Evening star., 1944-10-29
CtanPs
By James Waldo Fa,cceff.

released Thursday, will mean little
to Americans unless they under
stand the symbolism of the Korean
flag which appears upon it.
But it is not easy to comprehend
the ideas which the symbols repre-
sent. Perhaps the most practical ex-
planation available is that offered by
DR.. Kei Won Chung, writing in Free
Korea Magazine as reproduced by
Stamps for October Z.
According to the theory accepted
by this author, the round design in
the center of the flag is the compile
mentary union of Yang and Yin,
two principles here are variously in
terpreted. Heaven and earth, mind
and matter and the Supreme Celes-
tial Power and opedient human re-
sponse are but three Of many def
nitions of the Photograph. However
viewed, though, the Yang-Yin con-
ception signifies unity-powers or
things or persons working together,
existing together.
The three whole lines in the up
pSl pOl LlOll VI IllC lldk
to make the symbol called the Kun,
a combination of heaven or heav-
emily force, sovereign or sovereignty
and father or fatherhood.
Below, in the right part of the
flag, are three broken lines which
collectively are named the Kon-a
mystic Interpretation of the earth
during springtime.
Two whole lines on either side of
broken line are known as the Ii
trigam, and two broken lines on
either side of a whole line are de-
nominated the Kam-the former in
the lower left Of the flag and the
latter in the upper right.
Taken together, the four symbols
connote the Korean people. Kun
stands for the farmers, Kon the
business men, Ii the scholars and
Kan the builders or artisans.
But the trigams have numerous
supplementary meanings, also. Thus
Kun signifies propriety, Kon knowl-
edge, Ii benevolence and Kan
righteousness.
Again, Kun is symbolic Of "the
all-pervading" power which gives
life to created beings; Kon the
determining" power which governs
perfecting processes; Ii ''the origi-
mating power" which relates to the
beginning of all things and of every
thing, and Kan the beneficent
power" which represents philosophic
compliance or agreement.
If the attributes of the different
photographs seem confused to
Western reader, it should be re-
membered that they date back
scores of centuries and are relics of
the earliest efforts of men to under
stand or to comprehend the universe
and their place and purpose in it.
Korean civilization was old when
the great nations of Europe and
America were as yet unimagined.
But the flag of Korea is relatively
new. DR.. Kei Won Chung says: In
the beginning Of the 10Th century
(after Christi there was a famous
scholar, by name Kilchoon Yu, who
studied in foreign countries. He
was the first Korean student to
study abroad, and he took the de-
sign OF Yang and Yin and the eight
(originaD trigrams and constructed
the first recognized flag of Korea.
He adopted four of the eight tri-
grams for the new flag.
There were two powerful political
parties in Korea in 1882-one pro-
Japanese and one against the jap
anese. :. One day the party which
was against the Japanese had their
soldiers attack the japanese con-
sulate located in the capital Of
Korea. One Japanese was killed
and the Japanese consul barely es-
capped to Japan in the fighting.
This led to the Chei-mool- treaty
between Korea and Japan. Accord
ing to the treaty the government
OF Korea was to pay to the Japa-
nese government 100000 yen as in
demnity within five years. Fol-
lowing the Chei-mool- treaty. a
special envoy, Park Younghyo, and
the vice ENJOYS, Kim Manshik and
Kim Ok-Kyoon, were sent to Japan
to convey good will, and they used
the new flag as the flag of Korea
on their mission. 1t is called the
"Tai-Keuk flag" the word Tai
Keuk" meaning Supreme Ultimate
or Greatest Utmost"
The colors of the Korean flag are
red, black and white-red for cour-
age, black for perseverance, white
for honor.
The new 13-cent and 17-cent spe.
cial delivery stamps will 60 on sale
tomorrow. Collectors are cautioned
to put Scent stamps as well as the
new specials on their first-day
covers.
II ready in time, the motion pic
ture industry stamp will be released
in New YorA and Hollywood Tuesday,
The Collectors Club will meet at
the Thomson School, Twelfth and
l. streets, Tuesday evening at 8.
The Argentine Republic has issued
a stamp in honor of st. Gabriel,
patron of communications.
A dozen stamps produced In the
United States are to be released in
liberated Luxembourg.
Venezuela Is to have a series Of
stamps to promote interest in base
ball.
A recent ruling by a New Bed
ford tMass) judge to the effect that
government postal money orders are
not legal tender" raises the ques-
ton: What about government post
age stamps? They may be offered
and accepted in payment Of finan-
cial obligations. All that Is needed,
seemingly, is that the payer Of the
debt and the receiver of the stamps
should be satisfied.
The postal authorities Of Canada
now are distributing booklets of
sra npc ~, horizoptol coiI far,,, . IT,.