December 23, 2025Dec 23, 2025
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)

Internet joint seminar and photo exhibition held in Brazil

Internet joint seminar and photo exhibition held in Brazil

An internet joint seminar and photo exhibition of Brazilian political parties and organizations took place on the 16th on the

December 23, 2025

An internet joint seminar and photo exhibition of Brazilian political parties and organizations took place on the 16th on the

Children's Socks Patterned with Three Animals

Children's Socks Patterned with Three Animals

The Pyongyang Hosiery Factory produces various kinds of "Choljjuk"-trademarked hosiery. Among them are children's socks patterned

December 23, 2025

The Pyongyang Hosiery Factory produces various kinds of "Choljjuk"-trademarked hosiery. Among them are children's socks patterned

The Issue of Quality He Attached Importance to

The Issue of Quality He Attached Importance to

Korean children like the "Kkotmangul"-trademarked products of various kinds turned out at the Pyongyang Children's Foodstuff

December 23, 2025

Korean children like the "Kkotmangul"-trademarked products of various kinds turned out at the Pyongyang Children's Foodstuff

New houses built in South Hamgyong Province

New houses built in South Hamgyong Province

New modern houses of diverse and unique shapes were built in Yonggo-ri of Sinhung County and Pulgunbyol-ri of Hamju County in

December 23, 2025

New modern houses of diverse and unique shapes were built in Yonggo-ri of Sinhung County and Pulgunbyol-ri of Hamju County in

Advanced research base built in Jagang Province

Advanced research base built in Jagang Province

A new advanced research base for the agricultural development in the northern mountainous areas was built at the Jagang Provincial

December 23, 2025

A new advanced research base for the agricultural development in the northern mountainous areas was built at the Jagang Provincial

Foreign personages visit DPRK missions

Foreign personages visit DPRK missions

Foreign personages of broad stripes visited missions of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in their countries between the

December 23, 2025

Foreign personages of broad stripes visited missions of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in their countries between the

New hotels inaugurated in Samjiyon tourist area

New hotels inaugurated in Samjiyon tourist area

Modern hotels have been built and inaugurated in the city of Samjiyon which is renewing its appealing looks as a model of the

December 23, 2025

Modern hotels have been built and inaugurated in the city of Samjiyon which is renewing its appealing looks as a model of the

Honorary Smelter

Honorary Smelter

Kim Myong Song living in Rangnang-dong No. 3, Rangnang District of Pyongyang is an honorary smelter of the Chollima Steel Complex,

December 22, 2025

Kim Myong Song living in Rangnang-dong No. 3, Rangnang District of Pyongyang is an honorary smelter of the Chollima Steel Complex,

Birthday spread sent to centenarian

Birthday spread sent to centenarian

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a kind spread to An Ul Duk living in the city of Songnim, North Hwanghae Province, on the

December 22, 2025

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a kind spread to An Ul Duk living in the city of Songnim, North Hwanghae Province, on the

Chairman Kim Jong Il remembered abroad

Chairman Kim Jong Il remembered abroad

Memorial services, film shows and book and photo exhibitions were held in Pakistan, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden,

December 22, 2025

Memorial services, film shows and book and photo exhibitions were held in Pakistan, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden,

Removed Space and Widened Passage

Removed Space and Widened Passage

There is the Rungna Amusement Park in the Rungna People's Pleasure Ground on the bank of the picturesque Taedong River in the

December 22, 2025

There is the Rungna Amusement Park in the Rungna People's Pleasure Ground on the bank of the picturesque Taedong River in the

Regional-industry factories inaugurated in Koksan County

Regional-industry factories inaugurated in Koksan County

An inaugural ceremony of regional-industry factories in Koksan County for the "Regional Development 20×10 Policy" was held on the

December 21, 2025

An inaugural ceremony of regional-industry factories in Koksan County for the "Regional Development 20×10 Policy" was held on the

Regional-industry factories inaugurated in Paechon County

Regional-industry factories inaugurated in Paechon County

An inaugural ceremony of regional-industry factories in Paechon County for the "Regional Development 20×10 Policy" was held on

December 21, 2025

An inaugural ceremony of regional-industry factories in Paechon County for the "Regional Development 20×10 Policy" was held on

Regional-industry factories inaugurated in Sepho County

Regional-industry factories inaugurated in Sepho County

Regional-industry factories in Sepho County for the "Regional Development 20×10 Policy" were inaugurated with due ceremony on the

December 21, 2025

Regional-industry factories in Sepho County for the "Regional Development 20×10 Policy" were inaugurated with due ceremony on the

Tool of Mediaeval Terrorism

Tool of Mediaeval Terrorism

The Japanese imperialists illegally occupied Korea in the last century. In order to make the Korean people their complete colonial

December 21, 2025

The Japanese imperialists illegally occupied Korea in the last century. In order to make the Korean people their complete colonial

Regional-industry factories inaugurated in Kim Jong Suk County

Regional-industry factories inaugurated in Kim Jong Suk County

Regional-industry factories in Kim Jong Suk County for the "Regional Development 20×10 Policy" were inaugurated with due ceremony

December 21, 2025

Regional-industry factories in Kim Jong Suk County for the "Regional Development 20×10 Policy" were inaugurated with due ceremony

First-section project of Aedo Tideland completed

First-section project of Aedo Tideland completed

Builders of the Tideland Reclamation Complex of North Phyongan Province completed the 1st-section project of the Aedo Tideland in

December 21, 2025

Builders of the Tideland Reclamation Complex of North Phyongan Province completed the 1st-section project of the Aedo Tideland in

More Articles