Spring 2024 SDLC112 - Cultural Post #2 "Seoye"

[David Kim]

Spring 2024 SDLC112

Cultural Post #2

서예 "Seoye"

David Kim

30262888

[e-mail]

서예 “Seoye" is the Korean term for traditional Korean calligraphy. It is an art form that involves writing characters, often using 한자 “hanja” (Chinese characters) or 한글 “hangul” the Korean alphabet, in a visually expressive and aesthetically pleasing manner. It is valued not only for its aesthetic beauty but also for its ability to convey meaning and emotion through the written word. Seoye is deeply rooted in Korean culture and has been practiced for centuries. Since hanja was introduced to Korea during the Go-joseon dynasty, it is estimated that Seoye has a history of over 2,000 years.  

Seoye is not just about writing words or characters; it is also about conveying the emotions, thoughts, and personality of the calligrapher through the strokes and style of the writing. Calligraphers often use different brushes, ink, and paper to create various effects and styles. The beauty of Seoye lies in its simplicity, elegance, and ability to capture the essence of the written words.

Calligraphers use special tools, including different types of brushes, ink, inkstone, and paper. They use brushes or pens made of animal hair or synthetic fibers. 먹 “mok,” the ink is usually made from charcoal or pine soot. Inkstone is used to grind the ink stick and mix it with water. Seoye paper is often made from mulberry tree fibers.

There are several styles of Seoye, each with its own characteristics and rules. For Korean, there are 판본체 panbonche, 판본 필서체 panbon pealseoche, and 궁서체 gungsuhche. 판본체 has thick lines with relatively more space between each characters. 판본 필서체 has thick lines but with sharp edges. 궁서체 has relatively thin lines with sharp edges, looking more relaxed. These styles are determined by the emphasis on the brushwork. Calligraphers use various pressure and speed to create different effects. The brushstrokes are often bold and expressive, conveying the emotions of the calligrapher.

Seoye follows aesthetic principles such as balance, harmony, and rhythm. Calligraphers strive to achieve a harmonious composition of characters, with each stroke contributing to the overall beauty of the piece. Seoye often incorporates meaningful phrases, poems, or proverbs, reflecting Korean cultural values and beliefs. The choice of words and the way they are written can convey deeper meanings and emotions.

Seoye has been an important part of Korean culture for centuries, used in various contexts such as official documents, religious texts, and artistic expression. It is considered a form of meditation and self-cultivation, with calligraphers often practicing for years to master the art. This is why parents often make their children learn Seoye if they need to develop their patience and concentration. 

Overall, seoye is a beautiful and intricate art form that reflects the rich cultural heritage of Korea. Seoye has been used in various ways, including as a form of communication, as a means of preserving and transmitting cultural heritage, and as a way to cultivate one's mind and spirit. Today, seoye is still practiced and appreciated in Korea, both as a traditional art form and as a means of artistic expression.

Korean Sources

https://m.cafe.daum.net/callipia/JsS/2593?listURI=%2Fcallipia%2FJsS 

https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0027937 

English Sources

https://thekrazemag.com/latest-updates/2022/1/2/korean-calligraphy-seoye-the-art-of-writing-hangul 

https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220804000746 

[Joseph Lee]

I always thought it was just hanja and didn't know there was a name for the writing styles, nor did I know there were different styles. It was informative to learn about the different styles and the history/context/origin of them. It was also cool to learn about the materials/processes

[Justin Park]

Personally, I didn't even know that there were different styles of 서예 and thought it was just 1 universal method. I also find it interesting how actual brushes were used to complete each stroke compared to European tradition in the medieval days where they used feathers. Cool to see the differences across different cultures