Chihwaseon (Strokes of Fire) Page #2

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He hasn't studied long but

his genius should not be wasted.

So you're the one who copied

all those Chinese paintings.

Let's go in.

Welcome. Please go upstairs.

A bankrupt merchant opened this tavern.

It does good business.

This is Mongam.

And this young man is Doncho.

My name is Songhyun.

I mostly paint "Bird and Flower".

You know Su Tung-po,

the great painter and poet?

He argues that depicting nature

as it is doesn't make it art.

Painting must reflect

the painter's mind.

It's rough for daubers like us!

Paint the thoughts behind the shape...

Go beyond the form

and paint the meaning.

It's our Master's motto:

"Think before you paint."

As his pupil,

you'll have to work hard.

Depth and shadow

must always be equal.

Is that a mouse or a rabbit?

Object and painting must be as one.

Why these slapdash strokes?

Don't push the brush. Pull it!

"Homecoming."

Painting is about more than appearance.

It's about capturing the essence.

See the difference?

You painted a scholar

gazing blissfully at flowers.

Here, what feeling do you get from

this man's face and the scenery?

His employer asked him for a bribe.

He refused and lost the job which...

he'd only just found. Tao Yuan-ming's

sorrow has to show through.

Can't you see him yearning

to express his pain in a poem?

Imagination must breathe fire

into the painting.

More important than the strokes

is what lies between them.

The mind's discipline alone

must guide the brush.

Master, I've finished "Homecoming".

How dare you claim it's finished?

A painting is never finished.

I want you to paint this fan.

It's a gift for a Chinese dignitary.

I asked Master Hyesan to paint it,

but he referred me to you.

He did? He really recommended me?

Let us be merry

while we are young.

When we are old

it will be too late.

Seung-ub, this party's for you.

Join in!

Come closer.

Sit here.

Thanks to your painting,

my trip went well. Take this.

A gift from the Chinese dignitary

to the painter of the fan.

It's a special stone for a seal.

Here's a new girl.

She plays the 'saenghwang' well.

My name's Mae-hyang.

Our Seung-ub plays

the flute very well.

They'll make a perfect duet.

"The plum blossom

blooms only for thee."

They say it keeps its scent to itself.

I'm ashamed of what I am.

In 1866, Regent Daewon orders

the persecution of the Catholics.

Nine French missionaries

and 8,000 Koreans are beheaded.

Are you looking for someone, too?

Yes. I know a kisaeng,

Mae-hyang, who's a Catholic.

You used to say

we're all equal before God.

You wanted to abolish

inequality in Korea

but you're leaving,

abandoning your dreams.

Very cute!

You've beautifully captured

the languid eyes

of this idle dog

as he watches the bee.

Seung-ub.

Master Lee wants you urgently.

So-woon has returned.

She has no hope of recovery.

She came back to avoid

being a burden on her husband.

I sent for you because she longs

to have a painting by you.

Think of it as her last wish.

Do it for me.

Seung-ub is here.

What shall I paint for you?

Whatever inspires you.

Here it is.

This is a farewell.

This is a farewell.

Farewell to my love.

If you must leave

tell me when you'll return.

Three famous painters

have jae in their names.

You could be the third won

with Danwon and Hyewon.

Choose a forename.

Oh, meaning "I".

"I too am a Won."

Forceful Chinese art is all very well...

but you must see the works that

contain the spirit of our ancestors.

The master of this house

never shows his collection

but I'm a relative.

He won't say no.

He's fond of pine mushrooms.

What can I get you?

He's in the main wing.

- Wait for me here.

- Yes, master.

You, get out!

Watch where you put

your dirty backside!

- Beat it!

- What's happening?

This uncouth dauber

just sat himself down!

The famous "Winter Pine Tree"

by Chusa.

No trace of affectation.

The tree's pure thrust in a winter sky.

A masterpiece which reflects

the painter's nobility.

"Come the chill of winter,

the pine's green turns to emerald."

"The more chaotic the world,

the happier is the man of virtue."

The teachings of Confucius.

How can an unschooled painter create

masterpieces through technique alone?

Painting is the expression

of knowledge.

A new day dawns but the world

still wanders in darkness.

Chusa has reached a higher level

but, steeped in Chinese culture,

he's lost touch with our soil.

He studied with a Chinese master.

He adopted the style

of the Han dynasty.

Create your own style with

painting alone, without words.

Are you still angry?

Let's go for a drink.

Good evening.

Go to the bedroom.

Bring me some drink.

Go to bed.

Bring me some drink.

You, come here.

Get me some drink.

You're already drunk.

Son of a dog! Guttersnipe!

I saved your life and you disobey me?

Get me some alcohol, dog!

Move! Son of a dog!

The fragrance of letters? The harmony

of poetry, prose and painting?

If that's what they want.

Screw them! If it doesn't have words,

it's not painting?

Real painting speaks by itself.

No need for words.

Only daubers

add poems to their work,

trying to fool people with

their bogus philosophy. Frauds!

No more drink.

Get up! Get some more drink!

Light the candle.

Mix me some ink.

You! Get up!

Let's go out for some beef soup.

The layabout's still asleep?

Wake up!

What?

What's that?

Wake up.

I said wake up!

Was somebody here last night?

How should I know?

I was asleep.

Was somebody here?

Was it Pyeong-san?

Pyeong-san?

The dauber you used to live with!

What about Pyeong-san?

What's wrong with Pyeong-san?

I must have painted

with my fingers.

You're a bastard. I lived with

Pyeong-san and with Gi-san, too.

What's wrong if a kisaeng

sleeps with other men?

I don't live with you just for sex.

I like you for your innocence.

But I'm crazy!

Crazy to rent this house

and live with you.

You stinker! What have you ever

done for me?

All you do is drink

all the money you earn!

You paint a fish on the wall

but you wouldn't buy a wardrobe.

Do you care how we get food?

Don't expect me to cry when you leave!

This isn't the first time.

All right, leave! I'm not afraid.

Why are you following me?

Go home!

Mongrel!

Does learning to paint

have to be so painful?

Go to hell!

I'm sick of this.

Elsewhere, one painting buys lunch,

another one dinner.

The aristocrats here

don't even look.

They must have good taste!

At a glance,

they can see it's rubbish.

They say it's muddy.

This kind of painting is for plebs.

This one would sell.

Don't! It's good!

Dirty brat! Go to hell!

Dirty brat!

Master! Master!

Let's run!

The farmer's after me!

Wretched thief!

Who told you to steal?

Did you learn it

from your beggar friends?

Bad habits like that

are hard to lose.

- Here.

- You eat it.

I'll eat the head and neck.

Eat it, mongrel.

When did we last eat meat?

Master!

We must part here.

Part? Why?

It's too hard.

I can't keep up with you.

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