Ornamental South Korean Flag, Yi Family Archival Collection #143


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Ceremonial Artifacts
Flags ➔ Ornamental South Korean Flag, Yi Family Archival Collection #143

Identifier:
2004.62.1
Description:
Ornamental South Korean flag of white synthetic fabric with printed red and blue yin/yang symbol and four Korean characters in black. The flag has gromets and strings for hanging on two corners.;This item is sold in Korean American stores. It helps Korean Americans to perpetuate the culture of their homeland, and helps the museum to interpret Korean culture as it exists in Grand Rapids. To be considered for use in the Newcomers exhibit.;The official flag this reproduction represents, called "Tae Kuk," symbolizes the thought, philosophy, and mysticism of the Far East. The circle in the center, red upper half and blue lower half, represents absolute, or the essential unity of all being. The Yang (positive) and the Yin (negative) divisions within the circle represent duality. Examples of duality are heaven and hell, fire and water, life and death, good and evil, or night and day. The four trigrams also indicate the duality of opposites and balances. In the upper left trigram, three unbroken lines symbolize Heaven; opposite them in the lower right, three broken lines represent Earth. In the upper right trigram, two broken lines separated by an unbroken line is the symbol of Water; opposite them is Fire, symbolized by two unbroken lines separated by a broken line. Symbolic of the nation is the white background (the land), the circle (people), and the four trigrams (the government). All three make up the essential elements of the nation.
Date:
circa 2000
Materials:
Fabric
Dimensions:
11.5" h 16.75" w
Current Location Status:
On Exhibit
Source:
Gift Of The Yi Family
Exhibits/Programs:
Newcomers: The People of this Place (after 2008)

Sister cities ()
Related Entity:
Lees Oriental Market (donor)
Related Place:
Korea