Damyang Jungnyeom Master Artisan

Bal refers to a blind woven from reeds or finely split bamboo strips using thread, hung over windows or across the wooden-floored hall (daecheong) in summer to block sunlight, or used for interior decoration. Jungnyeom (竹簾) refers specifically to a bamboo blind (daebal) woven from bamboo using hemp cord or thread. A bamboo blind is usually six cheok in length; its width is three cheok for a single window and four cheok five chon for a double window (a cheok is a traditional unit of length, about 30 cm, divided into ten chon). Types include jjokbal, gamabal, outer fine blinds (jukpiryeom), inner fine blinds (naejungnyeom), gwimunryeom, plain-patterned blinds (botongjogakryeom), long-patterned blinds (jangjogakryeom), scroll blinds (jokjabal), laver-drying blinds (gimbal), brush blinds (butbal) and folding-screen blinds (byeongpungbal). The process begins by storing harvested bamboo two to three years old and drying it in the shade until it turns a pure colour, then proceeds through cutting, strip-splitting (jjoksal-naegi), node-scraping (madi-hulteumjil), fine-strip splitting (jansal-naegi), tightening (joreumjil) and weaving (yeokkeumjil) in sequence. Patterns are sometimes woven into the bamboo at the nodes: the character for double happiness (雙喜, 囍), for longevity (壽) or for good fortune (福) is placed at the centre, with the swastika character (卍) arranged around it, and an indigo line is sometimes added outside the swastika pattern. The original place where jungnyeom was made is said to have been Damyang. The current holder of the jungnyeomjang skill, Park Seong-chun, continues to carry on the craft tradition of making traditional Damyang bamboo blinds.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Damyang, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Provincial Intangible Heritage · 시도무형유산