What is the History of the Flag of South Korea?Īs a result, the Korean national flag was adopted in 1882 and the government established it formally in 1883. Examples of the forces include: light-dark and good-evil. In this regard, blue symbolizes Yin or the negative forces while red represents Yang or the positive forces. Theese colors symbolize the balance between opposing forces or Yin and Yang. The center circle of the flag of South Korea is half red and half blue. What Do the Blue and Red Colors Mean on the Korean Flag? Thus, the symbolic representation of the Korean flag reveals that Taekwondo is not only a style of combat, but also a way of life. This is a demonstration of how the concept of balance comes into play. In essence, a competitor in Taekwondo will either attack or yield. Just like the bars on the South Korean flag, Taekwondo athletes wearing the flag believe in the concept of opposites. Taekwondo athletes respect the flag greatly to such an extent that it’s even been adopted as the Taekwondo flag.
In regards to the martial art of Taekwondo, the South Korean flag brings the same connotations as well. A deeper look at the bars brings the concept of balance between the physical and spiritual worlds so as to create the much-needed harmony. The bars are symbolic of essential virtues like humanity, fairness, intellect, courteousness, fruition, and vitality. Also, the bars representing water are directly opposite the bars representing fire. The design of the flag shows that the bars representing heaven are directly opposite the bars representing earth. The bars bring the idea of opposites and balance. The bars on the Korean flag have a deeper meaning that is worth exploring. What do the Bars Mean on the Korean Flag? The need came to the surface in 1876 during the talks for the Japan-Korea Treaty. Before the 1870s, Korea never had a national flag, and neither did the country see the need for one. Certainly, there’s more that the flag stands for that is worth delving into.
Indeed, the philosophy of Taekwondo is deeply embedded in the South Korean flag. Taekwondo, a Korean martial art, has the Korean flag as a representation of its origin. The South Korean flag is so significant that Taekwondo athletes wear it as their Taekwondo flag. It’s a reminder of where they have come from and a vision of where they are going. Simply put, it gives them a sense of purpose. Just having it raised up is an indication of their aspirations rising above everything else. The people of South Korea take a lot of pride in their flag. They symbolize heaven, earth, water, and fire. There are four sets of black bars or Trigrams, at each corner of the flag which are symbolic of harmony and movement, with each having its own meaning. The circle at the center represents a balance of the forces that exist in the universe. The white color is a symbol of peace and purity. The flag has a white background with a red and blue symbol at the center. There is a lot to more to learn about the Flag of Korea, and I am really excited to discuss its history and its meaning, so lets get started!
From the red and blue circle in the middle to the four sets of blacks bars surrounding it and the white the background on which they both sit. Just like any other flag from any other nation, the flag of South Korea has a deep meaning and symbolism to its people. It is a representation of the harmony or balance that all things in life bring to humanity. It is divided into 3 parts, the circle, the trigrams and the white background. The South Korean Flag means supreme or ultimate.