Welcome, 2015!

How have I utilized the 8760 hours in 2014? How have I changed this year-emotionally, physically, mentally? Am I a better person than I was at the start of this year? What from this year will stick with me the most as I move onto 2015?

There is greater number of days I've forgotten than remembered. It comes off pessimistic and melancholy, but it's true. For me, it's already befuddling to distinguish what happened in 2008 from what happened in 2009. Therefore, how much will I remember of 2014 ten years from now? Personally speaking, not much. Frankly, each year is becoming more critical and more stressful. Aware of the fact that there will be challenges in the imminent year, prepare to boldly handle those challenges.

Besides having resolutions specifically for 2015, it is also healthy to have perpetual goals that stick in the back of your head. I came up with one of my own back in 8th grade, and it's been my personal proverb ever since. It is simple: Work hard, and be humble, benign, and gentle. It's my abiding resolution, and it has stuck with me because I frequently analyze myself- my personality, my goals, etc. All this to say, goodbye, 2014. Welcome, 2015!

The Korean Hanbok 한복

Hanbok is a Korean Traditional Dress. The origins of the dress go as far back as the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-668 AD). The hanbok was originally designed for everyday wear in cold weather and nomadic life. The basic structure of the hanbok has 2 parts: Jeogori (the top) and Chima (the skirt). Underneath the jeogori and chima, it is normal to wear multiple layers of pants and dresses. Even up until the Korean War, Koreans wore the hanbok as their daily wear. When I see photographs of my grandparents when they were younger, they always were in their hanboks. Rapid industrialization starting in the 1960s changed all of that; industrialization provoked Western-style clothes to commercialize in Korea. Now, hanboks are only worn for special occasions like New Years, weddings, family celebrations, etc. When I was young, I remember wearing my hanbok on New Years and doing traditional bows to my grandparents, parents, and relatives as a sign of respect and honor. Of course, the incentive was to receive money for doing so. Therefore, the hanbok is an symbolic and meaningful article of clothing in my life. Although I am American, I am still by blood a Korean. 

Click to enlarge photos

I love this dress because it is a modern hanbok. It looks much more contemporary without the jeogori. There are so many minute details in the dress, and everything is handmade out of silk. Hanboks are pricy; they range from $140-$750. Real designer hanboks start at $1,100.

World-class designers such as Dior, Prada, and Armani draw inspiration for their designs from hanboks.

 

It is a Korean tradition to have a grand celebration for the 1st birthday of your child. This photograph was taken from my first birthday celebration. I recently watched my video recordings from that day. They consisted of me crying, while being dressed into the hanbok, and of me sleeping, while everyone sang happy birthday and my parents cut the birthday cake. It's perplexing to know it all happened and have none of it recalled to memory. 

 

Color is everything when it comes to hanboks. The colors an individual wore used to carry important implications such as class and age; red signified fortune and wealth. 

 

 

Very few people know, but I used to fan dance. I was an assistant fan dance teacher for young girls last year. 

This third dress has so many subtleties. There is a light mint layer beneath the emerald green top layer. Also, there are tints of red/purple on the green. The dress has a mesh of different colors. To add, there is a subtle flower pattern that can be seen in the right hand picture. 

Left: Traditional dress shoes / Right: Traditional Korean Fan Dance shoes

Thanks so much for reading.
Another thank you to Diana for the beautiful photographs!

Happy New Year, everyone!