'Takbon' in korean means a copy made from tapping on the paper with ink pad ('Mung-chi' in korean, says like 'moong-czhee'). It also means a rubbed copy of petroglyphs or pictographs of tombstone or stone monuments.

The techniques of 'Takbon' come from that of the traditional woodcut print, which is at first, brushed the ink onto the engraved or cut-in wood panel with ink brush('Muk-Sol'), and then covered the paper, and rubbed in circles on the surface of papaer with the wad of human hair or horse's mane, which were called 'Inczhe' and 'Maryop' in korea in the past, and also 'Baren' as a disc pad be covered with a bamboo shoot in japan. 'Bazi' with horsehair and 'zongpica' with the fiber filament of palm tree in china. But because of techinques of wood cut should stain the wood or any object with the ink, it must be apllied differently to keep the surface of rocks in petroglyphs as be good.

I mainly refered to the basic method written in the book, 'The world of Takbon'(Ilzisa, 1991), which was written by a buddhist monk 'Byongzin' who is the 'Takbon' specialist in korea. I have improved and applied his genius unique tool(ink pad) and techniques of 'Takbon' from ancient weathered rocks thorough having in practice at 6 of places in petroglyphs scattered in southern korea; chilpori in yongil, sokjangdong in kyongju, bosongri in yongchon, anhwari in koryong, tekokri in namwon, dohangri in haman.

Takbon is the method of defining the figures of engraved petroglyphs which are dim and vague by weathering or moss. But surface of rocks is rough, sunk and mixed with the deep cracks, so you have got to press with a small 'Mungchi' in the narrow surface sometimes. You look at the figures of it subjectively, and find out the figure and press with 'Mungchi' by the design in your mind. Because of the figures made from your mind and can not press with a large plain 'Mungchi' such as the press machine, takbon is absolutely not a copy of object, become art works such as monoprints in printmaking or even paintings.

What to prepare

Korean paper or Chinese drawing paper, Couple of 'Mungchi', a bottle of 'Muk (Korean, Chinese Ink)', Water Sprayer, Flat Brush, Dry Duster, Bottles of water, Dish, Adhesive Tape, Newspaper, Cutter or Scissors.

Paper('Hanzi')

Thin and durable paper which is called 'Hanzi(says like 'Hanzhee')', 'Takzi' or 'Hwasonzi(drawing paper)' in korea, is only made from the pulp of tree 'Tak(Paper mulberry, Broussonetia)', is the best for 'Takbon'.

How to make a 'MungChi'

1. Prepare silks or all-cotton fabrics(A), 40Cm x 40Cm in square. Silks is the best.
2. Put a handful of 'Ssal(raw rice)'(C) on the center of silks. If blended with the rice bran, it is better to gather the ink and the moisture of paper.
3. Cover on the 'Ssal' with the disc(B) of thick hard paper or PVC, 7~15Cm in diameter.
4. Pull the four corners of silks over the disc.
5. And then bind and fasten the rest of silks with the elastic cords(string)(D).
6. If you use it once, then you have got to take to pieces, clean silks with water and dry 'Ssal' in sunny days. If not so, you should mess up takbon later.
7. Thin and durable 'Hanzi'(E).
8. Rocks in petroglyphs(F).

How to make a 'Takbon'

1. The spring and the fall are the best seasons for working 'Takbon', the best days in sunny, because of the ink is not drying in appropriate times and spreads out.
2. Spray the water on the rock to prevent the rock from being stained by ink.
3. Cover the paper on the rock, and stick the edge of paper with adhesive tapes.
4. Spray again the water with the water sprayer to stick the paper onto the surface of rock in petroglyphs.
5. Push and press the paper very carefully to the holes and engravings with thedry duster or rags (all-cotton fabrics) such as making a thin copy mask of rock face. This working is really important. You must concentrate your attention on the pressing. You might have been spent almost of time to work 'Takbon' when making a paper copy of the surface is finished.
6. Spray the water again slightly all over the paper to prevent from drying part of paper, which pressed at first.
7. If not stick perfectly in part, tap with a flat brush at the same time as spray again slightly.
8. Tap a 'mungchi' stained with 'muk' on another 'mungchi' to be inks on it spread out.
9. At the very beginning of the papers are drying as be white, find out the moisture of paper with a palm of the hand. If proper, after the 'mungchi' stained with 'muk' have tapped 2 or 3 times on the newspaper to confirm that the proper dots are printed, press slightly with here and there.
10. Pressing the paper with all-cotton rags as being finished in part can be not bad, but pressing the 'Mungchi' as in part can make an uneven and wrong copy stained with a diverse tones.
11. If you can not make an accurate figure with the 'Mungchi', especially on the case of weathered granite rocks, you can emphasize the outline of it tapping with the small flat brush stained 'Muk'.
12. When the papers are dried, detach it carefully from the rock. Keep it as it is rolled up, or frame it as be attached itself another thick paper('Bezhop' in korean).
13. Please exercise 3 or 4 times on the samples before the practice, if not, you may become a barbarian who stain and destroy the ancient remains with black ink.

(first written in Apr. 1997., updated in Nov. 1997.)