The Interpretation of the 24 Patterns of Taekwon-Do
The name of the pattern, the number of movements, and the diagrammatic symbol of each pattern symbolises either figures in Korean history or instances relation to historical events.
CHONJI: Means literally "The Heaven The Earth". It is, in the Orient, Interpreted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history, therefore, it is the initial pattern practised by the beginner. This pattern consists of two similar parts totalling 19 movements, one part to represent the Heaven and the other part to represent the Earth.
DAN-GUN: is named after the holy Dan-Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year 2,333 B.C.. ( 21 movements)
DO-SAN: is the pseudonym of the patriot Ahn Chang-Ho (1876-1938). The 24 movements represents his entire life which he devoted to furthering the education of Korea and it’s independence movement.
WON-HYO: was the noted monk who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in the year 686 A.D.. (28 movements)
YUL-GOK: is the pseudonym of a great philosopher and scholar Yil (1536-1584) nicknamed "Confucius of Korea". The 38 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on 38 degrees latitude and the diagram of the pattern represents "scholar".
JOONG-GUN: is named after the patriot Ahn Joong-Gun who assassinated Hiro-Bumi Ito, the first Japanese governor-general of Korea, known as the man who played the leading part in the Korea-Japan merger. There are 32 movements in this pattern to represent Mr. Ahn’s age when he was executed at Lui-Shung prison (1910).
TOI-GYE: is the pen name of\noted scholar Yi Hwang (16th century), an authority on Neo-Confucianism. The 37 movements of the pattern refer to his birthplace on 37 degrees latitude and the diagram of the pattern represents "scholar".
HWA-RANG: is named after the Hwa-Rang youth group which originated in the Silla Dynasty in the early 7th century. The 29 movements refer to the 29th Infantry Division, where Taekwon-Do developed into maturity.
CHOONG-MOO: was the name given to the Great Admiral Yil Soon-Sin of the Yi Dynasty. He was reputed to have invented the first armoured battleship (Kobukson) in 1592, which is said to be the precursor of the present day submarine. The reason why this pattern ends with a left hand attack is to symbolise his regrettable death, having no chance to show his unrestrained potential checked by the forced reservation of his loyalty to the king. (30 movements)
KWANG-GE: is named after the famous Kwang-Gae-Toe-Wang, the 19th King of the Koguryo Dynasty, who regained all the lost territories including the greater part of Manchuria. The diagram of the pattern represents the expansion and the recovery of the lost territory. The 39 movements refer to the first two figures of 391 A.D., the year he came to the throne.
PO-EUN: is the pseudonym of the loyal subject Chong Mong-Chu (1400) who was a famous poet and whose poem "I would not serve a second master though I might be crucified a hundred times" is known to every Korean. He was also a pioneer in the field of physics. The diagram of the pattern represents his unerring loyalty to the king and country towards the end of the Koryo Dynasty.
GE-BAEK: is named after Ge-Baek, a great general in the Baek Je Dynasty (660 A.D.). The diagram of the pattern represents his severe and strict military discipline.
EUI-AM: is the pseudonym of Son Byong Hi, leader of the Korean independence movement on March 1st, 1919. The 45 movements refer to his age when he changed the name of Dong Hak (Oriental Culture) to Chondo Kyo (Heavenly Way Religion) in 1905. The diagram of the pattern represents his indomitable spirit, displayed while dedicating himself to the prosperity of his nation.
CHONG-JANG: is the pseudonym given to General Kim Duk Ryang, who lived during the Lee Dynasty, 14th century. This pattern ends with a left hand attack to symbolise the tragedy of his death at 27 in prison before he was able to reach full maturity.
JUCHE: is a philosophical idea that man is a master of everything and decides everything, in other words, the idea that man is the master of the world and his own destiny. It is said that this idea was rooted in Baekdu Mountain which symbolises the spirit of the Korean people. The diagram of the pattern represents Baekdu Mountain.
SAM-IL: denotes the historical date of the independence movement of Korea which began throughout the country on March 1st 1919. The 33 movements of the pattern stand for the 33 patrons who planned the movement.
YOO-SIN: is named after General Kim You Sin, a commanding general during the Silla Dynasty. The 68 movements refer to the last two figures of 668 A.A., the year Korea was united. The ready posture signifies a sword drawn on the right rather that left side, symbolising Yoo Sin’s mistake of following the King’s orders to fight with foreign forces against his own nation.
CHOI-YONG: is named after the General Choi Yong, Premier and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces during the 14th century Koryo Dynasty. Choi Yong was greatly respected for his loyalty, patriotism and humility. He was executed by his subordinate commanders headed by General Yi Sung Gae, who later became the first king of the Lee Dynasty.
YONG-GAE: is named after a famous general during the Koguryo Dynasty, Yon Gae Somoon. The 49 movements fefer to the last two figures of 649 A.D. the year he forced the Tang Dynasty to quit Korea after destroying nearly 300,000 of their troops at Ansi Sung.
UL-JI: is named after general UL-JI Moon Dok who succesfully defended Korea against a Tang’s invasion force of nearly one million soldiers led by Yang Je in 612 A.D., UL-JI employing hit and run guerila tactics, was able to deciminate a large percentage of the force. The diagram of the pattern reprsents his surname. The 42 movements reprsents the author’s age when he designed the pattern.
MOON-MOO: honors the 30th King of the Silla Dynasty. His body is buried near Dae Wang Am (Great King’s Rock). According to his will, the body was placed in the sea "where my soul shall forever defend my land against the japanese". It is said that the Sok Gul Am (stone cave) was built to guard his tomb. The Sok Gul Am is a fine example of culture of the Silla Dynasty. The 61 movements in this pattern symbolize the last two figures of 661 A.D. when Moon Moo came to the throne.
SO-SAN: is the pseudonym of the Great Monk Choi Hyong Ung (1520-1604) during the Lee Dynasty. The 72 movements refer to his age when he organised a corp of monk soldiers with the assistance of his pupil Sa Myung Dang. The monk soldiers helped repulse the Japanese pirates who overan most of the Korean peninsula in 1592.
SE-JONG: is named after the Greatest Korean King Se-Jong, who invented the Korean alphabet in 1443, and was also a noted meteorologist. The diagram of the pattern represents king, while the 24 movements refer to the 24 letters of the Korean Alphabet.
TONG-IL: denotes the resolution of the unification of Korea which has been divided since 1945. The diagram of the pattern symbolizes the homogenous race.
