Hojakdo — Tiger and Magpie | Soam Lee Seong-su | Korean Minhwa Art Poster

A divine messenger and a mountain king face to face — a contemporary master's tribute to Korea's most beloved folk painting tradition.

A striking Hojakdo (虎鵲圖, "Tiger and Magpie") from the collection of the Jeju National Museum, painted by Soam Lee Seong-su — Buddhist monk, pansori connoisseur and award-winning minhwa artist. In this scene, the magpie, messenger of the village guardian deity, delivers a divine oracle to the tiger. A museum-grade reproduction printed on premium fine-art paper.

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

This version tells the motif's oldest story: the magpie, perched above, is no ordinary bird. She is the messenger of the Seonangsin, the guardian deity of the village, and she has come to deliver a divine oracle to the tiger, the deity's earthly servant and king of the Korean mountains. Around them, the traditional grammar of minhwa unfolds — bold ink lines, mineral colors, and a tiger whose expressive face carries the genre's signature blend of majesty and mischief. In Korean tradition, the tiger wards off evil spirits while the magpie brings auspicious news: painted together, they were hung at the entrance of the home each New Year as a talisman of protection and good fortune.

The painting is the work of Soam Lee Seong-su, a remarkable figure of Korean culture: born in Buan (North Jeolla), he was the abbot of Daegaksa Temple in Gwangju, a devoted connoisseur of pansori (Korean epic singing), a torch bearer at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, and a multi-award-winning artist at Korea's national minhwa competitions. He donated this work to the Jeju National Museum before his passing — a gesture that ensured this living tradition would keep speaking to new generations.

The original, painted in ink and colors on paper (75.5 × 125.5 cm), is held at the Jeju National Museum, South Korea.

Key Features

• Iconic Korean minhwa (folk painting) motif: the Hojakdo, tiger and magpie
• Work by Soam Lee Seong-su, award-winning contemporary minhwa master
• From the collection of the Jeju National Museum, Korea (accession no. Jeju-gi 1302)
• Symbolism: divine protection (tiger), sacred messenger & good fortune (magpie)
• Original: ink and colors on paper, 75.5 × 125.5 cm — this poster keeps the traditional vertical scroll proportions
• High-resolution reproduction on premium matte fine-art paper (200 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.