THE INTERPRETATION OF PATTERNS

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

CHO-JI:                      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 to represent the Heaven and the other, the Earth. (19 movements)

DAN-GUN:                is named after the holy Dan-Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year of 2333 B.C. (21 movements)

DO-SAN:                    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 independence movement. (24 movements)

WON-HYO:               was named after the noted monk of the Silla dynasty who secularized Buddhism by making Buddhist doctrine understandable to the people. He died in the year 686 A.D. (28 movements)

YUL-GOK:                is the pseudonym of the great philosopher and scholar Yi I. (1584 A.D.) nicknamed the “Confucius of Korea”. The 38 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on the 38th latitude and the diagram represents “scholar”.

JOONG-GUN:           is named after the patriot Ahn Joong Gun who executed the first Japanese governor-general (who played the leading role in the Korea-Japan Annexation in 1910) when he entered his strategic zone in Manchuria. The 32 movements represent Mr. Ahn’ s age when he was killed by Japanese in 1910. (32 movements)

TOI-GYE:                   is the pen name of the noted scholar Yi Hwang, (16th century A.D.), an authority on neo- Confucianism. The 37 movements of the pattern refer to his birthplace on the 37th latitude and the diagram represents “scholar”.

HWA-RANG:            is named after the Hwa-Rang Youth Group, which originated in the Silla Dynasty in the early 7th century. This group eventually became the actual driving force for the reunification of the three Kingdoms of Korea. (29 movements)

CHOONG-MOO:       was the name given to the great Admiral Yi Sun-Sin of the Lee Dynasty. He was reputed to have invented the first armored battleship (Kobukson) in 1592 A.D , which was the precursor of the present day submarine. The reason why this pattern ends up with a left hand attack is to symbolize his regrettable death, having no chance to show his unrestrained potentiality check by the forced reservation of his loyalty to the king. (30 movements)

THE INTERPRETATION OF PATTERNS

BLACK BELT

KWANG-GAE:          is named after the famous Kwang-Gae Toh-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 39 movements refer to the first two figures of 391 A.D., the year he came to the throne.

PO-EUN:                    is the pseudonym of a loyal subject Chong Mong-Chu (1400A.D.) who was a famous poet and whose poem “ I Would Not Serve a Second Master Though I May be Crucified a Hundred Times” is well known to every Korean. He was also a pioneer in the field of physics. The diagram (--) represents his unerring loyalty to the king and country towards the end of the Koryo Dynasty.

GE-BAEK:                 is named after Ge-Baek, a great general in the Baek Je Dynasty (660 A.D.). The diagram (1) represents his severe and strict military discipline.

CHOONG-JANG:      is the pseudonym given to General Kim Duk Ryang who lived during the Lee Dynasty, 14th century. This pattern ends with a left- hand attack to symbolize the tragedy of his death at 27 in prison before he was able to reach full maturity.