I tried Hanbok when I was traveling in Korea. It was really beautiful, which made me want to know more about Hanbok. Hanbok is the traditional clothing of the Korean nation. It was not originally what it is now, because of the Tang dynasty’s strong influence and culture exported, and Korean clothes were the exact same style as those of the tang dynasty. But from the beginning of the Ming dynasty, Korea gradually changed in the clothing of that time, and then developed to Hanbok. The change is mainly reflected in women's clothing. The belt of the blouse is gradually moved from the right side to the middle, and the waistline is also gradually moved up to form the current short top. Men's clothes basically only added their own national aesthetic on the basis of the clothes of the Ming dynasty, and only made subtle adjustments.
The color of Korean clothing can represent identity, and with the change of seasons, the color of Korean clothing will also change. Except for important festivals, the Korean people will generally wear white Hanbok, so white is the basic color of Hanbok, Korea is also known as the "white-clad nation.”
Hanbok is made up of many parts. The 저고리 (jeogori) is a basic upper garment of the Hanbok, which has been worn by both men and women. Men usually wear the 저고리 with a 바지 (baji) or pants while women wear the 저고리 (jeogori) with 치마 (chima) or skirts. It covers the arms and upper part of the wearer's body. 바지 (baji) refers to the bottom part of the men's Hanbok. It is the formal term for 'trousers' in Korean. Compared to western style pants, it does not fit tightly. The roomy design is aimed at making the clothing ideal for sitting on the floor. 치마 (chima) were typically made from rectangular cloth that was pleated or gathered into a skirt band. This waistband extended past the skirt fabric itself and formed ties for fastening the skirt around the body.
Hanbok is classified according to its purposes: everyday dress, ceremonial dress, and special dress. Ceremonial dresses are worn on formal occasions, including a child's first birthday, a wedding, or a funeral. Special dresses are made for shamans and officials. Nowadays, Hanbok is only worn on festive occasions or special anniversaries. But since it is a formal dress, most Koreans keep at least one Hanbok for special times in their life such as weddings, 추석 (Korean Thanksgiving), and 새해 (Korean New Year's), Children wear Hanbok to celebrate their first birthday (돌잔치).
The color of the Hanbok symbolized social position and marital status. Bright colors, for example, were generally worn by children and little girls, and muted hues by middle-aged men and women. Unmarried women often wore yellow 저고리 (jeogori) and red 치마 (chima) while matrons wore green and red, and women with sons wore dark blue 저고리 (jeogori). The upper classes wore a variety of colors. Contrastingly, commoners were required to wear white but dressed in shades of pale pink, light green, gray, and charcoal on special occasions.
Patterns were embroidered on Hanbok to represent the wishes of the wearer. Peonies on a wedding dress represented a wish for honor and wealth. Lotus flowers symbolized hope for nobility, and bats and pomegranates showed the desire for children. Dragons, phoenixes, cranes, and tigers were only for royalty and high-ranking officials.
Comments
Oooo yes!
I always encourage all my friends who visit Korea to try on Hanbok because they truly are beautiful and who doesn’t like to dress up? I personally haven’t worn one since I was in elementary school, but I remember my mom explaining the parts of a Hanbok as I attempted to put it on without any help. Out of curiosity, could I ask you what color and patterns were on the Hanbok you chose?
I love the concept that Hanbok is meant to represent your personality and changes with the seasons. It represents both the consistency of our spirits and the ephemeral nature of our surroundings.
I am wondering how much the color categories, particularly those related to social class, are still in place.