A study on color features of Korean traditional costumes

Abstract

In various ethnic groups of the world, spiritual (moral) culture based on ethnic emotion is generally expressed in a diversified way and the most convenient way to show this is through daily clothes. Color therefore, being used in inherent traditional costumes, could become a tool by which the spiritual culture of an ethnic group could be identified. As color causes psychological reaction and activity process by stimulating human emotion due to its stronger communicability than any other visual elements, traditional color contains regional features, local nature and culture. In the modern society of revolutional designs, the importance of design has been highlighted in many fields and in the fashion industry, based on information, culture and sensibility. Grafting the cultural characteristics and sensibility of each country with culture in many cases is reviving its personality. Therefore, in this study, symbolism and meaning of color shall be explored through a study on color features of Korean traditional costumes based on genre paintings of Shin, Yoon Bok, a painter in late Choseon era. © 2015 International Information Institute.