• (The)Study of the Eastern Classic
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• no.33
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• pp.437-470
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• 2008

Woo-Suk Hwang Jong-Ha(友石, 黃宗河 1887-1952), Woo-Chung Hwang Sung-Ha (又淸, 黃成河, 1891-1965), Gook-In Hwang Kyung-Ha (菊人, 黃敬河, 1895-?) and Mi-San Hwang Yong-Ha(美山 黃庸河, 1899-?) were not only renowned writers and painters but also brothers spaced four years apart The Hwang brothers were not specially trained by educational institutions, but studied on their own, relying on picture books from China and the artpieces of masters. Even though brothers each born only four years from the next, they preferred different techniques, and the subjects they were proficient at drawing were all different to some extent: Tiger Painting by Hwang Jong-Ha, Finger Painting by Hwang Sung-Ha, Ginseng Painting by Hwang Kyung-Ha and Painting of Four Gracious Plants (plum, orchid, chrysanthemum, bamboo) by Hwang Yong-Ha are an example of this. They also showed differences in their manner of holding various exhibitions. They did, however, forge strong familial ties by holding the Exhibition by Four Brothers or by producing joint paintings. In particular, they established an art school called the Song-Do Society for the Research of Writings and Paintings in Gaesung, North Korea as a means to nurture young artists and to offer opportunities to introduce their own artwork. They were both friends and artists, as they spent their childhood together and share their thoughts and hobbies as well as their own individual and unique works of art. Moreover, they went the through ups and downs of Korean history from the end of the Joseon Dynasty through the Japanese occupation however, they strove to keep the tradition of Korean paintings alive, and even persevered in writing and drawing countless artwork with paper, brush and Chinese ink until the day they each died.