1. The origin of Korean costumes

Korean costumes were originally mainly influenced by the costumes of the Tang Dynasty in China. Regarding this, there is a record in the history books: "The uniforms, etiquette, and daily life are the same as those of China." During the Tang Dynasty, Silla had very close contacts with the Tang Dynasty, and the clothing characteristics were almost the same as those of the Tang Dynasty. The development of Hanbok's personality began in the middle of Lee's Joseon Dynasty. Since then, Korean clothing, especially women's clothing, has gradually developed into high-waisted and underskirt skirts, and the difference from Chinese clothing has gradually increased. However, important formal attires such as official uniforms and court uniforms still have more Chinese characteristics. During the Korean War (1950-1953), Western-style clothing entered South Korea. In the 1960s and 1970s, due to the accelerated pace of life and work, people felt that Hanbok was too cumbersome and inconvenient to wear, so the number of users decreased greatly. However, hanbok enthusiasts have been actively promoting hanbok and designing styles that are in line with the times and easy to wear, which has restored hanbok's vitality.

2. The culture of Korean clothing

Korean clothing culture includes traditional Korean clothing and modern Korean clothing.

(1) Korean clothing, namely Hanbok.

1. Characteristics of Korean clothing culture

(1) Korean clothing is the traditional clothing of the Korean nation that has evolved from ancient times to modern times. It is elegant and tasteful. It is a traditional clothing of Korea and one of the outstanding traditional cultures of Korea. Generally speaking, the lines of Hanbok have the beauty of both curves and straight lines. Especially the short tops and long skirts of women's Hanbok are thin at the top and thick at the bottom, which is dignified and elegant. Men wear pants, jackets, vests, and vests to show their unique taste. White is the basic color, which varies according to season, identity, material and color. The characteristic of Hanbok is that its colors, textures, decorations, etc. are very casual. The use of more than two colors goes beyond the scope of simple colors and is influenced by the ideas of Yin Yang and Five Elements. Patterns and hem decoration also add to the beauty of Hanbok. The beauty of Hanbok can be seen in the lines of the appearance, the color of the fabric and the changes in decoration. A short top that emphasizes the soft lines of a woman's neck, with V-shaped necklines on the inside and outside or natural and soft cuff curves, highlighting the sense of gentleness. From short coats to skirts, vertical and drooping lines embody dignity and virtuousness. The skirt gradually spreads fine lines from top to bottom, adding elegance and beauty. The beauty of lines is the same in men's clothing.

(2) Korean clothing can also cover up body shape deficiencies, making people with shorter bodies look taller and thinner people looking plumper, adding to the beauty of women. Nowadays, most people are accustomed to wearing Western-style suits, but many people still like to wear traditional ethnic costumes during festivals such as the Spring Festival (the first day of the first lunar month), New Year's Eve (Mid-Autumn Festival), or during weddings. Women's hanbok is a short top paired with an elegant long skirt; men's hanbok is a short coat paired with trousers, with thin belts tied around the wide trousers. The colors of the tops and long skirts are colorful, and some are even embroidered with bright and gorgeous brocade. Traditional Korean clothing - Hanbok women's clothing consists of a short top and loose skirt, which looks very elegant, and men's clothing consists of a top and pants. As a white-clothed nation, the basic color of Hanbok is white. According to different seasons and different identities, the wearing methods, fabrics and colors are different.

When it comes to Korean clothing, it is impossible not to mention the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Summit held in Busan, South Korea in November 2005. South Korea specially made Hanbok for the leaders attending the meeting. According to reports, the color and pattern of each Hanbok are selected based on the "Yin Yang and Five Elements Theory", and each represents a different meaning. For example, the five colors of yellow, green, red, black, and white represent the five directions of east, south, west, north, and middle respectively, as well as the five elements of gold, wood, water, fire, and earth. In terms of patterns, the makers chose green pine, bamboo, clouds and peonies as patterns. Green pine and bamboo represent unswerving will and gentlemanly demeanor, while clouds and peonies symbolize the transcendent realm and gorgeous wealth far away from the world.

(3) Historically, Korean clothing was a popular clothing for residents of the Korean Peninsula, but now it is difficult to see it on the street. The reason why Koreans do not usually wear Hanbok is because the pace of modern society is accelerating, and traditional Hanbok is relatively complicated to wear and inconvenient to move around. However, this has actually improved the quality of Hanbok, making it a dress for important festivals. Korean clothing is much more complicated than modern clothing. Taking women's Korean clothing as an example, you need to wear underpants, petticoats and other matching clothing under the skirt. The underpants are 3 to 4 cm shorter than the petticoat, and the petticoat is also 3 to 4 cm shorter than the outer skirt. The open part of the skirt should be placed at the back, the side flap should be placed on the left, and tied from the front. In addition, women should choose classical styles for hairpins, earrings, rings and other jewelry when wearing Hanbok to show their elegant temperament. Of course you must wear makeup when wearing Korean clothes, but according to friends, even in normal times, Korean girls will dress up carefully before going out, otherwise it will be considered as a sign of lack of cultivation. In the hearts of Koreans, wearing Hanbok in formal occasions has become a norm. If a younger generation violates it, the elders will not accept their "greetings." During the New Year and festivals, if you don’t wear Hanbok on the street, you will be accused by strangers of being “rude and impolite.” Because of this, no matter where Koreans are, Hanbok has a special symbolic meaning in their minds.

2. Types of Korean Clothing

Korean clothing can be classified according to status, function, gender, age, use, and materials. In the modern view, the distinction in usage is the most representative.

According to life customs and uses, Hanbok is divided into wedding clothes, sixtieth birthday clothes, festival clothes, one-year-old clothes, etc.

(1) Festival clothes

In South Korea, parents must pay New Year greetings on the morning of the Spring Festival. Parents wear ordinary Hanbok, and children wear Seidong (seven-color satin) short clothes and Hanbok to pay New Year greetings.

(2) The sixtieth birthday banquet

It is a ceremony held by the children for their parents in their sixties, wishing their parents good health and longevity, and setting up a banquet to celebrate their birthdays. During the Sixtieth Banquet, men wear golden-crown grass suits; women wear small dresses or Tang suits.

(3) One-year-old clothes

In Korea, when a child turns one year old, a ceremony is held to pray for the child to be free from illness and live a long life. At this time, the child must wear one-year-old uniform. Boys wear light-colored clothes, usually a pink jacket with basket-colored edges, light purple trousers, a blue vest, and a grass-green belt. Girls use dark green or yellow shorts. They wear colorful shorts on birthdays or special days. Recently, girls who are one year old are also given Tang suits.

(4) Wedding Clothes

The Hanbok at traditional weddings is more gorgeous than ordinary Hanbok. At the wedding, the groom wears trousers, a short vest, a coat with a knot, a gauze hat, a crown, and wooden boots. The bride wears a red skirt, a yellow short coat, a round blouse, and a hairpin with prefixes and ribbons hanging from the dragon hairpin.

(5) Lifestyle Hanbok

Traditional Hanbok is only worn on special days because it is complicated and cumbersome to wear. Therefore, hanbok, which pursues simple and convenient life, has recently appeared. There are many types of lifestyle hanbok, and various styles are produced according to the diversity of materials and differences in design. It is also popular with foreign tourists because of its traditional beauty and low prices.

(2) Korean modern clothing

Korean modern clothing is characterized by its unique asymmetrical design and is the most typical style in the "Korean Wave". For example, the one-shoulder design with one exposed shoulder that became popular last year has brought unexpected surprises to girls who pursue fashion. This kind of asymmetrical design is increasingly appearing on Korean clothing: the skirt length becomes irregular and asymmetrical, and the hem of the skirt is designed to be diagonally asymmetrical or completely irregular, making the dress more dynamic. The unique design of the collar and the asymmetric design of the front inject a fresh feel into summer clothing.

The most attractive thing about Korean clothing is the exaggeration used in it, which satisfies the desire for catharsis among busy people in the city. Expression of individuality is the source of happiness: wide-leg pants can be as wide as possible, and tights can be as slim as possible. You can be extremely charming: a pure white tight-fitting vest and tender pink embroidered trousers, exuding endless feminine charm with every move of your hand and gaze; you can also be extremely mysterious: a black strapless vest and black wide legs Trousers, natural fishnet skirt, a mysterious girl that attracts attention.