Maedeup
Maedeup · Insects
Butterfly knot
나비매듭nabi maedeup
A chrysanthemum-knot body with a pair of loop wings, the butterfly of Korean knotted pendants.
- Meaning
- Butterfly with wings on both sides of a 국화매듭 body. Variants 바로나비 / 거꾸로나비 (upright/inverted), 호랑나비, 수나비.
- Wishes for
- Butterflies symbolise marital harmony and joy (as norigae motif). Not to be confused with the ribbon/bow knot also called 나비매듭 in everyday Korean.
- Cord
- One cord folded in half.
- Used on
- norigae, wall hangings, pouch cords, necklaces
- Learn first
- Chrysanthemum knot
- Level
- Involved
Step-by-step instructions for this knot are still to come.
History & tradition
Joseon
The butterfly knot is a 국화매듭 body with two loops pulled out as wings, and makers judged it by balanced, straight wings. The AKS dictionary lists it among royal, court and yangban items, used on norigae, wall hangings, pouch cords and necklaces; it also appears on curtain tassels (방장유소). Butterflies were a motif of marital happiness on women's ornaments.
Common in modern norigae and decorative knotting.
Sources for this entry
장구매듭janggu maedeup