Mugunghwa Express…or not?

No, it’s not red light green light that you probably saw in one of those Korean variety shows that you binge on. It’s not even the name of the train you ride on your way to Busan. It’s a rose, but not a rose. It’s the national flower of Korea, the Rose of Sharon, also known as ‘Mugunghwa’ in Korean or by its nicknames ‘everlasting flower’ or ‘the immortal flower.’ This Korean floral emblem is not just stunning but also has a lot of meaning for the Korean people.  

 

What’s in the nomenclature?

This flower’s binomial nomenclature is Hibiscus Syriacus, and its Korean name is a combination of two words: ‘mu-gung’ meaning ‘everlasting’ and ‘Hwa’ meaning flower. True to its name, this beautiful flower is long-lasting, blooming from summer into autumn blossoming as the sun rises and closing its flowers every evening. This flower is strong, sturdy, and resistant to cold. The individual flowers don’t fall out together but instead one after another leading to a prolonged and bountiful blossoming period. If you want to visit South Korea to see these flowers, the period of July-October will be a fantastic time to witness the bloom of the Rose of Sharon.

 

It has five petals, and what makes it so beautiful is that it comes in a diverse range of colors such as pale pink, purple, and white, among others. The most common variation of this flower emblem is a single bloom with a pretty reddish hue in the center.

 

Koreans adore this flower as it pays tribute to their noble spirit and exemplifies the country’s countless victories and tribulations that they have endured in their unique history. Varieties of Rose of Sharon are categorized according to the colors of their blossoms. They are grouped as asadal, baedal, and dansim.

• Asadal: It’s a white flower with deep red in the middle that transitions to pale pink at the edges.
• Baedal: It’s an entirely white flower.
• Dansim: This flower comes in blue, purple, red, or white with intense purple or red center.

It is also a part of South Korean history. Even before the Gojoseon era, the Rose of Sharon was prized as a ‘blossom from heaven.’ Emphasizing its significance, even the Silla Kingdom referred to itself as ‘Geunhwahyang,’ which translates to “Country of Mugunghwa.”

Image by Jaesung An from Pixabay

With time, the Korean people’s adoration of this flower was only boosted when in the late 19th century, the Korean national anthem included a phrase praising the beauty of the Rose of Sharon. Even during the darkest hour of the Japanese colonial rule, the Koreans devotion to the Rose of Sharon never waned. After its independence from Japan, it was only natural for the Korean government to recognize the Rose of Sharon as their flower emblem.

The Modern Rose

Even to this day, the Rose of Sharon hold’s a special place in the hearts of the Koreans. For instance, the most luxurious hotels are not labeled as ‘five-star’ but as ‘five Rose of Sharon.’ Its main feature is its endurance. If you go to Korea, don’t be surprised to see it in parks and alongside sidewalks. They grow quickly, are low-maintenance, and can endure for long. This is the main reason why the Korean government adopted it as the flower emblem as it represents the Koreans yearning for a lasting system of prosperity and national development. The Rose of Sharon is a symbol on the flags of the Korean government and national organizations and even on badges and decorations.

So next time you pass by those beautiful parks in Seoul, on a hot summer night, look for this tenacious bloom and perhaps get inspired on your devotion and determination to live life to the fullest, just like any flower that adds beauty to the world.

Hang on tight.

Hanbok: Layers of Color and Culture

You have seen it for sure!

Whether it’s through your favorite K-Drama, history channel, or some YouTube videos, you’ve probably come across the hanbok. Hanbok is one of the most important representations of Korean culture. The hanbok’s origin can be traced all the way back to the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 BCE-668 CE), but even to this day, it’s still worn on holidays and special occasions. We take a closer look at this spectacular traditional attire.

What are all those layers for?

It is the traditional attire of the Koreans. In South Korea, it’s termed as ‘Hanbok’, whereas, in North Korea, it’s known as ‘Joseon-ot’. Han means ‘Korea’ while ‘Bok’ means clothing. The hanbok’s basic design comprises of the jeogori, the upper garment, and a lower garment. The jeogori is a blouse like jacket which can be worn both by men and women. On the other hand, for the lower garment, men wear a pair of trousers known as ‘baji’ while women don a full knee reaching skirt known as ‘chima.’ Along with these, various outerwear and accessories are used for different occasions.

What makes this traditional attire so fascinating is that even after a period of two thousand years, the design and form have been preserved. Throughout the years, the style and length have seen changes, but the basic appearance remains intact.

Hanbok in a colorful culture.

The manufacturing technique and materials used strongly represent Korean society and culture. Various materials are used to make this traditional attire. Specialized fabrics came from different areas of Korea; for example, the hem from Andong was a favorite with the upper classes (yangban).

Fabrics were also utilized with the change in season. Heavy fabric lined with fur were in high demand during the colder season whereas summer season required hanbok’s made with thinner materials, and during the autumn season, many women would dress up in hanbok made from gossamer silk as it resembled a rustling sound similar to that of walking on dry leaves.

The color of the hanbok was also a symbol of social standing; white represented chastity, integrity, and purity and was typically worn by the common people, whereas the upper glass dressed in blue, yellow, red, black, as well as white. These colors also represented oriental cosmology’s five elements (wood, metal, water, earth, and fire).

The hanbok was also embroidered with patterns to represent the wearer’s wishes. For instance, pomegranates and bats expressed a desire for children. Whereas tigers, cranes, phoenixes, and dragons were reserved for high-ranking officials and royalty.

Despite these differences, the core significance of hanbok revolved around the Korean affection for naturalness, prayer for blessings and supernatural protection as well as the Confucian dress code.

Hanbok of Today

In 1996, the Korean government created ‘hanbok day’ to motivate the wearing of hanbok. Recently, hanbok has garnered renewed interest and fascination not only in Korea but across the globe. Whether its Instagram hashtag challenges, wearing it abroad or through street flash mops, this traditional attire has seen a skyrocketing rise in interest with hanbok rental shops mushrooming everywhere.

Many prominent designers have attempted to modernize this traditional attire by focusing on function and mobility while at the same time incorporating traditional structures and patterns in leather and lace, linens, and simple cotton. Former Korean President Park Geun-Hye was also known for her fascination with Hanbok. And with the current Korean wave, this traditional attire has found a new global fanbase.

Regardless of the changes it underwent, Hanbok is an exquisite representation of Korean culture not just for its historical significance but also for its authentic Korean artistic value and will continue to remain so for years to come.