Taegeuk

Taegeuk
Taegeuk symbol
Korean name
Hangul	태극
Hanja	太極
Revised Romanization	Taegeuk
McCune–Reischauer	T'aegŭk

Taegeuk (also rendered as Taeguk) is the Korean pronunciation of the Chinese word taiji which is translated as "great polarity" and commonly associated with certain philosophical values. It is also the symbol that makes up the center of the South Korean Flag and the source for its name, Taegeukgi.

History

The taegeuk design dates back to the 7th century in Korea but recent excavations go back even further. There is a stone carved with the taegeuk design in the compound of Gameunsa Temple, built in 628 during the reign of King Jinpyeong of Silla.^[1] Traces of taegeuk designs have been found in the remains of the ancient cultures of Korea; in a Goguryeo tomb and in Silla remains. Recently however, a 1,400-year-old artifact with the taegeuk pattern has been found in Bogam-ri Baekje tombs at Naju, South Jeolla Province, making it the oldest taegeuk symbol found in Korea, which predates by 682 years what had been the oldest artifact that held the taegeuk pattern, found at the Gameunsa Temple.^[2]

The taegeuk design was also used to drive off evil spirits. In the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, the design was later used to represent Korean taoism and to express the hope for harmony of eum and yang to enable the people to live happy lives with good government.^[3] The blue and red swirling semicircles of the Taegeuk pattern have existed since ancient times.^[4]

Modern usage

The Taegeuk symbol is most prominently displayed on South Korea's national flag, called the Taegeukgi (along with four of the eight trigrams used in divination). Because of the Taegeuk's association with the national flag, it is often used as a patriotic symbol, as are the colors red, blue, and black. The “geon” trigram represents the heaven, spring, east, and justice. The “gon” trigram symbolizes the earth, summer, west, and vitality, the “gam” trigram the moon, winter, north, and wisdom, and the “ri” trigram the sun, autumn, south, and fruition. The four trigrams supposedly move in an endless cycle from “geon” to “ri” to “gon” to “gam” and back to “geon” in their pursuit of perfection.^[4] The white background symbolizes the homogeneity, integrity and peace-loving nature of the Korean people. Traditionally, Koreans often wore white clothing, earning the nickname “white-clothed people” and therefore the color white epitomizes the Korean people.^[4]

Paralympic usage

The official paralympic symbol for the Paralympic Games used by the International Paralympic Committee had three Taegeuk-like swirls in its logo prior to the end of the 2004 Summer Paralympics, when it was replaced with three Agitos. The usage of the swirls started at the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul, using five Tae-Geuk designs arranged similarly to the Olympic Rings, with the same set of five colors.

Tricolored Taegeuk

A popular variant in Korea is the Tricolored Taegeuk (삼색의태극 Sam Saeg-ui Taegeuk, 三色太極), which adds a yellow lobe or "pa" 파 (巴), representing humanity, to the red and blue pa which represent heaven & earth. The Samtaegeuk is frequently seen as a design on the face of hand fans. A rendition of the Tricolored Taegeuk also appeared in the official logo of the 1988 Summer Olympics, accompanied by the five Olympic rings.^[5]

Gallery

• 

  Taegeukgi, the flag of South Korea, with a blue and red Taegeuk in the center.

• 

  Sam Saeg-ui Taegeuk

• 

  Alternative Sam Saeg-ui Taegeuk

• 

  Handheld Fan with a Sam Saeg-ui Taegeuk Design

• 

  First Paralympic symbol (1988–1994) used five "pa" (巴).

• 

  Second Paralympic symbol (1994–2004) used three "pa" (巴).

See also

• Korean culture
• Taeguk (Taekwondo)
• Gankyil
• Taijitu
• Tomoe
• Traditional Korean thought
• Triskelion

References