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Hanja of Art

10 characters

In Eastern thought, art is not technique but a Way (道). Confucius: "Set your heart on the Way, ground in virtue, rely on humanity, wander in the arts." 10 hanja where heart meets hand.

藝
예 재주

Grass (艹) + planting (埶) + cloud (云) — originally cultivating plants, extended to all refined skill.

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美
미 아름다울

Sheep (羊) + great (大) — originally a great person crowned with sheep-horn ornament: the original beauty.

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樂
악 음악

Drums and strings on wood (木) — the original meaning of music.

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詩
시 시

Speech (言) + temple (寺) — speech refined as a temple, poetry.

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畫
화 그릴

A brush (聿) drawing boundaries on a field (田) — painting is the drawing of lines.

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舞
무 춤

A person with feathers in both hands — originally the shaman's dance.

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書
서 글씨

A brush (聿) inscribing a character — calligraphy as art.

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韻
운 운

Sound (音) + roundness (員) — the grain in sound, the rhyme of poetry.

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工
공 장인

Measuring tools held in hand — the original form of precision craft.

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匠
장 장인

An axe (斤) within a chest (匚) — the master craftsman with tools.

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