La maison de la Corée

Maedup, the Korean word for "knot," is the generic term for a wide assortment of knot creations
which are often mistakenly referred to in English as macrame. Maedup and macrame are very
different. The front and back of a maedup piece are identical whereas those of a macrame piece
are different. This is because a maedup piece is a knot or series of knots made of a single piece of
cord, whereas a macrame piece is made of two or more cords.

Silk cords are usually used for maedup, but cords of cotton and other fibers may also be used. The
item and its intended use determine the type of cord and the type and number of knots and
combinations to be used in making it. Tassels or sui are often added to a piece to enhance its
beauty.

Koreans developed maedup, which was first introduced from China, into a unique system of
ornamentation integral to daily life. The demand for cords and maedup pieces by royalty and
officials was so great during the Choson period (1392-1910) that the government operated a
system similar to an assembly line with specialized artisans employed to produce them.

Maedup were used not only for personal accessories such as purses, perfume bags, folding fans and
belts but also for interior decoration, the decoration of musical instruments, the embellishment of
Buddhist pennants and more. One of the most beautiful applications of maedup was the norigae, a
harmonious blend of knots, jewels and tassels which women wore-and many still do-to embellish the
simple lines of the hanbok, the traditional Korean dress.

Norigae can be made of any number of pieces put the samjak norigae made of three pans is the
most common. The upper and lower parts of many norigae are connected with ornaments made of
jade, coral, agate, amber, gold or silver in various shapes such as bottles, bats, hatches and
butterflies. Some ornaments contain designs symbolic of good fortune, long life, wealth or a son.
There are different norigae for formal and informal wear. The size and shape of the jewels or
precious metals and the tassel differ according to the occasion.