Traditional Korean Patterns and Symbols

Korean society traditionally adapted to and found meaning in the order of nature. Wanting to pass on the hidden meanings of the natural world to future generations and believing them as a law and order in their daily lives, Korean people have created myriads of beautiful and diverse patterns and motifs (often embodying auspicious meanings) which can be found adorning everything from Korean traditional architecture to objects of every day life.

This talent reflected in all aspects of Korean culture, from common people's daily goods to royal clothing. These patterns can be found almost everywhere you look in Korea, from the Taegeuk in the national flag to the animal designs on chopsticks in restaurants. Many symbols are similar to the Chinese characters for luck, fortune, longevity, and fertility.

Common themes include longing for paradise, happiness, love, and good fortune. The use of these patterns reveals much about how Koreans sought practicality, as well as a sense of refinement and beauty, in whatever surrounded them.

Double Hee: Happiness for Husband and Wife.

This symbol expresses the wishes for a husband and wife to enjoy a happy marriage and many can be found at wedding ceremonies. In a broader sense, its meaning extends to a harmonious combination of Yin (female) and Yang (male).

Pujok: Good Luck, Protection.

This type of talisman comes in 2 types: one acts as a good luck charm, and the other works to protect from evil or bad luck. It commonly had a yellow background with red symbols or characters. People felt that evil spirits disliked the colors of gold and yellow. Red represented blood or fire, and psychologically it meant the color of life and emotion. People attached the pujok to their body or drank its ashes after it was burnt. Sometimes, it was put on a wall or upper part of a door to protect a house or part of a building. A pujok can be customized for a specific ailment or circumstance or generic ones can be used for general purposes. They can be purchased from shamans or some Buddhist monks.

Buddhist Swastika: Auspiciousness.

The Buddhist symbol represents an auspicious sign in Buddhism. It was considered to have omnipotent godly power, as well as the meaning of the whole universe.

Danch'eong: Enlightenment.

One of the most recognizable arts of Korean Buddhism, the brightly colored patterns of danch'eong adorn the ceilings, eaves, support pillars, and walls of temple buildings. The combination of certain colors (blue, red, yellow, white, and black, based on the Dual Principle and the Five Elements of Eastern philosophy) symbolized the bright enlightenment of the next world. Round patterns meant people's lives are supposed to transmigrate: when someone reaches Nirvana, he or she can obtain the wisdom of Buddha.

Taegeuk: Ultimate Existence.

The ultimate existence has its origin in basic value and existence. In Buddhism, this pattern means the ultimate equality and balance. Embodying the Dual Principle (of Yin/Yang), it also represents the continuous cycle of life.

Fish: Diligent Self-discipline.

Since a fish does not close its eyes when it sleeps or even when it dies, an ascetic devotee in Buddhism was expected to reach Nirvana with continuous effort like a fish.

Lotus: Creation, Birth.

A Buddhist story tells that the lotus came from the naval of a God who slept under water called confusion. For this reason it symbolizes birth and creation.

Bat: Good Luck.

The Chinese ideogram for bat is pronounced the same as the ideogram for good fortune (pok in Korean). This led to bat images being embroidered on pillow ends and incorporated into furniture designs and fittings as a symbol of good fortune. As bats were supposed to live 1000 years, their image was also used as a symbol of longevity. A design of 5 bats, called Obok (5 blessings), represents the five fortunes: longevity, wealth, health, love of virtue, and natural death.

8 Marks (p'al kwai): Truths of Life and Nature.

The 8 marks come from the Chinese King named Bokhee. According to legend, he created 8 marks after observing the nature of sky, geography, and natural laws. These 8 characters were geometric symbols that were believed to explain all natural phenomena and shapes. People thought the 8 marks contained all the truths of human life and nature. By following orders and rules of nature in their lives, people's successes and failure, happiness and bad luck could be accorded with nature's truth.

Name	Symbolism	Nature	Animal	Body	Family	Shape
Keonkwai	Positive	Sky	Horse	Head	Father
T'aekwai	Negative	Pond	Sheep	Mouth	Youngest daughter
Ikwai	Negative	Fire	Pheasant	Eye	Middle daughter
Jinkwai	Positive	Thunder	Dragon	Foot	Oldest son
Sonkwai	Negative	Wind	Chicken	Leg	Oldest daughter
Kamkwai	Positive	Water	Pig	Ear	Middle son
Kankwai	Positive	Mountain	Dog	Hand	Youngest son
Konkwai	Negative	Earth	Cow	Stomach	Mother

Korean Flag T’aegukki

After an incident with a Japanese boat in 1872 and increased contact with other countries, the Korean government realized the need for a national symbol. The first flag was created in 1882 and over the years the design has varied. Banned during the Japanese occupation (1910-45), the present flag was created in 1948 for use by the South Korean government.

The T'aegukki depicts the balancing philosophies of Yin/Yang and the concept of Ohaengsol (five directions). In the central circle, the red portion represents positive Yang, while the blue portion represents negative Yin. It is an ancient symbol representing balance and harmony. The combination of bars in each corner also symbolizes opposites and balance. The set in the upper left corner embodies heaven, spring, east, and gentility. The lower right corner: the earth, summer, west, and justice. The upper right corner: the moon, winter, north, and wisdom. The lower left corner: the sun, autumn, south, and courtesy.

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