[6][7] It is based on five basic colours; blue (east), white (west), red (south), black (north), and yellow (center).

[1] Dancheong also functions not only as decoration, but also for practical purposes such as to protect building surfaces against temperature and to make the crudeness of materials less conspicuous.

[8] Applying dancheong on the surfaces of buildings require trained skills, and artisans called dancheongjang (단청장 丹青匠) designed the painted patterns.

Goryeo Do-Kyung illustrates the dancheong in detail that the handrail was painted in red and decorated with vine-flowers.

[13] Since the Joseon dynasty, the Dancheong was greatly developed and began to diversify further, featuring various patterns and the use of more profuse colours.

[1][3] The Joseon era dancheon usually uses green as the basic background while elaborate patterns of contrasting colour are then painted over it.

Often depicted in byeoljihwa are various auspicious animals or scenes from Buddhist sutras and it was mostly used in temples but not in palace buildings.