Munjado flourished from the late 1700s through the 1800s as a genre of Korean folk painting where a Chinese character is transformed into a picture. Symbolic images are woven directly into the brushstrokes of the character itself, so the word and the imagery tell a single story together.
This is part of Eight Confucian Virtues – Hyo (孝) · Je (悌) · Chung (忠) · Sin (信) · Ye (禮) · Ui (義) · Yeom (廉) · Chi (恥), typically painted as an eight-panel folding screen to decorate the home.
廉 Yeom — Integrity (incorruptibility and frugality) Shown with the phoenix, which flies vast distances but refuses to eat common grain symbolizes a noble person’s willingness to step aside gracefully.
Painted with pigments on hanji (Korean mulberry paper). Giclée printed on Hahnemühle German Etching paper.
16" x 20"
Frame not included
KK Kim is a contemporary Minhwa artist based in San Francisco, CA. Her practice is rooted in Korean painting tradition. Using traditional techniques and materials, she interprets Minhwa through a modern lens and connecting it to contemporary life. Her art creates a visual pause that make space to feel more steady, resilient, and renewed.
