• (The)Study of the Eastern Classic
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• no.43
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• pp.259-304
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• 2011

It has been difficult to logically and consistently explain about the history of Korean national flag, Taegeukgi, for the past time because the exact shape of Young Hyo Park's Taegeukgi was not known. Any meaningful study of Taegeukgi was no longer possible since the most important core key was lost in the study of Taegeukgi. In this study, I inferred the original copy of Taegeukgi used by Young Hyo Park referring to the aspect of principle of Taegeukgi based on the existing historical data such as the copy of Young Hyo Park's Taegeukgi found in the UK National Archives in 2008, the recordings shown in Shi-wha-ji-lue, the painting of Taegeukgi inserted in Sisashinbo then in Japan, the Taegeukgi painted by Gil Joon Yoo, Denny Taegeukgi, etc. As a result, I have found that Taegeukgi has been handed down in a consistent shape even if China and Japan had tried to disturb and distorted it. That is, the Taegeukgi used by Young Hyo Park was painted following the command of the King Gojong and its shape was already defined before he went to Japan. I have found that such defined shape was the 'COREA Ensign', which was used for the Treaty between Chosun and the United States. I have also found that the 'COREA Ensign' from which Young Hyo Park's Taegeukgi was originated was designed by Gyoung Seok Oh and Gyoung Soo Kim referring to the situations that time. In addition, I have found that Shi-wha-ji-lue giving the base for the existing theory of Taegeukgi designed by Young Hyo Park was partially distorted by Japan.