Obangsaek

The traditional Korean color spectrum, also known as Obangsaek, is the color scheme of the five Korean traditional colors of white, black, blue, yellow and red. In Korean traditional arts and traditional textile patterns, the colors of Obangsaek represent five cardinal directions: Obangsaek theory is a combination of Five Elements and Five Colours theory and originated in China.

Five orientations

 * Blue: east
 * Red: south
 * Yellow: center
 * White: west
 * Black: north

These colors are also associated with the Five Elements of Culture of Korea:


 * Blue: Wood
 * Red: Fire
 * Yellow: Earth
 * White: Metal
 * Black: Water