I recently visited the folk painting exhibition at the Amorepacific Museum of Art in Seoul. The collection featured traditional Korean art including chaekgado screens, Joseon-era porcelain, and detailed depictions of daily life. One piece that stood out was a porcelain bottle painted in cobalt blue, decorated with a bat, a butterfly, and peony blossoms. At first, it seemed simply ornamental, but the symbols carry layered meaning.

In Korean symbolism, the bat represents good fortune and blessing, while the butterfly is linked to joy and long life. Their presence on a single vessel reflects the way Korean culture communicates through quiet visual language, how beauty and meaning are held together in one form.

At Heesum, our tearoom in Seoul, we use museum-quality teaware during the Korean tea ceremony. These cups and bowls are not just functional. They shape the mood of the session. We speak about their patterns while the tea steeps. Each has a story. Each invites reflection.

The traditional Korean tea ceremony is like looking at a painting. It does not rush or perform. It invites you to notice. To feel the silence. To be present. And like the best art, it stays with you long after it ends.

Jason.

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Jason is the operator of Heesum, a traditional tearoom in Seoul that offers an authentic Korean tea ceremony experience. He hosts Korean tea classes for visitors seeking a quiet cultural activity in Seoul. Before running Heesum, Jason worked in journalism and as a writer for a Fortune 10 company. He is also a painter, photographer, and lifelong tea enthusiast.

When you book a Korean tea ceremony in Seoul at Heesum, Jason will guide the session alongside Songna, a certified tea master with deep training in traditional Korean tea culture. Together, they offer guests a calm and meaningful introduction to Korea’s tea rituals.

Symbols in Korean Art and the Quiet Beauty of Tea.

What Nature Teaches Through Tea.