Oriental paintings of orchids or Ink Orchids are unique to oriental arts, in that the painters do
not depict the plants' literal looks, but rather describe their own thoughts and sentiments not
only to alleviate strong emotions, but to express various states of human psychology.
As art therapy emphasizes through a formative language more on one's inner images
and emotions than on one's interests or depiction of the outer world, Ink Orchids must be
the most appropriate materials through which we can approach the inner worlds of our
ancestors.
With Ink Orchids, Choosa and Daewongun showed their own philosophies or attitudes
of life as to the stern realities and, especially, their traumatic feelings toward crookedness
of their life courses. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to compare and analyze both
persons' formative languages appeared on their Ink Orchids, in order to understand their
philosophies of life, various states of their psychology, and how they dissolved their
traumas. The comparative analysis between the two formative languages ended up with the
following results in form and content.
Frist, the lines or strokes in Ink Orchids of Choosa and Daewongun show some
difference. Choosa's lines with light ink strokes display the feeling of empty and
untightened mind, whereas the lines with dark ink of Daewongun exhibit poignancy through
various changes in line thickness.
Second, there is difference in composition of their drawings. Choosa chooses a stable
composition achieved by horizontal axis, while Dawongun favors a vertical axis to express
tension and strong sentiments.
Third, the drawing methods they employed in their Ink Orchids are also different.
Choosa's drawing methods are based on ornamental characters, but Daewongun's methods
are based on cursive style with long downward strokes of the brush.
Fourth, Their attitudes of life do show some difference as well. Choosa wanted to lead
a quiet and contemplative life after realizing our life's emptiness and transience during his
exile. Dawewongun, on the other hand, was tenacious until the time of his death in
pursuing the political power ceaselessly even after many failures. These different life
attitudes of the two men are easily detectable in the difference of their Ink Orchids.
Key Words: Formative Psychology, Ink Orchids, Symbolism, Thought-Depicting Expression