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Patterns of Lattice Doors

	Intricate or simple lattice patterns were used as the final touch in the decoration of a traditional buildings. Variations of geometrical and Chinese-character grids, floral patterns, and their combinations at lattice doors and windows were all used to enhance the beauty of Korea's traditional upper-class living quarters. Korean lattice patterns, in most cases, are named after things they resemble: ttisal-mun is literally the belted grid; wancha-mun, acha-mun, yongcha-mun, and chongcha-mun, the Chinese-character grids; kobung-mun, the tortoise shell grid; pitsal-mun, the diagonal grid; kkotsal-mun, the floral grid; pitkkotsal-mun, the diagonal floral grid; sosul pitsal-mun, the upright diagonal grid; sosul pitkkotsal-mun, the up-right diagonal floral design; and their unlimited variations and combinations.
	The ttisal-mun, the belted grid, is the prevalent pattern appearing in the doors of rural and commoners' houses. The vertical lattice strips intersect the horizontal lattice strips in the lower, middle, and uppermost parts of doors. The number of horizontal strips in the middle part of a door is generally decided by the following rule: if there are an even number of strips in the lower part than an odd number of strips must be used at the uppermost part, and visa versa. Even in the number of lattice strips, the harmony of um (yin) and yang is emphasized. The wancha-mun pattern has numerous variations based on the swastika. This symbol is believed to have appeared on the chest of Sakyamuni Buddha, so that it has been regarded as a serene religious symbol. Wancha-mun variations sometimes add bat designs, or two chained circles or diamonds. Bats stand for family happiness and chains of circles and diamonds, for eternity.

Another prevalent latticework is the acha-mun design. As it has a neat appearance, it was the favorite door design among scholars. The yongcha-mun design is the simplest type of door design. It uses only two to three vertical lattice strips and three to four horizontal lattice strips.

Intricate meshes of vertical and horizontal strips are called chongcha-mun. This pattern was thought to ward off evil spirits as it was believed that the meshed strips guard against evil.

The repetitive tortoise shell pattern, called the kobung-mun, was often used to express the wish for longevity, as tortoises live much longer than other animals.

Diagonal lattice patterns are called pitsal-mun. Their vertical and horizontal strips intersect mostly at 45⁰ and 135⁰. This dense meshing was also believed to guard against evil.

When vertical strips are added to pitsal-mun it is called sosul pitsal-mun, the upright diagonal grid, which has a more complicated appearance than pitsal-mun. It was often used for palace and temple doors. The upright diagonal grid mixed with decorative floral or geometrical designs is called sosol pitkkotsal-mun. Thus there are ample possibilities of variation. This design can be seen in halls of government affairs, including Kunjongjon in Kyongbokkung palace and Myongjongjon in Ch'anggyonggung palace. But most commonly, it was used on temple doors. Each temple applies the sosul pitkkotsal-mun design in its own idiosyncratic way. While the floral lattice designs of palace and aristocratic residences are rather simple, those on temple doors, on the contrary, have dazzling variety and splendor.

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