns were also diverse. The lotus, Punic apple and mud-snail patterns were most commonly used. Sometimes, tens of kinds of patterns were used to finish a building with paintings. Long ago, the wise Korean ancestors regarded Tanchong as an important decorative element in wood architecture and developed it into a diverse and elegant means of decoration with an integral system of formation, pattern arrangement and color harmony. Jo Hwi Nam says: "Until the 16th century the pillars were usually painted red and the brackets and ceilings green. Such technique had been applied since the time of the Koryo Dynasty. From the 17th century different other colors were applied and patterns arranged more delicately for splendid decoration. Yellowish brown color, that is, orange colour was much more used to make the buildings much brighter. Techniques became more diverse along with the alternate use of warm and cold colors. But the principle of painting the upper part green and the lower part red has been invariably inherited." The beautiful and elegant Tanchong with a long history has become a precious cultural wealth of the nation thanks to the policy on preserving the national cultural heritages of the country. It is wonderfully carried forward and developed, further enriching its content and style according to the demand of the times and the desire of the people.
More From Voice of Korea (EN)
Alexandr Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus, will pay an official visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
March 25, 2026
Alexandr Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus, will pay an official visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
A performance was given by artistes on March 23 to congratulate the successful First Session of the 15th Supreme People's
March 24, 2026
A performance was given by artistes on March 23 to congratulate the successful First Session of the 15th Supreme People's
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
March 24, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
The second-day sitting of the First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was
March 24, 2026
The second-day sitting of the First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
March 24, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
The inaugurationceremony of 10,000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area was held with splendour on February 16, 2026.
March 24, 2026
The inaugurationceremony of 10,000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area was held with splendour on February 16, 2026.
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
March 24, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
Deputy Pak Thae Song, Premier of the Cabinet, made a report on the work of the Cabinet to the First Session of the 15th Supreme
March 24, 2026
Deputy Pak Thae Song, Premier of the Cabinet, made a report on the work of the Cabinet to the First Session of the 15th Supreme
Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui sent a message of greetings to Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Minister of International Relations and
March 24, 2026
Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui sent a message of greetings to Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Minister of International Relations and
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly heard a report on the execution of the state budget of the Democratic
March 24, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly heard a report on the execution of the state budget of the Democratic
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a
March 24, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a
Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui received a message of greetings from Selma Ashipala Musavyi, Minister of International Relations and
March 24, 2026
Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui received a message of greetings from Selma Ashipala Musavyi, Minister of International Relations and
A teaching materials exhibition took place in the city of Pyongyang to implement the second program of the universal 12-year
March 23, 2026
A teaching materials exhibition took place in the city of Pyongyang to implement the second program of the universal 12-year
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted an important and
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted an important and
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea elected the Standing
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea elected the Standing
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea elected the State Affairs
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea elected the State Affairs
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed members of the
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed members of the
Deputy Ko Kil Son, Secretary General of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, made an opening address at the
March 23, 2026
Deputy Ko Kil Son, Secretary General of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, made an opening address at the
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed the Director of the
March 23, 2026
The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed the Director of the
Young people in Kangwon and Ryanggang provinces have volunteered to work at difficult and challenging sectors of socialist
March 23, 2026
Young people in Kangwon and Ryanggang provinces have volunteered to work at difficult and challenging sectors of socialist
More Articles