May 25, 2021

Korean hanbok

안녕하세요 (Anneyong haseo)! Today you will learn about Korean hanbok, its components, and types.

What is hanbok?

Hanbok is a traditional Korean costume. The history of hanbok goes back to ancient times, and its main elements were formed during the period of the three states (Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla; I century BC – VII century AD).

What are its components?

  • The basis of the Korean traditional costume is a chogori blouse, similar in cut to a jacket. It is worn by both men and women. It is quite short, with a removable collar and wide sleeves, sometimes fastened with contrasting cuffs. The men's hanbok consists of chogori and paji pants. Women wear the traditional wide skirts of chima — sometimes an extra seokchima skirt is worn under them. In the cold season, the suit is complemented by a shortened chokki jacket — it appears to have been made under the influence of Western fashion. They can also throw a Korean magoja vest over it — women have it up to the waist, men wear a longer version with buttons on the right side. They wear caps on their heads — elegant women's chokturi crowns and men's horsehair khat. Men also wear white poson socks.

Hanbok is often sewn from bright monochrome fabrics. The color of the fabric is chosen very carefully. The nobility dressed in rich and bright outfits and wore silk. On the other hand, commoners dressed more modestly and were content with bleached cotton. But for the poor, there was a ban on white clothing — this was the prerogative of the upper class. Later, hanbok was worn less frequently — only on special occasions, due to the influence of Western fashion.

Varieties of hanbok

Traditionally, the hanbok is classified into several types, depending on the social status, events, and age of the wearer.

  • Myeongjol hanbok (holiday hanbok명절한복). It is worn on major holidays, such as Chuseok, Seollal, and major family holidays.
  • Tol hanbok (hanbok for the first birthday돌한복). A child's first birthday is one of the most important holidays in Korea and is accompanied by a lavish celebration. Tol hanbok is designed for this holiday and is worn by children.
  • Hwegapbok hanbok (hanbok for the anniversary회갑복). It is put on for the 61st birthday, which is the second important anniversary after the first birthday.
  • Hollebok (wedding hanbok혼례복). This type of hanbok is distinguished by its colorfulness and symbolism. In addition, the bride and groom wear a little more hanbok details. The colors are also different, but red and blue predominate. The bride's hair is arranged with a special decoration for the head-jokduri. Now, hanboks at weddings are worn only by the parents of the newlyweds, and young couple wear Western-style clothing.
  • The royal hanbok – a separate type of hanbok. Outwardly, it differs from the rest, even from those worn by aristocrats, due to more expensive fabric, symbolic embroidery with dragons (a symbol of royal power), jewelry, and other things. In everyday life, Koreans almost do not wear hanbok, but it remains an active element of Korean life.

Hanbok is an important element of Korean culture, its historical heritage. Of course, modern clothing has replaced the national costume in South Korea, and they dress in the Western style. But on special days and occasions, hanboks enchant people with their smooth lines, color schemes, giving pleasure to admire them.

읽어 주셔서 감사합니다! 😊

Author: Abdullayeva Kamila


NIS Press — это школьная газета НИШ ФМН г. Алматы, Казахстан. Данная статья была опубликована в выпуске газеты 12 апреля 2021 г.

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