Wanna Hang Out...New Hanji At A Korean Palace?

Oh to be in Korea now that spring is here. I'd make a beeline tomorrow  ( 23rd April, 2 pm) for the Tongmyeongjeon Hall  at Changgyeong-gung ( palace)  to volunteer for the  ‘Royal Palace Maintenance Reenactment and Participatory Program’. You may have already missed the demonstration of the cleaning of the Jegi ( wooden bowls used in the Jongmyo ancenstral rites which will be conducted on the first Sunday of May) - this was held on the 16th of April but it's not too late to take part in other palace maintainence traditions.

Be prepared to get your fingers sticky as you help to rip off the year old hanji from palace windows and doors and replace them with fresh sheets of Korean traditional mulberry paper. You may also observe the palace housekeeping staff cleaned the floors the good old-fashioned way without benefit of domestic robots. All you need to pay is the normal admission charge for this privilege sneak peek into the behind-the-scenes palace life.

And if you miss the event tomorrow, the third part of the program will be at the Seongjeonggak Pavilion of Changdeokgung Palace on April 30th (2:00 pm).

Tourists at Changdeokgung can now admire spring  blossoms on palace grounds as well.
Click here for the comprehensive list of activities at the different palaces.

Click here for an earlier posting on the Quintessential Spring Pictures

source:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=1259075
http://www.korea.net/detail.do?guid=46044
http://ajummasjournal.blogspot.com/2009/09/andong-hanji-andong-part-6.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/04/15/2011041500362.html

Andong Hanji – Andong Part 6

It’s late in the day and we’re getting a little tired. But there’s one last stop on our day tour of Andong before our return to Jirye Art Village. The SUV rolls up in front of a nondescript building. It’s only when we’re taken inside that we realize we’ve been given an unexpected bonus –an inside look within  a traditional paper factory, Andong Hanji. Our sense of wonder returns as our  guide here explains to us Hanji ( paper)  is made.

The bark from mulberry bushes is processed to produce the famous Andong hanji. The inner white pulp of the bark is the most valued part. The water softened pulp can then be processed either by hand or machine. A gluey extract from the mallow plant is then used to hold the fibres together. Most impressed with women workers here who have to strip off with their bare fingers the papers which are dried almost instantly on very hot flat  ‘ironing boards’.  

The hanji, which varies considerably in thickness, colour and texture, can be used as calligraphy paper, print material for Confucian scholars, documents for official matters, coverings for walls and floors ( vegetable oil is applied for the yellow paper used on floors). The exhibition room also is a revelation – there’s an amazing range of products made from hanji, including dolls, lanterns, clothes & furniture.

Those who love gift wrapping, scrap booking or  doing paper crafts like origami, be forewarned – you can spend a long time and a lot of won at the hanji shop here! If you do have time to spare, you can take part in hands-on activities to make traditional masks, hats or books. The factory cum showroom is near the entrance of Hahoe Village so it’s worth checking out before or after your visit to the village.

Photo credits and  Links: KNTO website 
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=805345
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=309610