THE INTERPRETATION OF PATTERNS

 

The name of the pattern, the number of movements, and the diagrammatic symbol of each pattern symbolizes either heroic figures in Korean history or instances relating to historical events.

 

CHON-JI        (19 movements)

 

Means literally the “Heaven the Earth.”  It is, in the Orient, interpreted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history.  Therefore, it is the initial pattern played by the beginner.  This pattern consists of two similar parts:  one represents the Heaven; the other the Earth.

 

DAN-GUN     (21 movements)

 

Is named after the holy Dan-Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year 2333 BC.

 

DO-SAN         (24 movements)

 

Is the pseudonym of the patriot Ahn Ch’ang-Ho (1876-1938) who devoted his entire life to furthering the education of Korea and its independent movement.

 

WON-HYO     (26 movements)

 

Was the noted monk who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in the year 686 AD.

 

YUL-GOK      (38 movements)

 

Is the pseudonym of a great philosopher and scholar YI-I (1563-1584 AD) nicknamed the “Confucius of Korea.”  The 38 movements represent his birthplace on 38 degrees latitude and the diagram represents “scholar”.

 

JOONG-GUN            (32 movements)

 

Is named after the patriot An Joong-Gun who assassinated Hiro-Bumi Ito, the first Japanese governor-general of Korea.  He is known as the man who played the leading part of the Korea-Japan merger.  There are 32 movements in this pattern to represent Mr. An’s age when he was executed at Lui-Shugn prison in 1910.

 

TOI-GYE        (37 movements)

 

Is the penname of the noted scholar YI Hwang (16th century AD), an authority on Neo-Confucianism.  The 37 movements of the pattern refer to the birthplace on the 37th parallel, the diagram represents scholar.

 

HWA-RANG  (29 movements)

 

Is named after the Hwa-Rang youth group which originated in the Silla Dynasty about 1350 years ago.  This group eventually became the actual driving force for the unification of the three kingdoms of Korea.  The 29 movements refer to the 29th infantry division where Tae Kwon Do developed into maturity.

 

CHOONG-MOO       (30 movements)

 

Was the given name to the great Admiral Yi Sun-Sin of the Yi Dynasty.  He was reputed to have invented the first armored battleship (Kobukson) which was the precursor or the present day submarine in 1592 AD.  The reason why this pattern ends up with the left hand attack is to symbolize his regrettable death.  He had no chance to show his unrestrained potential, checked by the forced reservation of the loyalty to his king.

 KORYO

Koryo (Korea) is the name of an old Korean Dynasty. The people from the Koryo-period defeated the Mongolian aggressors. Their spirit is reflected in the movements of the Poomse Koryo. Each movement of this Poomse represents the strength and energy needed to control the Mongols.

GWANG-GAE           (36 movements)

 

Is picked after the famous Gwang-gae T-o-Wang, the 19th king of the Koguryo Dynasty, who regained all the lost territories including the greater part of Manchuria.  The diagram represents the expansion and recovery of lost territory.  The 36 movements refer to his reign for 36 years.

 

PO-EUN         (36 movements)

 

Is the pseudonym of a loyal subject, Chong Mong-Chu (1400AD), who was a famous poet and whose poem “I would not serve a second master though I might be crucified a hundred times” is known to every Korean.  He was also a pioneer in the fields of physics.  The diagram represents his unerring loyalty to the king and country towards the end of the Koryo Dynasty.

 

GE-BAEK      (44 movements)

 

Is named after Ge-Baek, a great general in the Baek Jo Dynast (660 AD).  The diagram represents his severe and strict military disciple.