After you finish your tour on the 1st floor, the hands of your clock will stand at 2:00~3:00. (I heard that someone stayed until 4:00.) The 1st floor is actually the main part of the museum, it is actually a natural consequence. Also, maybe you feel that it is too crowded when you are on the 1st floor. However, when you go up to the 2nd floor, the atmosphere is very different. It is more calm and silent. It is because many people, especially children are not interested in the exhibits on 2nd floor.
As you see in the picture, if the 1st floor is more like a museum, the 2nd floor is more like an art gallery. Maybe one of the reasons many people are less interested in this floor is the Donated Works section. Of course, most of them are masterpieces made by old master craftsmen, but many imitations are in their grandparent’s house. Also, many young children and students don’t know well about calligraphy.
However, most foreign visitors tend to stay longer than Korean visitors. Especially, you are interested in art, it is the place you want.
1. What is Calligraphy?
Calligraphy is the art of decorative and harmonious penmanship. In Asian calligraphy, the artist generally seeks to create a sense of inspiration and grace through strong and soft touches of the brush and changes in the lines of the letters or ideograms. Through calligraphy, letters can express emotion and thought not only by the words they form, but by their appearance. Hence, great calligraphy conveys aesthetic, intellectual, and spiritual beauty.
In Korea, calligraphy was a means of artistic expression for elite literati and classical scholars who were well versed in humanistic knowledge, poetry, and literature. It was widely believed that handwriting was a reflection of one’s mind and personality, so for centuries people strived to cultivate their mind and acquire diligence by improving their penmanship. Korean calligraphy combines Chinese characters and Korean script. Prior to the 15th century, calligraphy in Korea was limited to Chinese characters, and thus was practiced almost exclusively by scholars, as most people could not read or write Chinese. But in 1446, King Sejong promulgated Hunminjeongeum (Hangeul, the Korean alphabet), which was designed to allow the greater public to easily learn to read and write. Hence, Korean script calligraphy developed in everyday life, though it was still practiced primarily by royal and noble families. (국립중앙박물관 번역)
2. What is Sarangbang?
During the Joseon Dynasty, most Korean houses included a room called a “sarangbang,” akin to a study or library, which was typically for men’s use only. The room was used by patriarchs for solitary study, to receive male visitors, and to host small social events. Noblemen and Confucian scholars were fanatically devoted to their studies, but they also believed that they could maximize their reason and sensitivity by unifying their study with artistic pursuits, such as poetry, calligraphy, and painting.
As the setting for scholarly and artistic activities, the sarangbang was decorated to reflect the owner’s taste. Since Confucian standards privileged dignity, discernment, humility, and honest poverty, many selected their furniture and household appliances to be simple and classical. This section comprises paintings, calligraphy, and stationery goods associated with Confucian scholars of the Joseon Dynasty, as well as daily objects that would have been used in the sarangbang. Plus, a full-sized replica of a typical sarangbang provides a glimpse of the daily life of a nobleman during the Joseon Dynasty.
+Tip+
Visit Here!
Cafe M
Great Hall 2F, 24 seats
The glass walls provide such an extraordinary view of nature that visitors can enjoy their leisure time.
[Menu]
Sandwich, Muffin, Cake, Cookie etc.
[Drinks]
Coffee, Tea etc.
9am~6pm (Tue/Thur/Fri), 9am~8pm (Wed/Sat), 9am~7pm (Sun), Closed on Mondays.
