Hojakdo — Tiger and Magpie | Korean Minhwa Folk Painting

A guardian tiger and a chattering magpie — the most beloved motif of Korean folk painting, from the celebrated Lee Kun-hee Collection.

An authentic Hojakdo (虎鵲圖, "Tiger and Magpie") by an anonymous Korean artist, held at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul as part of the historic Lee Kun-hee Collection. Painted in ink and colors on paper, this folk painting was a traditional New Year talisman: the tiger drives away evil spirits, the magpie brings good news. Museum-grade reproduction on premium fine-art paper.

An authentic Hojakdo :

Few images capture the spirit of Korean folk art (minhwa) like the Hojakdo — the tiger and magpie painting that adorned Korean homes for centuries.

Beneath a gnarled old pine, a massive tiger prowls, his striped body curving in a great S, tail sweeping up along the trunk. He turns his head back toward us — enormous round eyes, spotted muzzle, fangs bared — meant to be fearsome, yet irresistibly comical, in the pure spirit of minhwa's beloved "foolish tiger." And he has good reason to look flustered: not one but two magpies are after him. One swoops down from the sky, the other perches on the pine, beak wide open, visibly scolding the king of the mountains. In Korean tradition, the pair forms a complete talisman — the tiger wards off misfortune and evil spirits, while the magpie is the bearer of good news and happy tidings. Painted together, they were hung at the entrance of the home each New Year to invite luck and protection for the year ahead. Folk tradition also enjoys a sly second reading: the imposing but slightly bumbling tiger stands for the aristocracy, while the clever little magpies speak for the common people — humor and satire were always part of minhwa's charm.

Painted in ink and colors on paper by an anonymous Korean artist, this work belongs to the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, where it entered the collections through one of the greatest art donations of the century: the Lee Kun-hee Collection. In 2021, the family of the late Samsung chairman donated over 21,000 artworks and artifacts to Korean public museums — a landmark gift that brought countless treasures of Korean art, from ancient masterpieces to beloved folk paintings like this one, into public view.

Painted in ink and soft earthy colors — warm browns, ink black, a flash of red at the tiger's mouth — the original is a hanging scroll measuring 94.5 × 61.6 cm. This poster preserves its elegant vertical proportions.

Key Features

• Authentic Korean minhwa (folk painting): the iconic Hojakdo, tiger and magpie
• Anonymous Korean artist — ink and colors on paper
• From the National Museum of Korea, Seoul — Lee Kun-hee Collection (accession no. Geonhui 4132)
• A prowling tiger with the genre's signature comic expression, teased by two magpies under a gnarled pine
• Symbolism: protection against evil spirits (tiger), good news and fortune (magpie), longevity (pine)
• Original dimensions: 94.5 × 61.6 cm — poster keeps the original 2:3 portrait ratio, no cropping
• High-resolution reproduction on premium matte fine-art paper (250 g/m²+), FSC-certified
• Available in multiple sizes — frame not included
• Printed to order and carefully shipped in a rigid tube

Styling Suggestions

Pairs beautifully with natural wood or black frames, japandi and eclectic interiors, and other Asian art prints. A strong statement piece above a sofa, bed or entryway console — echoing the Hojakdo's traditional place at the entrance of the home.