Kkachii/kkachi is the romanization of a Korean word 까치
And the meaning of this word is magpie!
You may or may not be familiar with magpies, they are extremely common in most parts of the world, yet not exactly everywhere. Most regions have their own versions of the magpie, and most magpies retain the classic black and white coloration, but not all. Different cultures and regions have their own unique opinions on magpies, and these viewpoints can be as black and white as their feathers.
For example, in Korea, the magpie is a harbinger of good luck and good news. It is a shining star in Korean folklore, and it’s cunning ways are seen as an indicator of intelligence and almost human-like consciousness. The Korean magpie is giving, noble and of high moral character. The folkloric magpie uses it’s charms to aid people. Alongside the tiger, no other animal is as iconic to the Koreans as the magpie, both have been featured in ancient folklore and song. You could say the magpie lives in the hearts and souls of the Korean people.
In fact, Korea adopted the magpie as it’s national bird in 1964!
This is in direct contrast to the mythology of magpies in Britain! The magpie is a harbinger of bad luck, and it’s cunning ways are viewed more negatively. They are seen as opportunistic thieves that will steal anything they can. However there is a way to protect yourself from the supernatural bad luck of the magpie should you run into one on your commute. It only takes a moment out of your day, and really, it probably is something you should already be doing out of politeness. The solution to this magpie problem is to greet AND salute the offending magpie! I’ve also read that a wave will do, but the salute just feels more official.. you know, to be safe.
In a way, both Korea and Britain have utmost respect for the magpie right?
Anyways, back to kkachii, the name of my blog…
Why did I choose a magpie to represent me and my blog? Well, for one, I love birds. You could say I am passionate. I graduated from an art and design college, and I was singled out as the bird lover, and probably as the bird obsessed girl. Birds feature heavily in my art. I love birds not only for their stunning good looks, but also for their fun and interesting personalities.
I have a huge soft spot for corvids. There is a specific moment in my life that kind of made me start “noticing” corvids and turned me into a corvid fan, but that’s a story for another day. I love them for their intelligence, cultural significance and alluded personalities. Corvids have a reputation for being highly intelligent tricksters, and rightly so. They are rumored to have stolen wedding rings, and there are also stories of corvids bringing their favorite people gifts. Two sides of the same coin.
I don’t know why but I find rumors of their thievery endearing…
ANYWAYS back to kkachi…
I am Korean, so I thought it was fitting to use the Korean word for magpie. I specifically chose the magpie because they are so widespread, yet have subtle differences throughout their distribution. They are universal, yet unique and different. They are symbols and even mythological figures. I am a Korean, born in America and an aspiring trilingual (English, Korean, and Arabic!) and I want to talk about anything and everything on my blog. Magpies have a reputation for being chatty and social. I feel this bird is very fitting to represent my blog.