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)
Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
December 05, 2025
Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
The art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan laid bouquets before the bronze statues of the great leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim
December 05, 2025
The art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan laid bouquets before the bronze statues of the great leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim
New houses have been built at the Thaeyang Farm in Kyonghung County and the Hyongje Farm in Puryong County of North Hamgyong
December 05, 2025
New houses have been built at the Thaeyang Farm in Kyonghung County and the Hyongje Farm in Puryong County of North Hamgyong
The 55th Athletic Meet of Artistes took place at the Basketball Gymnasium in Chongchun Street of Pyongyang on the 3rd and the 4th.
December 05, 2025
The 55th Athletic Meet of Artistes took place at the Basketball Gymnasium in Chongchun Street of Pyongyang on the 3rd and the 4th.
Young people in South Phyongan Province volunteered to work at coal mines in the province. A meeting was held to congratulate the
December 05, 2025
Young people in South Phyongan Province volunteered to work at coal mines in the province. A meeting was held to congratulate the
The "Exhibition of Products of Koryo Medicine Pharmaceutical Factories--2025" came to a close with due ceremony at the Okryu
December 05, 2025
The "Exhibition of Products of Koryo Medicine Pharmaceutical Factories--2025" came to a close with due ceremony at the Okryu
An art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan led by Ri Chol Su, Principal of the Korean Primary School in Toshun, arrived in
December 05, 2025
An art troupe of Korean schoolchildren in Japan led by Ri Chol Su, Principal of the Korean Primary School in Toshun, arrived in
Tree nurseries are found in all parts of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. One day in July 2018, the respected Comrade
December 05, 2025
Tree nurseries are found in all parts of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. One day in July 2018, the respected Comrade
South Hwanghae Province has established a new edible calcium carbonate production process and started the production. The edible
December 05, 2025
South Hwanghae Province has established a new edible calcium carbonate production process and started the production. The edible
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
December 05, 2025
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
There is Kyongru-dong, a terraced residential district, on the bank of the picturesque Pothong River in the city of Pyongyang. A
December 04, 2025
There is Kyongru-dong, a terraced residential district, on the bank of the picturesque Pothong River in the city of Pyongyang. A
This is the gift--woodwork "General View of Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia"--presented to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un by the
December 04, 2025
This is the gift--woodwork "General View of Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia"--presented to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un by the
The Phyongsong Zoo was built in South Phyongan Province. The zoo covers an area of more than 20,000 square metres with a number of
December 04, 2025
The Phyongsong Zoo was built in South Phyongan Province. The zoo covers an area of more than 20,000 square metres with a number of
A photo exhibition and a reception hosted by the Vietnamese embassy in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea took place at the
December 04, 2025
A photo exhibition and a reception hosted by the Vietnamese embassy in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea took place at the
A meeting was held at the Central Youth Hall in Pyongyang on the 3rd to commemorate the International Day of Persons with
December 04, 2025
A meeting was held at the Central Youth Hall in Pyongyang on the 3rd to commemorate the International Day of Persons with
People moved into new houses at the Ryokpho Vegetable Farm in Ryokpho District and the Oryu Vegetable Farm in Sadong District of
December 04, 2025
People moved into new houses at the Ryokpho Vegetable Farm in Ryokpho District and the Oryu Vegetable Farm in Sadong District of
The Ryongchon Plain is the largest one in North Phyongan Province. On the plain is the Naejung Farm in Yomju County. Meritorious
December 04, 2025
The Ryongchon Plain is the largest one in North Phyongan Province. On the plain is the Naejung Farm in Yomju County. Meritorious
Doctor is a job earning the people's respect because he or she relieves them of their pain and recovers their health. Kim Ryo Sun,
December 03, 2025
Doctor is a job earning the people's respect because he or she relieves them of their pain and recovers their health. Kim Ryo Sun,
Protecting the national cultural heritage associated with the talents and wisdom of the nation and the excellent national
December 03, 2025
Protecting the national cultural heritage associated with the talents and wisdom of the nation and the excellent national
A meeting was held at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace on November 30 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the respected
December 03, 2025
A meeting was held at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace on November 30 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the respected
More Articles