Patterns>Chang-hon pattern set>Chon-ji

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Chon-ji

Intro

In Far Eastern countries, the term chon-ji (heaven and earth) symbolizes the creation of the world, the separation of the heavens and the earth, and the beginning of human history. The name is appropriate for chon-ji since it is usually the first pattern taught beginners. The movements of the pattern the foundations for the techniques used throughout the other 23 patterns in the pattern set.

Pattern history

Meaning

Lake Chon-ji (Heavenly) is the name of a large crater lake on Baekdu Mountain (also known as White Headed Mountain or Ever-White Mountain), an extinct volcano on the border between China and North Korea. It is said that this area was the first residence of Dan-gun, the legendary founder of Korea, and was the spiritual home of the Korean people before Dan-gun established his capital at Asadal (now Pyongyang) in 2333 BCE. Just as Koreans trace their beginnings to Lake Chon-Ji, taekwondo students can trace their beginnings to the chon-ji pattern.

Two parts

The pattern consists of two similar parts: one representing heaven and the representing earth. This is dualism is also embodied in the theory of Yin-Yang, which is based on two equal competing opposites. The four areas created two crossed lines of the diagram of chon-ji represent the four elements of the universe: fire, water, air, and earth. It is said that the nineteen movements in chon-ji represent the ten grades (gups) and nine degrees (dans) that make up the taekwondo rank system.

Pattern movements

Number of movements: 19

Diagram of movements

Pattern performance

There are numerous videos and explanations of the pattern movements available on the internet that show how to perform the pattern in the way preferred by your instructor, school, or organization. The following is an example of the ITF way to perform the pattern.

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