How to use a ribbon the Korean way? Daenggi

[Kaelee]

Wow! Thank you for that. Df os Korean and I adore Korean culture but it!s so hard to find any information on it!

[embee]

I don't think it is necro to add interesting information to an old thread! It makes searching easier. And *that* was interesting information. Thanks for posting.

[truepeacenik]

Agreed, embee.

But I love it when someone realizes they are, indeed necrothreading. I always apologize.

[LakeofGlass]

With the LHC, I've noticed that most prefer if we add to an old thread if it's purely for real info and not just saying, "Oh wow cool." I've been a forum admin and forum mod so I try my best to follow the rules. There's always the unwritten ones that are understood among all forums. :P

As for Korean culture, I've done my fair share of reading. When studying the language with through Innovative Language Learning, I've gotten to understand the culture also. They do a great job. I like to read the real history when I've found a new historical Korean drama.

Now, what is pretty interesting is when you see a super long loop on a noblewoman's hair. I'm guessing the actual bun is the braid being turned over (like a hair tie) 2 or 3 times before inserting the binyeo. After seeing a different Korean drama (I forgot which one) I've noticed that the ribbon that holds the loop together is much different in style/decor than a "pigtail" ribbon. It's decorated with a bun in mind. By looks it would seem it's easy to make your own with fabric. Some ribbons I'd seen had two smaller ribbon trims on the edges. After looking at the ribbons on here I realized that the ribbons are made as I suspected, by folding fabric with more of a satin weave. I'm pressure it's sewn inside out, then flipped to the glossy side and stitch with an invisible stitch to close it. I also say satin weave since many mistake the glossy weave for silk. Silk is a thread, satin is a weave. I don't mean to be so long-winded in writing about the ribbon, but some people do enjoy being as authentic as possible.

Also, they usually sell the gold sticker decorations. I know the site in the link sells them; I've seen their Ebay shop as well. There's also some very beautiful fabric in that hanbok shop.

[LakeofGlass]

My internet is being stupid and I can't edit my above post with the link; I am so used to typing out the html, lol. If someone can, just edit that for me.

[LakeofGlass]

How to do a married-status woman's Joseon bun.



To save space, I shrunk down my photos so that I only needed to post one image.

• Step 1 - Part your hair down the center. Gather the hair at the very base of the neck. This is important, because it affects how the final bun will set. I smooth out the hair as best I can using a boar bristle brush (which I suspect is fake, go figure). Unlike a single woman's (or maiden's) braided hairstyle, there are no braids (french or laced) on the sides.
  
• Step 2 - Braid the ponytail into a simple 3-strand braid. Take it as far towards the ends as possible. It's perfectly fine if you want to use hair extensions or a parandi/paranda to thicken your braid. During the Joseon era, it was common to use horse hair to thicken and/or lengthen the braid. In fact, the more fancy ones would do a few rounds of the loop. You'll understand in the later steps. The key here is that a thicker braid makes for a more balanced bun. For all you super long-hairs, I envy you. This bun is right up your alley.
  
• Step 3 - Loop the end of the braid up under the base of the ponytail. Use a soft elastic to attach it, or use the super wide, long ribbon or a scarf needed in the next step. If you have layers, like me, the elastic may pull loose some of your layers within the braid... which it did to me.
  
• Step 4 - Wrap the chosen item around the attached area. This covers the work you did to attach it. It also adds needed thickness to insert the Binyeo, or hair stick.
  
• Step 5 - Now add the hair stick, pushing it through over-under-over. The loops hold it in place. It's best to use one of your longer hair sticks. It's perfect if you have a decorative hair stick, such as with a carving on the end. Most Binyeo have a larger end, typically pushed right-through-left, since being right-handed seemed common.

The last image, #6, just shows you how the part looks. In Korean dramas, I usually see a much longer part, but my hair doesn't seem to cooperate that way. I realize my bun looks very "left heavy," but I did my best. Without extra hair, such as a synthetic add-in, I wouldn't get much out of it. In Korean dramas they usually use wigs anyway, and as I mentioned earlier, it was common to use horse hair. Don't even get me started on the wigs a Gisaeng would use, haha. I may update this post with the photos since my ponytail did not want to behave. I realize it keeps pointing left.

Speaking of Gisaeng, there's a similarity to the base portion of their hairstyle. I'd noticed they'd loop the braid as I've shown here, but it goes around the head entirely, just before the wig is attached. The wig is attached over the line the braid makes. The braid becomes a headband of sorts. I'm unsure how they would secure the braid, but my guess is small pins, just as the wig would need to be pinned down.

For a nobleman's daughter (unmarried maiden), I'm still on the fence between the side braids being a laced braid or teased dutch/coral braid in Korean dramas. The initial image from the OP's example does not look like what I've seen used commonly. If anything, that looks like a lazy version.

But an update on how I've seen the daenggi tied: I realize now that the one in the image is simply tied either once or twice the common way (one end over the other twice, to knot). The difference is the decorative pieces are carefully placed to be displayed. The half-rabbit ear loop I've mentioned before is commonly used for larger tied ribbons, such as a Yanban's decorative headband, the strings of his Gat (horse-hair shaded hat), and all Hanbok.

Since no one else has more accurately detailed info, I hope that my posts have been helpful enough.

[neko_kawaii]

Oh! Thanks for that tutorial LakeofGlass! Bookmarked so I'll remember to try it some day.

[Unicorn]

Thank you LakeofGlass, I don't know if this is something I can persuade my locs to do one day, but I'm bookmarking until they've grown long enough for me to find out

Unicorn

[Tail Feathers]

oh, i have just tried this ! it is so beautiful and elegant !
thank you !!!

[Kaelee]

Gorgeous!!!