March 08, 2026Mar 08, 2026
KCNA Voice of Korea (EN)

Tanchong, Precious Cultural Wealth of the Nation

Date: 18/06/2021 | Source: Voice of Korea (EN) | Read original version at source

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)

Greetings to respected Comrade Kim Jong Un from President of Belarus

Greetings to respected Comrade Kim Jong Un from President of Belarus

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a message

March 07, 2026

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a message

Under the Benefits of the Socialist System

Under the Benefits of the Socialist System

The international holiday of the world working women came into being according to the desire of the women to defend their dignity

March 07, 2026

The international holiday of the world working women came into being according to the desire of the women to defend their dignity

Paying Attention Even to a Small Brand

Paying Attention Even to a Small Brand

One day in July 2015, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the then Rangnang Hygiene Products Factory. Looking at the

March 07, 2026

One day in July 2015, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the then Rangnang Hygiene Products Factory. Looking at the

Sapling production increases

Sapling production increases

The North Hwanghae Provincial Tree Nursery is putting the sapling production on a highly scientific and intensive footing. The

March 07, 2026

The North Hwanghae Provincial Tree Nursery is putting the sapling production on a highly scientific and intensive footing. The

Production increases at different units

Production increases at different units

The Namsi Stockbreeding Machine Factory is vigorously pushing ahead with the work to manufacture a greater number of efficient

March 06, 2026

The Namsi Stockbreeding Machine Factory is vigorously pushing ahead with the work to manufacture a greater number of efficient

Army-people joint meetings held in provinces and cities

Army-people joint meetings held in provinces and cities

Army-people joint meetings for implementing the decisions of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea were held

March 06, 2026

Army-people joint meetings for implementing the decisions of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea were held

Nearly One Third of the Country to Be Transformed

Nearly One Third of the Country to Be Transformed

A new history of regional transformation has opened in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea under the leadership of the

March 06, 2026

A new history of regional transformation has opened in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea under the leadership of the

Woodwork "Long Life in Good Health"

Woodwork "Long Life in Good Health"

This is the gift--woodwork "Long Life in Good Health"--presented to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un on April 11, 2011 by a

March 06, 2026

This is the gift--woodwork "Long Life in Good Health"--presented to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un on April 11, 2011 by a

More Articles