Why Knot in Life?
Maedeup master Kim Hee-jin, 74, was designated as Important Intangible Cultural Asset No. 22 in Korea. / Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chulMaedeup Master Ties Past With Present This is the first in a series of articles about Korean masters in traditional arts. _ Ed. By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Maedeup, or Korean knots, has evolved from a basic technique to produce textiles to skills such as knitting, knotting and weaving. It was a skill necessary for survival, rather than a creative art. In the past, maedeup was used to make tools for hunting, fishing, communication and records or even symbols of status. But later on, knots became an art form employed in ornamental creations, handed down from artisans' fingertips to fingertips because of its delicate and aesthetic nature. Kim Hee-jin, 74, master of maedeup, the state-designated Important Intangible Cultural Asset No. 22, has revived the art over the last 44 years to preserve a rare Korean tradition. Born in 1934, Kim first developed her interest in traditional ornamental knots in 1963. ``Making a knot requires fine an
May 1, 2007