GEMINI TAE KWON-DO

Korean history is defined according to the following time periods.

Neolithic : c. 4000 - 1000 BC
Bronze Age : c. 900 - 400 BC
Iron Age : 400 - 200 BC

Chinese Commaderies : 108 BC - 313 AD
Three Han States : 0 - 200 AD
Mahan / Chinhan / Pyŏnham

Three Kingdoms
    Koguryŏ : 37 BC - 668 AD
    Baekche : 16 bc - 663 AD
    Early Silla : 57 BC - 668 AD

United Silla : 668 - 935
Koryŏ : 935 - 1392
Chosŏn (Yi Dynasty) : 1392 - 1910
Japanese Colonial Period : 1910 - 1945

The Korean Flag
T'aeguk-Gi

The national flag of the Republic of Korea consists of a blue and red circle in the centre, one black trigrams in each of the four corners, and a white background.

The white background symbolises light and purity, and reflects the Korean peoples traditional affinity for peace.

The circle in the centre, divided equally into a blue and red portion represents the dual cosmic forces of Eum and Yang (Yin and Yang). It symbolises universal harmony in which the light (Yang) and the dark (Eum), the positive (Yang) and the negative (Eum) form the whole.

The four trigrams in each of the corners also represent the concept of opposites and balance.

Kun Heaven Father

Kon Earth Mother

Kam Water Son

Yi Fire Daughter

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Triple Essence
Sam-Tae

Sam-tae is a Korean concept which represents the constant interplay of three fundamental essences. Heaven (Blue), Earth (Red) and People (Yellow). With three becoming one and one becoming three. The mind and the body are inseparable within a person, a person is inseparable from heaven and earth, and heaven and earth are inseparable from each other. Therefore, heaven, earth and people are destined to exist in unity. Sam-tae is essentially a concept revolving around the process of transformation and change, which is very similar to the principle of Eum and Yang.

Sam-Tae on a drum outside a Royal Palace in Seoul

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