ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Minhwa

Minhwa is a type of traditional Korean painting that tells stories. It's like a picture book, but instead of using words, it uses pictures to tell the story.

People used to make these paintings a long, long time ago in Korea. They were painted on paper or silk and were hung up on the walls in homes or on buildings. They were usually made by people who weren't professional artists, but who were good at painting.

The pictures in a minhwa painting usually show people, animals, plants, and sometimes even dragons or other magical creatures. These pictures can have lots of different meanings, like showing a moral lesson or telling a story from history or mythology.

Sometimes the pictures in minhwa paintings have special symbols or shapes, like circles or squares, that have meaning too. And some minhwa paintings have really bright and bold colors, which can make the picture even more exciting to look at.

Today, people in Korea still make minhwa paintings, but they're also used for decoration or as souvenirs for tourists. Minhwa paintings are an important part of Korean history and culture, and they're a great way to learn about the stories and ideas that people used to have a long time ago.