 
Korean people traditionally adapted to and found meaning in the order of nature. People wanted to teach
these hidden meanings of nature to their children and actually believed them as law and order in their daily
lives. They created beautiful and diverse patterns making use of their creative talent and
imagination. This talent reflected all ranges of daily life, from common people's daily goods to royal clothing.
Respect for nature has long been inscribed into traditional Korean patterns. Common themes included
longing for paradise, happiness, love, and good fortune. Myriads of patterns and motifs
(often embodying auspicious meanings) can be found adorning everything from Korean traditional
architecture to objects of every day life. The use of these patterns reveals much about how Koreans
sought practicality, as well as a sense of refinement and beauty, in whatever surrounded them.
Chimney of Chagyong-jeon Hall
The Chimney of Chagyong-jeon Hall in Kyongbok Palace
represents some of the best examples of symbolism in Korean culture. The chimney forms a part of the
wall of the courtyard. The ten exhausts on top of the
chimney are tiled to resemble the beams and rafters of a wooden structure. The chimney is decorated
with various designs to represent long life, wealth, and many offspring and to repel evil. On the
lower half of the wall is a large decoration panel, the background of which is plaster. It contains
designs of a cloud, rocks, pine tree, deer, crane, grapes, bracket fungus mushroom,
bamboo, chrysanthemum, and lotus. Above the panel are three designs of a mythological beast called
a Haetae.
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