Obangsaek

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Short description: Traditional Korean color spectrum
Obangsaek
KoreanColorSpectrum.jpg
The five cardinal colors of the traditional Korean color spectrum
Korean name
Hangul
오방색
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The traditional Korean color spectrum, also known as Obangsaek (Korean오방색; lit. five direction colors), is the color scheme of the five Korean traditional colors of white, black, blue, yellow and red.[1][2] In Korean traditional arts and traditional textile patterns, the colors of Obangsaek represent five cardinal directions:[1] Obangsaek theory is a combination of Five Elements and Five Colours theory and originated in China .

Five orientations

  • Blue: east
  • Red: south
  • Yellow: center
  • White: west
  • Black: north

These colors are also associated with the Five Elements of traditional Korean culture:[1]

  • Blue: Wood
  • Red: Fire
  • Yellow: Earth
  • White: Metal
  • Black: Water

References