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Jihwa with the Korean American Cultural Arts Foundation

a CCPL Summer Learning Challenge Program!

Come make traditional Korean mulberry paper flowers with the Korean American Cultural Arts Foundation!

Jihwa is a flower made from hanji which is a traditional Korean mulberry paper. This is a traditional Korean craftwork usually made for Buddhist ritual and shamanistic or private events in ancient times. Jihwa is often created in the forms of peonies, chrysanthemums and lotuses.

“This tradition is a legacy of our ancestors, who respected life regardless of whether it was an animal or a plant. If we understand this tradition’s significant meaning, we can appreciate it, even today."
- Artist Seok Yong

This program requires fine motor skills and is designed for teens and adults.

About the Presenter: Joo Hwan Lee is a traditional Korean Jihwa (paper flower) artist. Master Lee is designated as Gyeonggi Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 63 Jihwajang function holder and also inscribed on the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. Lee was born in 1967 and became a monk when he was young. His dharma name is Seok Yong.

As a Buddhist cultivation, Seok Yong put all his efforts to make traditional paper flowers from the scratch and achieved the national master level. Lee received numerous prizes and recognitions including Korean National assembly citation, U.S. Member of Parliament Award, etc. He has held many invited exhibitions and taught Jihwa classes in Kyung Sung University and Kum Kang University in Korea.

The Korean American Cultural Arts Foundation is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. The mission of Korean American Cultural Arts Foundation is to expose Korean cultural art and heritage to citizens of the United States and to sustain the creative development of artists. The KACAF provides outreach to public libraries in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC areas. The goal of the KACAF education programs is to provide people of all ages with knowledge about traditional Korean art and music, as well as opportunities to have hands-on experiences with master artists from the Republic of Korea. You can find out more about them at their website.

Registration is required. Please contact laplataref@ccplonline.org or call us at 301-934-9001 with any questions!

This year’s 2026 Summer Learning Challenge was made possible through the generous support provided by the Citizens for the Charles County Public Library, Inc.

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