(1786-1856) artist, calligrapher, scholar
Representative of the flowering of the late Choson period, Kim Jung Hee is regarded as one of Korea’s greatest calligraphers. He was born into an aristocratic family, and his talents manifested themselves at an early age. By six he was already a competent calligrapher; and at age 16 he was accepted as a pupil by the revered statesman Pak Che-ga.
Kim Jung Hee’s teen years, however, were marred by personal tragedy. His mother died, followed in quick succession by several close relatives, including his wife. In spite of such adversity, Ch’usa nonetheless passed the civil service examination at age 23.
In 1809 he accompanied his father to China as part of a delegation to the Qing dynasty. While there, he was a student of the Chinese scholar Wang Fanggang, who introduced him to the intellectual and artistic circles of Beijing. Ch’usa thus returned to Korea with a significant advantage over his scholarly peers.
As leader of the Northern Group, he pioneered historical research on epigraphy in Korea, producing the first text on Korean inscriptions. His main achievement, however, was the creation of a unique style of calligraphy known as ch’usach’e. In this style the strong strokes of early Chinese epigraphy (Ye) complement the vibrancy of grass script (ch’o).
In paintings, Kim Jung Hee’s work synthesizes the individual self-expression of the Wu school and the minimalist Son tradition with its sparing but disciplined brushwork. He also excelled at orchid paintings in which the simplicity of a single bloom harmonizes with inscriptions surrounding it.
Exiled to Cheju Island as a result of factional fighting, Kim Jung Hee made productive use of his time by perfecting the individuality of his style. He was recalled in 1848 by King Hongjong, only to be exiled again to Pukch’ong in 1851 as a result of another intrigue.
As a highly original artist and connoisseur of taste, Kim Jung Hee made a great impact on the visual arts of the 19th century. Because he shared his knowledge, he raised the level of art and made it accessible to many.
