Colour
Rainbow stripes
Bands of many colours pieced in sequence, best known from children's festive sleeves.
- Direction
- mixed · arranged in five-phase 상생 order
- Hex
#c3343c#e2b33c#3f7f6a#2f5d8a#d9827a#f3eee2#7a4f8c
Multicoloured pieced stripes that evoke the rainbow, best known on children's garments; often said to date from Goryeo, though the origin is uncertain
Gives its name to the rainbow-stripe patchwork, and rainbow threads appear on the wedding 기러기보.
History & tradition
Origins debated: often said to be Goryeo, possibly older; mature form in Joseon
Saekdong is cloth joined from stripes of many colours, best known on children's sleeves from the first birthday (돌) to about age seven and on New Year clothes. A popular story credits Goryeo women piecing silk leftovers, but the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture traces coloured bands back to ancient garments. Its ordered colour sequence follows the five-phase 'generating' cycle.
Still worn by children at 돌 and holidays, and used on bags, gift wrap and modern bojagi.
The existing meaning field says 'used since Goryeo' as fact; the encyclopedia treats Goryeo as a popular theory and argues for older roots.
Researched with medium confidence.