Taegeuk

Infobox Korean name
hangul=태극
hanja=太極
rr=Taegeuk
mr=T'aegŭk

Taegeuk is the Korean cognate of "Taiji", the Taoist concept of yin and yang, from which all is actualized. In South Korea, the "Taegeuk" symbol is typically portrayed in red (yang, or heaven) and blue (yin, or earth).

The "Taegeuk" symbol is most prominently displayed on South Korea's national flag, called the "Taegeukgi" (along with four of the eight Palgwae diagrams). Because of the "Taegeuk"'s association with the national flag, it is often used as a patriotic symbol, as are the colors red and blue.

A popular variant in Korea is the "Sam-Taegeuk" (三太極), which adds a yellow lobe, representing man, to the red and blue. The "Sam-Taegeuk" is frequently seen as a design on the face of fans.

"Taegeuk" (as well as "palgwe") is also a series of Taekwondo forms practiced by Kukkiwon member instructors and their students; see "Taeguk (Taekwondo)".

In the film "Attack the Gas Station!", a character argues that Pepsi is a Korean product because it bears a logo similar to the "Taegeuk".

Prior to the end of the 2004 Summer Paralympics, the International Paralympic Committee used three Tae-Geuks in its logo. It was replaced with three Agitos. The usage started at the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul, using five Tae-Geuk designs arranged similarly to the Olympic Rings, with a similar five color set.

ee also

* Tomoe
* List of Korea-related topics
* Korean culture
* Traditional Korean thought
* Korean Taoism