• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.131-145
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• 2021

As the use of cultural elements to enhance design has become increasingly emphasized, fashion studies are focusing more on the cultural aspects of design. However, the diverse approaches of Minhwa (Korean folk painting) still need to be incorporated into fashion designs. Moreover, there is limited research on the awareness and thought of using a cultural design source of Minhwa based on people from different cultural backgrounds. This study aims to reveal an in-depth understanding of the use of Minhwa and its inner symbolic meaning by people from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds. A review of the literature on cultural design and Minhwa studies was conducted to establish a theoretical foundation. Focus group interviews were conducted with 26 participants, who were divided into five distinct cultural groups to ascertain their thoughts towards Minhwa and its inner symbolic meaning. The study's major findings were threefold. First, the outer appearance of Minhwa elements based on aesthetic preferences and familiarity affect their preference choices more than the influences of their cultural backgrounds. Second, knowing the knowledge of symbolic meaning makes a big difference in image preference. Third, avoiding the use of anachronisms is a significant consideration, as they can lead to negative judgments irrespective of cultural background.

• Journal of Science of Art and Design
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• v.6
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• pp.33-59
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to analyze the symbolic meaning of the Tiger in Korean Folk Paintings, Minhwa, (hereafter, Minhwa) connected to its social contexts in Joseon period. Thinking of the Tiger Minhwa as a 'visual language' and regard the Tiger as a 'visual signifier' as well as the united-signifiers such as a Korean magpie, pine tree and so on in Minhwa. This research is to analyze these signifieds, 'Signified', what we say in this paper, have composed its symbolic meaning related to the social 'ideological complexes' and collective consciousness during Joseon period. In a word, the characteristic of the Tiger signifier has changed and spread out from the ideal trend to a worldly one. Since the late Joseon period, the change of the social contexts was, because of the civil classes who recognized the limitation of the Sung Confucianism(the doctrines of $Chi-Tz\={u}$), the predominated ideology of that time. To get rid of their uneasiness, they brought the Shamanism, Taoism and Buddhism at the front which were usually the lower class ideology or belief and tried to construct the collective consciousness and safety of their real lives. Therefore, the trend of this 'common conceptualization' show us the positiveness and flexibility to the Tiger signifier through the variation, appropriation and producing signifier. Moreover, even to the same Tiger, there were various meanings and most of them were concentrated in the meanings as follows ; Beoksa(in Korean term is to drive away evil spirits) and Gilsang, which is the good omen of a luck. All these were based on the value of 'this world'. In conclusion, through this research, the concept of the Tiger as a apotheosis has lowered its statutes and being secularized.