Munja-Chaekgeori Screen (Character-Books Screen), late 1800s. Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). Eight-panel folding screen, ink on paper; overall: 150.5 x 330.2 cm (59 1/4 x 130 in.); painting only: 85.1 x 27.3 cm (33 1/2 x 10 3/4 in.). During the late 1800s in Korea, local and central governments actively promoted Confucian teachings in fear of the influx of foreign ideas and beliefs like Christianity. Under the patronage of such leadership, many types of munjado (literally meaning characters”) screens were produced. Such paintings adorned Korean aristocrats’ studies as well as the classrooms of Confucian academies. The eight Korean characters inscribed on the upper portion of each panel of this screen refer to the values of Confucian teachings of the Joseon dynasty: filial piety (hyo), brotherly love (je), loyalty (chung), trust (sin), propriety (yae), righteousness or justice (eui), modesty or integrity (yeom), and humility or the feeling of shame (chi). The lower section of each