Traditional patterns of Korea
These patterns can be recognized either by one of the four time periods they originated from (The Three Kingdoms, Unified Silla, Goryeo, Joseon), or by their shape (character, nature, lettering, and/or geometry).
The longing for a realistic desire or association with the world through a specific object is the principle of charm for Korean patterns.
[1] These prints often capture the beauty of nature, longing for a utopia, affection, and the prayers for good fortune.
[1] Since the Three Kingdoms period, traditional Korean patterns were generally involved with Buddhism, in addition to Confucianism and Taoism.
The 'Cheonma (天馬, literally translated to the horse of the sky)' drawings in Silla 'Cheonmachong' royal tomb (천마총) were quite similar to Goguryeo's mural paintings in a tumulus.
As trade with the countries bordering Western China, Unified Silla introduced new crafting technologies and styles.
Interests regarding the matter of the afterlife also increased during the period, and were reflected through geometric patterns such as comb-pattern, triangle, circle, and the floral medallion motif.
Characteristic of the period was the 'gil sang' pattern, which are translated as lucky signs (길상무늬, 吉祥).
Letter patterns are patterns using Chinese characters (i.e. 부(富)·귀(貴)·수(壽)·복(福)·강(康)·영(寧)·희(囍)) which have the meanings of wealth, honor, long life, happiness and peace respectively and were used with decorative frames.
[4] Korean traditional patterns were used in architecture, daily goods, and artifacts of Buddhist temples to further emphasize Buddhism.
For example, a typical subject matter can be animals like the dragon or the phoenix and plants, such as lotus or bamboo.
[1] Character pattern refers to faces or shapes of humans, mountain gods, Buddha, the Four Devas.
Figures represent the human face or form, or refer to such pattern expressed fresh, Buddha, deities, imp.
In the Joseon dynasty period, there are customs to attach picture drawn tiger patterns in the gate to prevent evil.
The Seven Treasures include: coin, horn of water buffalo, book, wormwood, ornament used for wrapping cloth (방승,方勝), mirror, and percussion instrument (특경,特磬).
These treasures generally included at least some of the following: gold, silver, emerald, coral, agate, lapis lazuli, giant clamshell, glass and pearl.
In the past, people believed if they pursued virtue while they lived, they could rise to the sky riding a cloud or attain Buddha-hood.
Placing letters with auspicious meanings on an object was believed to bring good luck to the owner.
Commonly used letters are: 'Bok (복,福), Hee (희,囍), or Su (수,壽)'.
Other geometric patterns include: Taegeuk means development, prosperity by balance of yin and yang (negative and positive).
The Eight Trigrams for divination is a kind of geometrical symbol representing the basic form of the phenomenal world.
[1] The use of interlocking circles to form a geometric pattern dates in Korean history at least as far back as the Goryeo period.
For instance, to emphasize the auspicious nature of the dragon, a symbol of defence against evil spirits, it can be depicted with clouds.
Shipjangsaengmun, also ship-jangsaengmum, is a common theme in Korean paintings, folding-screens, lacquerware, pottery, and more recently metal gates.
[14] All of these elements individually connote longevity throughout East Asia, but it was Korean artists who grouped them into ten, a number that means perfect and full in Asian culture.
The ten most commonly used symbols along with their Korean translations and brief meaning are: Bamboo, which also can remain green in the winter and grows quickly, is sometimes used instead of pine trees.
Korean potter Kim Se-yong reportedly required a decade of failed attempts before finally successfully firing his celadon ship-jangsaengmum vase weighing 157 kg (350 lbs).
