special exhibition 〈The Wonder of Birds〉 to showcase Korean, Chinese, and Japanese paintings depicting a wide variety of birds.
People have long observed birds and infused them with special symbolic meanings by associating them with diverse emotions and imagery.
As social and cultural elements, these themes have provided important subject matter in both literature and painting throughout the Sinosphere.
〈The Wonder of Birds〉 is organized into three sections: “Heavenly Birds,” “Water Birds,” and “Ground-Dwelling Birds.”
This division is based on the three principal realms (heaven, waterside, earth) that are commonly considered avian habitats.
The first section, “Heavenly Birds,” focuses on cranes and phoenixes (a type of mythical bird), both of which are believed to bridge the human world and the heavens.
The second section, “Water Birds,” features birds that live predominantly near water, including geese, Egret, and kingfishers.
The third section, “Ground-Dwelling Birds,” showcases birds frequently depicted in paintings, including hens and roosters raised as livestock, hawks, quails, woodpeckers inhabiting mountains and fields, and parrots kept as pets.
Birds were frequently depicted in paintings due to their visually striking appearances, particularly their colorful feathers.
The unique characteristics of various bird species were masterfully portrayed. Additionally, the ecological traits of each bird species were emphasized in relation to their cultural symbolism.
Additional meaning and new intentions were often conveyed through the inclusion of plants, animals, and specific figures.
These paintings were beloved by people and enjoyed lasting popularity for reflecting the values cherished by men of noble character, the literati, and military figures, as well as commonly-held wishes for longevity, wealth, fame, prosperity, peace, harmony, and protection from evil.
We hope that 〈The Wonder of Birds〉 provides an opportunity to explore how the people of the past in Korea, China, and Japan visually expressed and appreciated the symbolism and values embodied by a diverse array of birds.

Permanent Exhibition