The Brush of Passion, Timeless Values
Channel: Cultural Heritage in KOREA
Date: 2018-08-14

Even when I do my best,
I don’t think it’s good enough.

I’d risk everything
to do even better than my best.
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Timeless Values
The Brush of Passion
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Calligraphy Brush Maker, Yoo Philmoo/ 
Important Intangible Cultural Asset No. 29, in the Chungbuk province.

My name is Yoo Philmoo, the calligraphy brush maker.

Jeungpyeong County, 
Chungbuk Province, South Korea

Hand made brushes are at least 5 times and at most 10 or 20 times more expensive.

That’s because they last for a very long time.

These brushes can really be passed down to future generations.

These brushes have something special and unique that western writing instruments don’t have.

All these strands, individually they all have elastics characteristics.

They are grouped on the end of the brush.

This method of brush making, used by people long ago,stopped at least 4 generations ago.

ashes of carbonized chaff

The process of removing oils from the bristles takes a year to complete when using ashes.

The use of ashes though, yield the results of the highest grade.

I think the softest brushes are the strongest.

When people refer to brushes of the highest quality, They are referring to Mooshimpil brushes.

The outer bristles and inner bristles are the same.

There is no lead. That’s why this brush is called Mooshimpil. 
(Moo= without - Shim= lead - pil= writing
instrument)

Lee Kwae dong, 
Calligrapher

You can express softness and serenity, or roughness and vibrancy.

You can also express weakness by using thin brush strokes or with strong brush strokes you can depict strength.


Kudzu

Chinese Yam
Flame Grass 
Rice Straw

Typically the materials used are Kudzu,
Rice Straw, Flame Grass or Reed.

Otherwise, you could use any vegetable fibres that can be commonly found in our
surroundings.

Wool

We can use all animal fur.

I want to continue showing the world that this kind of brush existed.

You can’t substitute traditional values.

Directed by Daewoong Kim
Cinematography by Byoungsoo Kim
                  Hyunki Lee
ⓒMBC Chungbuk