This passage describes the art of gold leaf work in traditional Korean craftsmanship, highlighting its historical significance and the challenges of preserving this ancient craft.
- Gold leaf work in Korea is vital for achieving the brilliance of patterns on various items, especially Hanbok (traditional Korean clothing).
- The concentration of glue used for attaching gold leaf must be adjusted according to the season and fabric type.
- The process involves applying the paste evenly and with the right force to ensure clear patterns.
- Both pure gold and gold with copper as the main ingredient are used, with the latter being more common nowadays.
- Gold leaf is carefully beaten to reduce thickness, and the work takes several days to achieve a beautiful golden color.
- The history of the glue used for gold leaf reflects the history of gold leaf itself, adapting to changing times.
- The passage also mentions a family, Geumbak Yeon, which has preserved the tradition of gold leaf work for 156 years, passing it down through generations.
- The choice of continuing this craft is up to the individual, and the family is proud of maintaining the tradition.
- The passage touches on Princess Deokhye's relics, emphasizing the historical importance of gold leaf in the Korean imperial family's attire.
- Efforts are being made to preserve gold leaf craftsmanship through experience programs, with many foreigners showing interest.
- The quality of materials, such as gold, is essential for producing high-quality gold leaf.
Overall, the passage highlights the cultural and historical significance of gold leaf work in Korea and the efforts to pass down this tradition to future generations.
1. Gold leaf work primarily involves the application of gold paste to create detailed patterns. The concentration of the paste is crucial for the completeness of the gold leaf. The consistency of the paste must be adjusted according to the season and the type of fabric.
2. Gold leaf can be made from pure gold, but these days, gold with copper as its main ingredient is mostly used. When working with gold, it is beaten to reduce force and time.
3. To obtain a beautiful golden color, the process of gold leaf application must be done slowly over several days.
4. The history of gold leaf work is closely tied to the history of the glue used. As the royal family disappeared, a suitable paste for the popular gold leaf was needed.
5. Gold leaf work was traditionally done by craftsmen who had been insisting on it for generations. However, with the disappearance of the imperial family, the work faded away.
6. The gold leaf craftsman Kim Ki-ho, who had a promising future as a researcher designing robots, chose to follow in his father's footsteps and live the life of a gold leaf craftsman.
7. The Geumbak Institute has started efforts to preserve the gold leaf and promote traditional roots through experience. Most of those who come to experience gold leaf are foreigners, such as Japanese or Europeans.
8. The gold leaf, which symbolized the authority and dignity of the imperial family, fell. The Geumbak Institute has started making efforts to preserve the gold leaf.
9. Good materials are just as important as sincerity in producing gold. The gold used in gold leaf manufacturing is the highest quality, recognized by seniors.
10. The president of Odae, Kim Ki-ho, has been creating a new product to promote the value of gold leaf. A gold-leaf tie can be worn with a formal attire on special occasions.
11. The gold leaf, which shines even brighter with the sincerity of beating it by hand one by one, has not dried yet.
12. The gold leaf that was decorated when there was a wedding or a big event in the royal family was used for women's clothing.
13. The gold leaf paste is applied evenly and stamped with force so that all the patterns are engraved. This process quickly determines the clarity of the pattern.
14. Gold leaf work is a labor-intensive task, so a father and son must work together. The wood of the stone boat used as a wooden board is not difficult to handle because it has a good material.
15. To make a gold leaf pattern, one has to carve the wood block themselves. At the Gold Leaf Institute, one can use existing wood blocks or develop new patterns.
16. The pattern is really decided at the end. The decision is made through carving. And while one is doing it, one can reduce or increase the weight here, so the carving is the last step.
17. The gold leaf workshop has maintained the tradition for five generations for as many as 156 years.
18. The gold leaf that shined the authority of the royal family with dazzling splendor is the father who preserved the shine.
19. The gold leaf that started in the Goryeo Dynasty was mainly used in the royal family until the Joseon Dynasty.
20. The gold leaf that shined