‘A Brief History of Korean Martial Arts’ is a book written by professor Bok Kyu Choi. It’s seasoned with popular myths and folk stories about fictional and non-fictional warrior characters from the history of Korea. I was asked to make illustrations for the book in ink: i made these illustrations with black ink and water – depending on the amount of colours i needed, i painted more or less layers.

Illustration for a story in the book ‘A Brief History of Korean Martial Arts’ by Prof. B. K. Choi, in which the monk Won-Hyo learns that the bigger part of martial arts happens in the mind, not in the physics.

Nongae was, according to Korean folklore, a gisaeng (an enslaved courtesan) who loved Korea so much, she thought of a trick to contribute her share to Korean victory during the Japanese war. She seduced Japanese High Commander Keyamura Rokusuke, held him tight and jumped from a hig cliff into the Nam river.

Meyongwol was a remarkable swordswoman in ancient Korea.

According to the folk story, Korean Admiral Yi Sun-sin understood the forces of nature so well that he could use his knowledge during battle with the Japanese, resulting in victory and a statue.

Prince Hwanung and Ungnyeo the woman who used to be a bear before she became his wife. Korean Folklore about the country’s beginning.

‘History is the propaganda of the victors’ said George Orwell. The book A Brief History of ‘Korean Martial Arts’ by prof B. K. Choi is seasoned with folk stories from Korean history. They reflect the country’s spirit and system of virtues. Here is Ito Hirobumi, who was shot by Ahn Jung Geun in 1907. In Korean he is a freedom fighter, an Japan, he is an assassin.