Maedeup

Maedeup (매듭, in Korean), is the art of tying traditional ornamental knots. Many of these knots decorate homes, clothing, palaces and Buddhist temples. In ancient Korea these ornamental knots were used to symbolize how an important day represented something 'very special'. They could be used to decorate the lamps hanging from the eaves of the roofs of houses where a festive event was taking place, they adorned a bride's bridal sedan chair on her wedding day, and finally they adorned the musical instruments that were used to enliven banquets and musically accompany the ceremonies that took place inside royal palaces. When completed, the knot has bilateral symmetry and can be made using either one or two strands. This practice originates from Chinese knots, but differs in the technique of interlacing. In addition, ornamental knots in South Korea are made freehand, i.e. without the use of any tools.