The Secrets of the Taegeukgi: How I Ching Symbols Became South Korea's National Emblem

Introduction: More Than a Flag

Seen fluttering from government buildings in Seoul, waved passionately at international sporting events, and honored in classrooms across the nation, the South Korean flag is a ubiquitous and powerful symbol. The flag is known as the Taegeukgi.

Its design is not a modern graphic creation. The flag is a profound statement of national identity, with its roots stretching back thousands of years into the core of Eastern philosophy. The entire composition is a direct visual translation of the principles found in the ancient Chinese text, the I Ching, or the "Book of Changes."

To understand the Taegeukgi is to understand a worldview. At its heart is the Taegeuk symbol, representing the great harmony of the cosmos. Around it are four specific trigrams, each a powerful symbol drawn from the I Ching's collection.

This article will serve as a guide. We will decode the meaning of each element, from the central circle to the corner bars. Then we will trace the flag's compelling history to its birth in the troubled 19th century and explore the lasting philosophy that binds it to a greater East Asian cultural heritage.

Heart of the Flag: The Taegeuk

A Universe in a Circle

The central emblem, the Taegeuk, is the philosophical core of the entire flag. The circle represents a state of oneness or the absolute, the starting point from which all things in the universe emerge.

Within this circle are two interlocking shapes. The upper, red portion is the Yang, and the lower, blue portion is the Eum, the Korean pronunciation of Yin. These represent the great dualities of the cosmos, the two basic forces whose interplay creates the world we experience.

They symbolize a vast web of complementary opposites:

• Red (Yang): Represents positive cosmic forces, activity, masculinity, daylight, heat, and heaven.
• Blue (Eum/Yin): Represents negative cosmic forces, passivity, femininity, darkness, cold, and earth.

A Philosophy of Interconnectedness

Crucially, this symbol does not depict a conflict between two opposing forces. It shows perfect balance and continuous harmony. The interlocking S-shape is key to this understanding.

Notice how a part of the red is always within the blue's territory, and a part of the blue is always within the red's. This shows their deep interdependence; one cannot exist without the other. They are not static but are in a constant, cyclical state of motion and transformation.

This concept is the very essence of the I Ching. The ancient text is built on the idea that everything in the universe is in a perpetual state of flux, driven by the ceaseless interaction of these Eum and Yang forces. The Taegeuk is a perfect, concise visualization of this foundational principle.

The Four Pillars: The Trigrams

What are Trigrams?

The black bars in the four corners of the flag are perhaps its most mysterious feature to the uninitiated. These are trigrams, or kwae in Korean, and they are the fundamental building blocks of the I Ching's divination system.

The I Ching itself is composed of 64 hexagrams, which are complex symbols made by combining two trigrams. There are eight primary trigrams in total, each consisting of three lines.

Each line can be either unbroken (a solid line —) representing Yang, or broken (a dashed line – –) representing Yin. The combination of these lines creates a symbol with a specific meaning. The Taegeukgi thoughtfully selects four of these eight primary trigrams to surround and support the central Taegeuk.

Decoding the Four Kwae

Each of the four trigrams, or kwae, holds a rich set of meanings, representing not only a natural element but also a direction, a season, a family relationship, and a human virtue. Their placement on the flag is deliberate, creating a system of balance.

The Harmony of Elements

The arrangement of these four kwae is not random; it creates a profound and dynamic equilibrium. They are placed in opposition to one another, reflecting the balance inherent in the central Taegeuk.

Geon (☰), representing Heaven, is placed diagonally opposite to Gon (☷), representing Earth. This is the primary axis of creation, the fundamental duality of the spiritual and the physical.

Likewise, Ri (☲), representing Fire, is placed diagonally opposite to Gam (☵), representing Water. This is the secondary axis of transformation, symbolizing the constant interplay of consuming energy and life-giving fluid. Together, these pairs create a stable, harmonious system that revolves around the central cosmic balance.

Forged in History

A Nation's New Symbol

The story of the Taegeukgi's creation is rooted in a pivotal moment in Korean history. The late 19th century found the Joseon Dynasty, a kingdom that had long maintained a degree of isolation, under increasing pressure to engage with foreign powers like Japan, the United States, and European nations.

In this new era of international diplomacy, a critical need arose: Korea required a national flag, a symbol to represent its sovereignty on the world stage. Before this period, the concept of a singular national flag as we know it today did not exist in Joseon.

Figures and the 1882 Mission

The most widely accepted origin story of the flag dates to 1882. King Gojong, the next-to-last monarch of the Joseon Dynasty, asked his officials to create a suitable emblem. A key figure in this story is Bak Yeong-hyo, a diplomat on a mission to Japan.

Historical accounts suggest that while aboard the ship to Japan, Bak Yeong-hyo created a version of the Taegeukgi and began using it as the official national symbol. However, there is an ongoing historical debate. Some records indicate that earlier designs, possibly similar, had already been considered or even presented to King Gojong before this mission.

While the exact "first designer" remains a point of scholarly discussion, it is certain that the 1882 mission was the catalyst that brought the flag into official, international use.

From Proposal to Emblem

The journey from a proposed design to a standardized national symbol took several decades. The flag's use became more widespread following the diplomatic mission, and it was officially adopted as the national flag.

The key moments in its formalization can be seen as a clear timeline:

• 1882: The flag is first used in an official capacity during the diplomatic mission to Japan led by Bak Yeong-hyo.
• 1883: King Gojong issues a royal ordinance, formally promulgating the Taegeukgi as the national flag of Joseon.
• 1949: After the establishment of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in 1948, the government forms a committee to standardize the flag's exact specifications. The precise colors and placement of the trigrams are officially codified, creating the version we see today.

Beyond the Blueprint

A Korean Statement

While the symbolic language of the Taegeukgi is drawn from the I Ching, a classic Chinese text, its application and arrangement are uniquely Korean. The flag is not merely a copy-paste of an ancient system; it is a deliberate and profound philosophical statement.

The decision not to use all eight primary trigrams is significant. Instead, the selection of these specific four—Heaven, Earth, Water, and Fire—represents a focus on the most fundamental elements of cosmic and natural harmony. It is an act of interpretation, a claim of these universal symbols to tell a uniquely Korean story.

This choice reflects a worldview centered on the essential forces that create and sustain life, forming a powerful narrative of national identity.

The Philosophy of Movement

The specific arrangement of the trigrams—Geon, Gon, Gam, and Ri—reveals a dynamic philosophy. It is more than a static portrait of four elements; it depicts a continuous cycle.

The cycle can be read as a flow of cosmic energy. It begins with Geon (Heaven), the creative principle. This energy interacts with Gon (Earth), the receptive principle, which forms the foundation of all life. The agents of this interaction and transformation are Gam (Water), representing the abyss or challenge, and Ri (Fire), representing clarity and attachment.

This arrangement maps out a philosophy of national perseverance. It suggests that the nation (the central Taegeuk) is sustained by the foundational balance of Heaven and Earth, while constantly navigating the transformative challenges and opportunities presented by Water and Fire.

When we trace this flow, we begin to perceive the flag not as a static image, but as a living philosophical guide. It is a map for maintaining harmony and achieving progress through the perpetual, dynamic balance of elemental forces.

The I Ching's Enduring Echo

A Cultural Lingua Franca

To fully appreciate Korea's choice of symbols, we must understand the stature of the I Ching in East Asia. Far from being just a book for telling fortunes, the I Ching has for centuries been a foundational text of philosophy, cosmology, and statecraft across the region.

It provided a "source code" for understanding the universe, influencing fields as diverse as medicine, military strategy, ethics, and art. Its principles of balance, change, and the interplay of opposites became a cultural lingua franca for the intellectual elites of China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

By embedding the I Ching's core concepts into its national flag, Korea was not just creating a symbol. It was making a powerful statement about its place within this shared sphere of high culture and deep philosophical thought.

Echoes in the Region

The influence of the I Ching is a thread woven through the fabric of multiple East Asian civilizations, and seeing these connections helps contextualize the Taegeukgi.

• In China, its birthplace, the I Ching's principles are fundamental to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the practice of Feng Shui, the strategies of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War," and the aesthetics of landscape painting.
• In Japan, the philosophy was absorbed into the code of Bushido, influenced the development of Zen Buddhism, and can even be seen in the design logic of some traditional family crests (mon).
• In Vietnam, the I Ching was a cornerstone of Confucian scholarship during dynastic periods and its concepts were integrated into local spiritual and philosophical traditions.

The Taegeukgi, therefore, stands as a testament to this shared intellectual heritage. It is a distinctly Korean expression of a philosophy that helped shape a continent.

Symbol of Resilience

A Nation's Philosophy

We have journeyed from the flag's surface to its philosophical core. We have seen how the central Taegeuk embodies the universal principle of harmonious balance, and how the four corner trigrams represent the fundamental elements of Heaven, Earth, Water, and Fire in a state of dynamic equilibrium.

All of these symbols are drawn directly from the ancient wisdom of the I Ching, woven together not just to create a design, but to articulate a national worldview.

The Taegeukgi is infinitely more than a piece of cloth. It is a visual manifesto of Korean identity. It reflects a history of resilience, a deep respect for balance, and an enduring aspiration for peace and harmony.

For the people of Korea, the flag serves as a daily reminder of their profound philosophical roots. It is a symbol of their place within the continuous, ever-changing, and ultimately harmonious flow of the universe.