Taiji & Korean Flag

Figure 1: This is Korean Flag.

Since 1883 (the late Korea Dynasty), Korea began to use the Taiji flag as the national flag. After the founding of the Republic of Korea, they continue to use it. In 1949, the South Korean Ministry of Culture and Education formalizes the current South Korean national flag style: The central design is Taiji symbol, surounding with Ba Gua graphics. According to the South Korean official explanation, in the Taiji symbol red represents of Yang, and blue means Yin. The combinations of Yang and Yin means the universe is balanced and harmonious. Fire and water, day and night, darkness and light, construction and destruction, men and women, active and passive, heat and cold, and so on, are the two great forces of the universe, achieve harmony and balance. Each hexagram is also a symbol of justice, the rich, life and wisdom. Republic of Korea explained that the white national flag background symbolizes purity and the Korean people love peace. The national flag on behalf of the entire Korean people will always follow the ideal of the coordinated development of the whole universe.

South Korean flag and the Eight Diagrams of Taiji ideas from China's "Book of Changes(周 易)." Harmony, symmetry, balance and circulation, represents the principles of the universe on the viewpoints of the ancient Chinese people of the universe, as a profound reflection of life. The Chinese culture has been influencing the Korean Peninsula by a long term and Korean national flag is a reflection of this impact.