• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.958-967
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• 2009

Just as various religions of the world have multiple systems based on their own belief system respectively, religious costumes, which are the expression of religion, are varied in forms according to different religions. Nonetheless, this research attempts to examine the universal features of the variety of religious costumes. Since the range of this research is broad and the limit of study is clear, this research confines the study objects into world's four high religions. The purposes of this research are as followings; first, the investigation of the world's high religions, second, the study of the figurative attributes of religious costume to study and discuss the universality of figurative beauty and aesthetic value. Figurative attributes are distinct in religious costume. First, the non structural feature of composition, and the manner in which the costume is worn. Second, the rich silhouette covering the body. Third, the restraint and inhibition of decoration, and fourth, the preference of achromatic color and monotones. 'The beauty of concealing', derived from the religious absolute and chastity, 'The beauty of chastity' influenced by the restraint of decoration and design, and 'The beauty of nature' as the drapery and non structural feature are the universal aesthetic values. Human beings tend to contact the divine beings by pursuing the essential thing and concealing the body through religion. The forms of concealment and chastity, mentioned above are reflected in the usual costumes, affected by religion as well as religious costume.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.935-946
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• 2008

Religion is the symbolic form and action, linking the ultimate condition of life with human beings. Religious idea grasps the world through symbols and gives birth to the action through symbols. This research put its purpose in elucidating the effect of religion on the costume and its mechanism. It's focus is centered on Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam which are among the world high religions. Part of this research also examines the mechanism in which several composing factors are expressed with rituals and manifested with costumes, this process was diagrammatized and suggested. The composing factors of religion such as belief system, experiences, community, and rituals are closely related. Ritual especially, is the symbolic action, practice, and the way of rescue, expressing religious meaning. Religious rituals such as imitative rituals, positive or negative rituals, sacrificial ritual, and rites of passage have been expressed with religious music or figurative art such as costume, construction, and art as well as religious ritual like ancestral rites. Religion has had a great effect on the overall culture including costume as a belief system by lightening the meaning of life and suggesting the solutions to the human problems such as anxiety or conflict.