ganhwa

Ganhwa, written in Korean as 간화, is a term used in Korean art to refer to a spontaneous form of ink painting associated with the Seon (Zen) tradition. The practice is often translated as one-stroke or quick brush painting and is sometimes romanized as kanhwa.

Characterized by swift, decisive brushwork, ganhwa emphasizes capturing the essence or spirit of a subject rather than detailed representation. Works typically feature minimal lines, economical use of ink, and a contemplative or expressive mood. Subjects can include Buddhist figures, landscapes, flora, or everyday scenes, with the painter aiming to convey immediacy and inner meaning through economy of means.

Origins and development of ganhwa are linked to broader East Asian ink traditions and to Korean Seon practice. The exact historical emergence is not firmly fixed, but the style is associated with late medieval to modern Korea, drawing on both Chinese literati painting and local spiritual and artistic currents. It has been practiced by monks and lay artists alike, sometimes in workshops attached to temples and in independent studios. In the modern era, ganhwa has been revisited and reinterpreted by contemporary Korean ink painters, and examples are held in national museums and private collections.

In scholarship, ganhwa is discussed within the study of Korean ink painting, Seon influence on art, and the broader discourse on spontaneity in East Asian brushwork. While it remains a niche term, it is recognized as a distinctive approach that foregrounds immediacy, simplicity, and the conveyance of essence over detailed depiction.