Bojagi are textiles pieced together from hemmed cloth squares of various size, color and design which Koreans used to wrap, carry and store things in the old times. Bojagi is also referred to as bo or bok, which sounds similar to a Korean word meaning “good luck” or “happiness”. It is said that such a nickname implies the wish of the Koreans who want to wrap up good luck in bojagi. Wrapping gifts with bojagi is also a way of showing respect to the recipients of the gifts. Bojagi are used in wrapping gifts for special occasions including the exchange of wedding gifts by families of bride and groom-to-be. By wrapping and carrying wedding gifts in bojagi and sending them to the future in-laws, they pray for good luck for the new couple and show their respect towards each other.

Cutting out cloths and putting them together by sewing demands a great deal of labor. However, the joy of creating something itself seems to have been a driving force behind it. It also served women an opportunity to forget about their hard life while concentrating on the work.

“The patterns and designs of the artifacts[bojagi] in Joseon dynasty express the daily living styles and small dreams of young women during the period. … The unhesitating and unrestrained ways of expressing one’s ideas are indeed a feature of popular art that can never be manipulated or controlled by any kinds of authority in society” wrotethe late Mr. Choi Soon-woo, director of the national museum of Korea in 1978 in his writings.

Nowadays, bogaji serve more as objects of admiration than for practical usage as the patchwork attracts art aficionados who see a form of “abstract art” resembling modern Western art. Classes on making bojagi are also coming back to satisfy fans who want to take part in the “art” making.