Meaning of the Korean Flag

Tae Kook Gi, the Korean flag symbolizes much of the thought, philosophy and mysticism of the Orient.  The symbol is called “Tae Kook” and the flag itself is called, “Tae Kook Gi”.  Dedicated on the center of the flag is a circle divided equally and in perfect balance.  The circle itself represents the absolute or the essential unity of all being.  The upper red section is called “Yang” and the lower blue section the “Um” (Ying) and is the ancient symbol of the creation of the universe, day and night, light and dark, construction and destruction, masculine and feminine, active and passive, hot and cold, and so on.  The central thought in the Tae Kook indicated that while there is a constant movement within the sphere of infinity, there is also balance and harmony.  This thought of Tae Kook, called UM (Ying)-Yang philosophy has influenced all the fields of oriental cultures such as philosophy, logic, science, and military strategy along with martial arts.  The ancient oriental philosophers, viewed the universe as a place in which harmony could be attained by the reconciliation of opposing forces, one such force, Yang, is associated with expansion and separation, and the other Um (Ying) with contraction and assimilation.  These opposites continually balance and complement each other.  This thought taught martial arts the wisdom of using nonviolence against violence, soft against hard, circle against straight line, and so on.  The three bars at each corner also carry the ideas of opposition and balance.

"International Tang Soo Do Moo Duck Hwoi Association, Inc. – Gup Manual"

Heaven

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