The Study of Children's Costumes Historicalin Enlightment Period of Korea

Abstract

This study was aimed at reviewing kinds and characteristics of children's costumes in consideration of their social and cultural backgrounds and particularly, those of children's costumes during the period of Enlightenment following Chosun dynasty and thereafter. Namely, this study focused on children's costume history in view of not adults' costume miniatures but their own concept. It is deemed very significant to review the history of our traditional costumes and thereby, express their decorative features with our contemporary sense. It is results can be summed up as follows; Strictly speaking, the period of Enlightenment can be defined as the one from Gwangwhado treaty in 1876 through annexation of Korea by Japan in 1910, but it may well extend until our emancipation from Japan in 1945. By 1890's, children's costumes remained almost traditional, but since then, the Chimas as well as Jeogori and breast tie began to be narrower. Particularly, Children's Jeogori began to be narrower with their breast tie disappearing gradually. By 1910's, children's costumes had changed much, with the breast tie replaced by the buttons and the longer Jeogoris.