[Characters in Minhwa: From Tradition to Future Content] Part 2: Across Mythical Worlds – Positioning Korean Minhwa in a Global Folk Tradition
[Characters in Minhwa: From Tradition to Future Content] Part 2: Across Mythical Worlds – Positioning Korean Minhwa in a Global Folk Tradition The Potential of Korean Minhwa: A Cultural DNA Shared Across Borders Subtitle: Uncovering the Cultural and Imaginative DNA Hidden in Japanese Yokai, Chinese Divine Beasts, and European Fairies 1. Universality of Imagination, Originality of Culture Throughout history, humans have infused their worldviews, daily lives, and creative imagination into stories and images. In all corners of the world, folk paintings and folklore reveal unique characters intrinsic to each culture. These characters are more than artistic depictions—they embody the hopes, fears, and wit of the people, forming a visual language with deep symbolic resonance. In Part 1, we explored the diverse realm of characters within Korean minhwa. Now in Part 2, we widen our lens to examine folk characters from Japan, China, and Europe. Through this comparative analysis, we highligh...