The traditional Korean color spectrum, also known as Obangsaek (Korean오방색; lit. five direction colors), is the color scheme of the five Korean traditional colors of white, black, blue, yellow and red.[1][2] In Korean traditional arts and traditional textile patterns, the colors of Obangsaek represent five cardinal directions:[1] Obangsaek theory is a combination of Five Elements and Five Colours theory and originated in China.

Obangsaek
The five cardinal colors of the traditional Korean color spectrum
Korean name
Hangul
오방색
Hanja
Revised RomanizationObangsaek
McCune–ReischauerObangsaek

Five orientations

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  • Blue: east
  • Red: south
  • Yellow: center
  • White: west
  • Black: north

These colors are also associated with the Five Elements of Culture of Korea:[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "The Five Cardinal Colors of Traditional Patterns". AsianInfo.org. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  2. ^ Yoo, Jee-ho (3 May 2013). "Pyeongchang unveils emblem for 2018 Winter Olympics". Yonghap News Agency. Retrieved 29 April 2015.