One decorative technique employed during the Choson period (1392–1910), which allowed colorful and rich representative possibilities, took advantage of the translucent qualities of ox-horn. The origin of the ox-horn painting (hwagak) technique can be traced back to the Three Kingdoms period, in the fifth century. In this example dated to the nineteenth century, the ox-horn was cut, soaked in water, and boiled, and then pressed into thin flat sheets. The sheets were painted with auspicious symbols — cranes, tigers, phoenixes, and deer — and then attached to the wooden box with the painted surfaces face down.