동북아역사재단 2022년 08월호 뉴스레터
- Mok Soo-hyeon, Head of the Modern and Contemporary Art Research Institute
Joseon's Opening of Its Door and Establishment of National Flag
After the incident of the Japanese warship Unyo in 1875, Joseon (Korea) signed the so-called Korea-Japan Treaty of 1876 and subsequently signed treaties of peace and commerce with world powers, such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and Belgium since 1882. It became an opportunity to communicate with all nations for Joseon, which had maintained a submissive relationship with China and a neighbor relationship with Japan in East Asia. The national flag called the Taegeukgi was created during this process.
Joseon had the ‘Gyoryonggi (Dragon Flag)’ that symbolized the king's sovereignty, but did not have a flag representing the country. However, through the incident involving the Japanese warship Unyo, Joseon realized that they needed a “flag” to represent their nation. After discussion, flags were exchanged at the ceremony of establishment of diplomatic ties with the United States on May 22, 1882. The Joseon Dynasty asked Qing China's Li Hongjang (李鴻章) and diplomat Ma Jianzhong (馬建忠) for their opinions on the establishment of the flag, and they suggested a flag featuring a 'dragon,' similar to the symbol of the Qing emperor. However, Joseon did not accept this. On the day before establishing diplomatic ties with the United States, diplomat Ma Jianzhong saw the schematic that interpreter Lee Eung-jun pulled out of his sleeve and said, “It is similar to the Japanese flag.” He recommended ‘Baekjeo Cheongun Hongryonggi (a flag with white background, blue clouds, and red dragon in the middle, 白低靑雲紅龍旗).’ Kim Hong-jip said that he would discuss this in the royal court. The Taegeukgi was exchanged when establishing diplomatic relations with the United States. It is interesting that Qing China tried to get involved in the creation of the Korean flag. Li Hongjang and Ma Zhenzhong tried to visually indicate that Joseon was a subject state of Qing China by placing a dragon on the flag of Joseon. However, Kim Hong-jip and the Joseon government saw this intention of Qing China and selected the form, comprising the symbol of the Great Absolute, which is Taegeuk, and the four trigrams, as the national flag, which could convey the identity of Joseon distinguished from the Qing emperor’s flag or the Japanese flag.
Admiral Shufeldt was the representative of the United States when diplomatic relations between Joseon (Korea) and the United States were established. He handed the schematic of the Taegeukgi he received from Joseon to the US government. It is included in the flag collection book called 『Flags of Maritime Nations』 published by the US Navy in 1882. This book introduces the flags of 48 countries, including Taegeukgi, which represents Korea.
The schematic of Taegeukgi was sent not only to the United States, but also to the United Kingdom and France. Currently, the schematic is in the diplomatic files with the Joseon Dynasty in the Library of Congress (the United States), the National Archives (the United Kingdom), and the French National Archives.
Taegeukgi, the Symbol of the Joseon/Korean Empire
In 1882, Park Young-hyo was dispatched to resolve the Military Rebellion of 1882. On his way, Park showed the national flag to British Consul Aston and Captain James of Meijimaru, the ship sailing to Japan. When he arrived in Japan, he hung the flag in his quarters in Nishimura Inn in Kobe. It was the first time that the Taegeukgi was introduced to Japan, and its schematic was also published in the 『Jiji Shinpo (時事新報)』 on October 4, 1882. When Park arrived in Tokyo, he invited ministers from various countries to a banquet, where he displayed the Taegeukgi and the flags of various countries.
Joseon dispatched an envoy to the United States in 1887 and set up a legation in Logan Circle, Washington, in 1889. A Taegeukgi shape was installed at the building's entrance, and the Taegeukgi was also hoisted on the roof. Inside the building, they also hung a large Taegeukgi in the hallway at the entrance to the guest hall so that foreigners visiting the Legation would know the symbol of the Joseon Dynasty/Korean Empire. The building was repurchased by the Korean government and was opened as the Korean Empire’s Legation in the United States to tell the history of Korea-US relations. They also hung the Taegeukgi high at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, in which Joseon officially participated for the first time, and at the 1900 Paris World's Fair, where a Korean pavilion was built to promote 'KOREA' to Europe.
Uniting People in Times of Crisis
As described, the national flag was created due to its need in foreign relations. On January 27, 1883 (according to the lunar calendar), the establishment of the national flag was announced widely across Korea. However, it appears that the national flag was not recognized very quickly in Korea. It is presumed that the Taegeukgi was used in earnest in Korea around the mid-1890s. The 『Independence Newspaper』 reported on October 22, 1897, that the Taegeukgi shined as it led King Gojong's procession to declare the Korean Empire and to Hwangudan (National Altar to Worship Heaven). A large Taegeukgi was also hung at the front door of each institution. People were told to raise the national flag in each house on festive days, such as Mansuseongjeol (萬壽神節), the birthday of King Gojong, and Gyecheongiwonjeol (繼天紀元節).
After the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1905, when Japan deprived Korea of diplomatic rights, Taegeukgi took on the meaning of national unity in earnest. Volunteer Army Commander Ko Gwang-sun was active mainly in Gurye, Jeollanam-do. The Taegeukgi that he hung was inscribed with the words, “Bullwonbok (不遠復),” meaning that we lost our way but will find the right path soon. He raised the Taegeukgi, praying for the restoration of national sovereignty.
Taegeukgi became a means of resistance in Sunjong's tour to the west and south in 1909. In 1907, the Japanese Residency-General of Korea forced King Sunjong to make a tour in the northwestern region, including Gaeseong, Jeongju, Pyongyang, and Sinuiju, through January and February of 1909, and the southern region, including Daejeon, Daegu, Busan, and Masan, before he ascended to the throne. The Regency-General also made people on both sides of the King’s procession welcome him with the Taegeukgi and the Japanese flag. However, students at Sinuiju refused to hold the Japanese flag and waved only the Taegeukgi. 『Daehan Maeil Sinbo』 made this a headline titled 'National Flag Incident,' instigating resistance against the Japanese Regency-General and Hirobumi Ito, who accompanied the tour. The national flag, established by the government, was used by people during the crisis of losing national sovereignty, acting as a symbol of national unity.
Taegeukgi of Jingwansa Temple, Expressing the Will for Independence
After Japan annexed Korea in 1910, the Taegeukgi could not be hung in Korea. However, a Taegeukgi was discovered on May 26, 2009, during the dismantling and restoration of Chilsonggak Pavilion, an annex of Jingwansa Temple in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. It showed that the flag had overcome this situation. This Taegeukgi is quite meaningful in that it maximized the anti-Japanese spirit by drawing the yin part of the Taegeuk (Great Absolute) in black on a red circle of the Japanese flag and adding four trigrams in the four corners to overturn the situation where it was impossible to make the Taegeukgi. In addition, by using this Taegeukgi as wrapping cloth, they wrapped five independent newspapers, including 「Warning」, 『Joseon Independent Newspaper』, 『New Bell of Freedom』, 『New Korea』 and 『Independent Newspaper』 with 19 pieces of Taegeukgi. These newspapers were published by underground movement groups in Shanghai and Korea. Based on the fact that they were published from June 6 to December 25, 1919, it is presumed that the ‘Jingwansa Temple Taegeukgi’ was made circa 1919 when the March First Movement occurred and the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was established. In particular, the fact that the upper right part of the Taegeukgi was burned and damaged suggests the possibility that it was used at the site of the national independence movement. In addition, there are articles about the taegeuk pattern and Taegeukgi in the newspaper found with them. According to the article, Taegeukgi means to realize ‘love and equality’ in the world based on ‘strength and love.’ Giving such meaning to the Taegeukgi is quite meaningful in that it expresses hope for independence and peace.
Uniting Koreans Abroad
The Taegeukgi, adopted as the national flag by the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, became the focal point for Koreans overseas and the independence movement. The provisional government and national assembly raised the Taegeukgi when they had important meetings and ceremonies. In Los Angeles, the Korean National Association chose August 29 as the national humiliation day and held an event to pray for the restoration of national sovereignty every year. They called the act of dropping the national flag on the ground at the venue, reaffirming their determination for the independence movement by listening to speeches and singing songs, praying for the restoration of national sovereignty, and pulling the string attached to the flag to raise it again, the 'national flag ceremony' and promoted independence. The flag of the Liberation Army, which was active in Manchuria, was also made by inserting the Taegeukgi. The Taegeukgi became a symbolic focal point that united the Korean people scattered abroad in Japan, China, Europe, and America. Based on this, the provisional government presented the format of the national flag in the 75th edition of 「The Korean Provisional Government Gazette」, published in June 1942. It arranged the four trigrams: Geon, Gam, Gon, and Ri clockwise from the upper right, around the taegeuk, the Great Absolute made of red and blue, on a white background. The flagpole slot was placed on the right. This style was used after liberation until 1949, when the national flag production method was finally determined.
Becoming the National Flag of Korea at Last
When Korea was liberated on August 15, 1945, anybody could take out and hold up the Korean flag called the Taegeukgi. Taegeukgi was hoisted high in the Capitol building. The Constitutional Assembly, elected by the election on May 10, 1948, opened and raised the Korean flag at the then-Capitol building. Following the establishment of the government of the Republic of Korea on August 15, 1948, President Rhee Syngman ordered the standardization of the national flag regulations on January 4, 1949. The Korean National Flag Rectification Committee approved the draft, submitted by the Our Flag Preservation Society among five drafts, as the final draft. The Taegeukgi was established 140 years ago in 1882 as the national flag of Joseon and adopted as the national flag of the Republic of Korea 74 years ago. It contains the glory of our modern and contemporary history.
동북아역사재단이 창작한 '태극기, 만국기 속에서 휘날리다' 저작물은 "공공누리" 출처표시-상업적이용금지-변경금지 조건에 따라 이용 할 수 있습니다.
