National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage Transfers Traditional Dancheong Pigment Manufacturing Technology to Private Company

The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage under the Cultural Heritage Administration has transferred the technology for the Manufacturing Method of Dongnok Pigment as a Substitute for Traditional Hayeop Pigment Used in Dancheong (Patent No. 10-2543223) a nationally patented technology developed through the restoration research of traditional Dancheong pigments to a private company.

Traditional Hayeop pigment is named for its deep green color resembling a lotus leaf and has long been used not only in Dancheong (the traditional decorative coloring on wooden buildings) of temples palaces and government offices but also as a green pigment in cultural heritage paintings.

Hayeop (荷葉): A term referring to the leaves of the lotus or a pigment that has a deep green color similar to that of lotus leaves.
However the production and use of Dongnok one of the pigments used as Hayeop were discontinued with the advent of chemical Dancheong pigments in modern times making it impossible to use in the restoration of national heritage Dancheong.

To address this issue the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage conducted a reproduction study from 2019 to 2022 based on ancient literature. They successfully recreated the Dongnok pigment (basic copper chloride) which closely resembles the color and composition of Hayeop found in actual cultural heritage sites and secured the manufacturing technology for it.

Ancient Literature: Includes texts such as Tiangong Kaiwu (an industrial technology book from the late Ming Dynasty) Bencao Gangmu (an encyclopedic work on traditional medicine from the late Ming Dynasty) Imwon Gyeongjeji (the largest encyclopedia on natural sciences in the Joseon Dynasty) and Xin Xiu Ben Cao (a medical text from the Tang Dynasty).
Basic Copper Chloride: A compound of chlorine and copper formed by salt.
The patented technology which efficiently produces Dongnok pigment as a substitute for the now-discontinued traditional Hayeop pigment was registered as a national patent in June 2023. Following a survey of patent technology needs and consultations with companies a licensing agreement was signed in July with Gaail Traditional Pigment Co. Ltd. (CEO: Kim Hyun-seung) a traditional pigment manufacturing company. The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage is actively supporting the company with on-site technical guidance and quality analysis of the manufactured pigment to ensure that Dongnok pigment can be applied in the restoration of traditional Dancheong. This company has been manufacturing and supplying traditional pigments for years including those used in the creation of plaques for Joseon palaces and in traditional material Dancheong pilot projects.

Research achievements and related patent technologies can be viewed on the Patent Information Search Service (http://www.kipris.or.kr).
Non-exclusive License: A right granted by the holder of an industrial property right to allow others to use their rights within a specified scope.
The transfer of a traditional technology registered as a national patent to a private company is the second such case following the transfer of the Pigment Differentiation Method (Patent No. 10-1957716) in 2019. This represents a significant achievement in translating the results of traditional material restoration research into practical application.

The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage under the Cultural Heritage Administration will continue to pursue research on the restoration of traditional materials aiming to contribute to the sustainable use of traditional materials and the revitalization of related industries through proactive administration.

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