I decided to choose the korean hanbok as my second cultural artifact. I remember seeing it for the first time when my class visited the Korean embassy and were able to try on the different hanboks it had in the cultural center. They were these long robes that reached the ground in a flowy manner and were very elegant, therefore I want to learn more about it through this research.
I found an article from the New York Times that discusses the evolution and importance of the hanbok. The article states, "With its clean, elongated lines and expansive shapes creating a voluminous silhouette, the traditional Korean hanbok is both aesthetically pleasing and functional," (One Garment’s Journey Through History, Kwun).
The term "hanbok," translating to "Korean clothes," reflects the garment's historical significance as everyday wear before the introduction of Western fashion to Korea. Throughout the garment’s 2,000-year history, the hanbok has undergone various transformations in style, yet it continues to get inspiration from its roots in the Joseon era. The hanbok was created to symbolize the love for nature and blessings from the Confucian dress code which emphasized property and primary colors.
The article also highlights the important role of women in preserving the hanbok tradition, from its historical production to its thriving industry that can be seen today. Personal statements from individuals like Jillian Choi provide insights into the hanbok's cultural significance, which helps create a tangible link to Korea's culture.
Especially as the modern world is being heavily influenced by the Western world, the hanbok still remains a key symbol of national pride. The piece is mostly worn during significant life events and celebrations.
The article also further explores the symbolism behind the white hanbok, which represents purity and resilience throughout Korea's rough history. In the Culture Trip website, I learned more about the colors of the hanbok and what they represent. It can be categorized into everyday, ceremonial and special dress, and then further differentiated by gender, age and season. The colors would also help figure out the social position and marital status of a person. For example, bright colored hanboks were mostly worn by the children. As for middle-aged men and women, they usually wore muted hues. Then for unmarried women, they would wear yellow jeogori (jacket) and red chima (skirt) while matrons would wear green and red. The lower class would be required to wear white while the upper class would wear a variety of colors. Not only did color help differentiate the status but also by the material of the hanbok with the rich having better quality.
The New York Times article also goes into detail into the impact of external influences, such as Japan's annexation of Korea, on the hanbok's evolution and cultural significance.
Not only does the hanbok represent the past, but it also represents the future and the resilience of today’s generations, especially in the face of anti-Asian sentiments. Artists like Seonna Hong and cultural figures like Nam June Paik used the hanbok as a means of expressing identity and confronting historical traumas.
Comments
I had no idea that different colors of hanbok had various societal hierarchy meanings behind it. This really shows how long social hierarchy has been around in Korea for. I am curious about how Japan’s annexation of Korea changed the hanbok style and what it looked like before and after.