9 Paintings and Calligraphy of Joseon Royal Court

During the Joseon Dynasty, paintings were employed for the governance of the country. Joseon court paintings were produced through collaboration among court painters from Dohwaseo (Royal Bureau of Painting) under the supervision of Yejo (Ministry of Rituals, Education and Foreign Affairs). Painters focused on following the existing conventions such as symbolism or schematic composition for intended functions, rather than individual creativity or aesthetic quality. Calligraphy was critical in Joseon Confucian society that revered learning and scholars interpreted their learning in written form. Joseon kings and royal family members devoted themselves to writing prose and poems or practicing calligraphy as a means to express themselves. Moreover, they cultivated their minds by producing and appreciating calligraphy and painting.