Korea ppt-art of bojagi-korean wrapping cloth

1. National Korean Studies Seminar
Copyright 2014
Mary Connor and Sung Kim

12.  Bojagi represents an important dimension of
Korean culture, past and present.
 Bojagi flourished during the Joseon Dynasty
(1392-1910). One source states that their
beginnings began during the Three Kingdoms
period which existed between 57 BCE-935 CE).
 The earliest known bojagi that has survived is
from the 12th century. Buddhist monks were
known to use them in their rituals.

13.  Bojagi are pieced together by small scraps of
cloth.
 They are usually square and are in varying
sizes.
 There are many different types and uses for
these wrapping cloths from storage, household
items (tablecloths, bottle holders), transport,
gift-giving, and celebrations.
 Fabrics include cotton, hemp, ramie, and silk.

14.  They were used by people of all social classes.
 Wrapping cloths, called gunbo, were used in
royal palaces and were usually red.
 Jogakbo, used by commoners, were patchwork
wrapping cloths. They were made using
leftover cloth in various colors and shapes.
Some are so beautiful that they were most
likely for display rather than for practical
purposes.

15.  There were three types of wrapping cloths:
single layered, doubled layered, and quilted
wrapping cloths. Ribbons were attached to the
cloths to secure and carry the wrapped objects.
 Names of bojagi varied according to the objects
they were to hold, such as books, food,
tablecloths or wedding gifts.

16.  While women made bojagi, they wished for the
recipients’ good luck.
 It was believed that something that was created
with such care and skill would bring good
luck, happiness, and a long life.
 Symbols of good luck were often included in
their work, such as bamboo (longevity), the
peach (marriage), persimmon (joy), and the
peony (wealth/honor).

20.  Jeruzal, Carrie. Fall 2013. “ Using Korean Bojagi in
the Classroom.” Education About Asia
 Lee, O-Young. 1994. Things Korean. North
Clarendon, VT: Charles E. Tuttle Publishing.
 Schoettler, Joan. 2011. Good Fortune in a Wrapping
Cloth. Shen’s Books: Walnut Creek, CA.
 Suh, Jae-Sik. 2007. Korean Patterns. Seoul: Hollym
International Corp.
 Websites: Bojagi artist: Youngmin Lee
www.youngminlee.com/bojagi
 Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, Collections
 http://www.asianart.org