Jesus was thoroughly Jewish. Even so, different cultures and ethnicities have often portrayed Jesus and others from the Bible as being from their group. Sometimes this is done to symbolize the fact that Jesus came for all the nations of the world.

Since Christianity for many centuries was based largely in Europe, these important characters of salvation history have often been depicted as white Europeans. Which is fine, but other cultures have also depicted them according to their own appearances.

[See also: 13 Beautiful Non-White Depictions of the Blessed Virgin Mary]

[See also: 6 of the Oldest Images of Our Lord Jesus Christ]

Enter Korean artist Woonbo Kim Ki-chang. A Christian missionary during the Korean war suggested he paint biblical scenes with a Korean backdrop, and he painted about 30 within a year. “I was praying for the quick end of the Korean War and a unified peace, and soothed my painful mind with a paintbrush,” he later said.

Kim passed away in 2001, but his paintings were featured at a museum in Seoul in 2013.

We hope you enjoy these beautiful depictions of the life of Christ!

The Annunciation

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

The Nativity

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

The Adoration of the Magi

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

The Flight to Egypt

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

The baptism of Jesus

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

Jesus calls his first disciples

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

The feeding of the 5000

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

Jesus walks on water

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

Jesus and the woman caught in adultery

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

Woman washes Jesus’ feet with her tears

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

Jesus’ agony in the garden of Gethsemene

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

The Last Supper

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

Jesus’ trial before Pilate

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

Jesus is scourged at the pillar

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

Jesus carries his cross

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

The Crucifixion

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

Jesus’ body is taken to the tomb

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

The Resurrection

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

The Ascension

via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp
via jangheungcatholicchurch.blogspot.jp

[See also: 8 of the Oldest Images of the Blessed Virgin Mary]

[See also: 6 Lesser-Known Depictions of the Blessed Virgin Mary]

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