Baeja
Baeja (/ˈbeɪʒə/; Korean: 배자; Hanja: 褙子; RR: Baeja) is a type of traditional Korean vest which is worn over the jeogori by both men and women.[1] It is generally sleeveless; however some baeja may have short sleeves.[2] It was worn during the Joseon period and continues to be worn in present days.[2] During the Joseon period, some forms of baeja (such as the ones used in the jeokui) were also introduced from China's Ming dynasty as bestowed clothing to the royal family.[3]
| Baeja | |
.jpg.webp) Woman wearing baeja over her jeogori | |
| Korean name | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Baeja |
| McCune–Reischauer | Paecha |
Construction and design
Baeja came be square collared or round collared and has a frontal closure, called habim, instead of having a overlapping closure. It also has a detachable collar band called dongjeong. It is closed with a round or knotted button at the bottom of the collar band. The front and back shoulders are sewn together; however the sides are completely open or there is a long side-slit below the armpit. During the mid-Joseon, baeja with short sleeves were worn but were eventually replaced by the sleeveless style in the late 18th century.[2]
Usage
Baeja was used in winter by both men and women to stay warm; baeja made of thinner fabric were also used in spring and fall by women. In the late Joseon, the baeja was generally considered as a form of overgarment.[2]
In the Pyongyang region, a fur lined baeja called teoldeunggeori or teolbaeja, widely worn by women in winter after the 1945's liberation from Japan; and it continues to be worn in present day.[2]
References
- "배자(背子)" [Baeja (背子)]. encykorea.aks.ac.kr. Archived from the original on 2022-03-23. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- "Baeja (褙子)". Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- 국립민속박물관. "Jeokgwan". Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-03-23.
