Wrap · Gifts
Topknot
A holiday gift wrap whose corners are crossed again and again into a topknot shape, best on square boxes.
- For
- Holiday gifts
- Wraps
- Square box
- Cloth
- laid as a diamond
- Closed with
- Double-tie (square knot by two ties)
- Level
- Involved
Named for the Joseon man's topknot, which the raised knot resembles. The name is a modern one, given by hanbok designer Lee Hyo-jae, whose wrapping work revived interest in bojagi.
- 1Set a square box in the centre of the cloth.
- 2Lift the near and far corners and lay them over the box in crossing directions.
- 3Lift the left and right corners and cross them over the same way.
- 4Repeat lifting and crossing a few times until a topknot shape builds up (two people make this easier).
- 5Tie the last two corners once.
- 6Arrange the four tails so they lie side by side.
History & tradition
Modern Korea; named by Lee Hyo-jae, about 2008-2010
Named after the sangtu, the topknot a Joseon man wore once married or come of age, because the corners are crossed over and over until they build up into a knob on top. It comes from hanbok designer Lee Hyo-jae's shape-named knots (reposted as a Seollal guide in 2010); she says she named them after how they look. It borrows a traditional image but is a modern decorative wrap, not a historical knot.
Taught by name in Korean bojagi-wrapping courses; best on square boxes.
The topknot reference is visual; no source claims historical use of this knot.
Researched with medium confidence.