Jogak Bojagi

Bojagi (also also pojagi, 보자기) are a traditional form of Korean folk art, used to wrap gifts for important rituals and ceremonial occasions. The earliest known eamples date from the Joseon Dynasty (beginning in 1392), although the tradition is undoubtedly much older. It is thought that the idea evolved from Buddhist practice, in which sutras and ceremonial altars required special coverings. Bojagi were once ubiquitous in Korean culture. The use of new cloth for the wrapping of gifts was seen as a symbol of respect for the recipient.

Bojagi are usually square, and may be made from a variety of fabrics, as appropriate for the occasion. Some are quilted, some embroidered. Some are made of multicolor silks, others of understated cotton or ramie (Boehmeria nivea, a plant in the nettle family). Most bojagi measure one pok in width (35 cm), suitable for for smaller gifts. Larger bojagi were certainly made, however— even ones large enough to cover a horse!

This bojagi is a “patchwork” bojagi (jogak bo, 조각보), made from raime fiber. Jogak bo were typically created by working-class women from fabric scraps (“jogak”) left over from other sewing projects. Even the stiching carries great meaning. The women who sewed the bojagi felt that each stitch, and each piece of fabric, added to the blessings and good fortune of the work. Also, wrapping a present keeps all the good fortune inside!

The wars and other cultural upheavals of the 20th century saw a marked decrease in the cultural inportance of bojagi. However, by the 1980s bojagi began to be appreciated again, both by Koreans and in the West. Now, major art museums hold examples of bojagi in their collections, and a new generation of fiber artists are taking the form to the next level.