누구나 알지만 누구나 알지못하는이야기1 > 필자의 호주연수 이야기

바로 태극기에 관련된 이야기입니다~!!

이제 2주차이지만 스위스인 친구가 국기의 의미가 뭐냐고 다른아이랑 이야기를 하는걸로보고.. '

왜 자기나라 국기의 의미를 모르냐고 적잖이 충격을받았습니다~!

저도 한글은 어느정도로 설명을 하지만 전부의 내용을 모르는터라 더 충격을 먹었네요~!

그래서 올립니다 위키에 올라가있는 태극기의 내용입니다!

 

The flag of the Republic of Korea is unique among the national emblems of the world. Its design does not symbolize geographical or political division. It also does not portray any great historical event, national aim or ideals of this country. Rather, the Koreanflag symbolizes much of the thought, philosophy and mysticism of Asia. It encourages contemplation and philosophic interpretation of the varied meanings of the universe.

In the center of a white background is a circle divded equally with each part resembling a comma. The upper red comma represents the yang and the lower blue comma the um, an ancient symbol of the universe that is in perfect harmony and balance. These twoharmonious forces, both complementary and in opposition, express the dualism of the cosmos or the absolute: fire and water, day and night, good and evil, masculine and feminine, hot and cold, etc.

This red and blue swirl and sometimes the flag itself is called the T'aeguk. The central thought in the t'aeguk form illustrates constant motion in the sphere of infinity where thereis also balance. For example, the opposite of rain is drought. Crops must have rain but too much rain will cause a flood and hardship, thus there must be a balance.

The three bars at each corner also illustrate the concept of opposites and balance. The three unbroken bars represent heaven while the three broken bars represent earth. The three bars in the upper right hand corner symbolize water while the three bars in the lower left handcorner represent fire.

For the Korean people their flag of t'aegukki is a source of pride and inspiration. During the Japanese occupation period beginning in 1910 the Korean flag was outlawed in public places and for about thirty five years the t'aeguk flags were kept hidden until Liberation Day in1945. The Korean flag has been a symbol of this country's struggle for independence and freedom.