During the Joeson Dynasty (1392-1910) Korean Neo-Confucianism (a relatively austere aesthetic similar to American Puritanism) gained significant social influence.  This social practice keps most women indoors, with few opportunities for public display, except at weddings.  Women's wedding jewelry included ornate cloisonne gold, silver and precious stone hairpines that supported gold embossed silk ribbons, along with complimentary small silk hats studded with jade, pearls and other precious stones.  However, professional women entertainers (gisaeng) wore elaborately braided and pinned hairstyles and lavish and stylish costumes with jewelry.

For everyday Korean women's wear, relatively modest hairpins, rings and small ornamental charms (norigae) were worn tied to robes.  The norigae charms might be embroidered work or silver chili-peppers or eggplants (suggesting abundance), miniature axes (intended to assist the conception of sons), butterflies (signifying happiness), actual or artificial tiger claws (believed to ensure one's husband remained faithful) or other auspicious items.  Women and men also wore decorative, yet functional knives (jangdo) used both for eating and as a potential weapon of defense against any aggressor, either man or beast.  High-ranking men (yanban) also wore beaded hat strings that looked like necklaces, ox-horn or jade-plaque belts as well as embroidered rank badges.

Korean ornaments often are comprised of jade, gold, silver, enameled metals, amber, agate, elaborately knotted silk cords and tiger claws.  Tigers are indigenous to Korea and are an important part of folk culture.  Archeological digs conducted in the early 20th century uncovered spectacular gold and jade jewelry dating the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-688 AD.  The art of working jade in Korea dates to the Neolithic Period (8000-2000 BC) and remains vibrant today.