17 replies to this topic

[WuXiaHer0]

Like the Chinese,the Koreans,Japanese and Vietnamese use chopsticks too.
But why are the Korean chopsticks flat and not round like the Chinese and Japanese?
Is there any story behind it?
And what about spoons?Koreans use metal spoons that look very much like the westerners,unlike the Chinese which their spoons are wider and made of porcelain.How does a Japanese spoon look like?


Korean Dining Utensils


A set of Chinese dining utensils.

Edited by WuXiaHer0, 03 December 2009 - 12:54 AM.

[SNK_1408]

^ Japanese rarely use spoons, they mostly use wooden chopsticks.

I've never heard of any behind story of uses of metal chopsticks and spoons.
Most traditional Korean households contains extensive collection of metal cookwares/dining wares and spoons/chopsticks rather than porcelain/ceramic Dining Utensils.

Even rice bowls in Korea are mostly metal. But there are ceramic types too.
Also lots of hotpots.

[Gyopo]

^ Japanese rarely use spoons, they mostly use wooden chopsticks.

I've never heard of any behind story of uses of metal chopsticks and spoons.
Most traditional Korean households contains extensive collection of metal cookwares/dining wares and spoons/chopsticks rather than porcelain/ceramic Dining Utensils.

Even rice bowls in Korea are mostly metal. But there are ceramic types too.
Also lots of hotpots.

Do you know why we Koreans use spoon to scoop the rice unlike Chinese who use chopsticks to scoop the rice?

[WuXiaHer0]

^ Japanese rarely use spoons, they mostly use wooden chopsticks.

I've never heard of any behind story of uses of metal chopsticks and spoons.
Most traditional Korean households contains extensive collection of metal cookwares/dining wares and spoons/chopsticks rather than porcelain/ceramic Dining Utensils.

Even rice bowls in Korea are mostly metal. But there are ceramic types too.
Also lots of hotpots.

Koreans used metal dining wares was it is because of the ancient saying that metals can detect poisons?

If that's the case then,but why are the chopsticks flat?

I've seen Koreans eat rice using spoons instead of using chopsticks.
Do Koreans use claypots too?

Were metal ores found in abundance in Korea during the ancient times?

In Korean historical dramas,I've seen poor commoners used spoons made of wood,like those you see in cake baking.

[SNK_1408]

Do you know why we Koreans use spoon to scoop the rice unlike Chinese who use chopsticks to scoop the rice?

Because of Korean dining table manner is bit different than Chinese.
using chopsticks to pick rice is considered rude.

Koreans used metal dining wares was it is because of the ancient saying that metals can detect poisons?

If that's the case then,but why are the chopsticks flat?

I've seen Koreans eat rice using spoons instead of using chopsticks.
Do Koreans use claypots too?

Were metal ores found in abundance in Korea during the ancient times?

In Korean historical dramas,I've seen poor commoners used spoons made of wood,like those you see in cake baking.

1. Not too sure about detecting poison.

2. I guess it's easier to make it flat than round.

3. Yes, lots of claypots for hot soups

4. I'm not too sure about abundance metal, but Korea was known for exporting metals to her neighbors during ancient times. Korean peninsula is compromised of approx. 80% mountains hence abundant minerals deposits. But seeing a lot of Gold items and iron/bronze wares, it seems Korea was once abundance of metal.
Read: http://www1.korea-np...ue/98110405.htm

Minerals in Korea

Korea is called a “gallery of mineral specimens” with more than 400 kinds of natural resources distributed in various parts of its territory.

Among them, 25 are regarded as world-class fortunes. They are iron, nickel, gold, silver, bronze, mercury, chrome, lead, zinc, platinum, manganese, cobalt, tungsten, molybdenum, iron sulphide, aluminum, magnesite, coal, petroleum, apatite, mica, fluorite, and graphite.

The production of magnesite in Korea is the largest in the world. Its reserve is estimated at 5.24 billion tonnes, which is mainly concentrated on the Tanchon district in North Hamgyong Province.

Koreans produce the largest amount of zinc in the world, and its reserve of mica is also the largest in the world.

Korea, known as a gold field in Asia, ranks 7th in the world in its output. The land’s estimated reserve of molybdenum ranks 5th in the world, and that of tungsten 10th.

Korea is a large iron producer with 284 iron mines throughout the land. Most of these mines are located in the northern half of Korea, and the biggest is the Musan Mine in North Hamgyong Province.

Also amply endowed on the Korean Peninsula are nickel, cobalt, apatite, marble and granite.

5. Yes, wooden spoons and chopsticks are also largely use but they are mostly in large sizes, but almost no porcelain soup spoon.
I think wooden rice scooper is extensively used.

[WuXiaHer0]

2. I guess it's easier to make it flat than round.

Quite difficult to use because it's flat and slippery.Food might slip out of its grip.

4. I'm not too sure about abundance metal, but Korea was known for exporting metals to her neighbors during ancient times. Korean peninsula is compromised of approx. 80% mountains hence abundant minerals deposits. But seeing a lot of Gold items and iron/bronze wares, it seems Korea was once abundance of metal.

Well,that explains everything then.
They have ample supply of metals to produce weapons and other objects,including lots of dining utensils.

Were the richer people only entitled to use metal dining utensils?
Were metal dining utensils expensive during those times where the commoners couldn't afford?

How do the Japanese eat rice?By using chopsticks or spoon?

[SNK_1408]

Quite difficult to use because it's flat and slippery.Food might slip out of its grip.


Well,that explains everything then.
They have ample supply of metals to produce weapons and other objects,including lots of dining utensils.

Were the richer people only entitled to use metal dining utensils?
Were metal dining utensils expensive during those times where the commoners couldn't afford?

How do the Japanese eat rice?By using chopsticks or spoon?

1. Yeah I understand, even many foreigners with good chopstick skill having problem with Korean thin metal chopstick.

2. As far as I know even commoners had metal spoons and chopsticks, if they can't afford it then they can always use the wooden replacement.
Metal dining utensils were often common marriage gift in Korea. When I moved out from my parent house to live with myself I've been given metal dining chopsticks/spoons/rice bowls as giftset from my parent. Because it's metal it's very durable and can be sterilized by putting in boiling water is another reason why Koreans prefer metal dining utensils.

3. My Japanese gf always used chopsticks and rest her friends and family members use chopsticks extensively. But they also use spoons too.

[WuXiaHer0]

Metal dining utensils were often common marriage gift in Korea.

What kind of important roles do the chopsticks play in the Korean culture besides using it for eating?
Marriage customs/dowry?Birth customs?Rituals?

[MJL]

Koreans used metal dining wares was it is because of the ancient saying that metals can detect poisons?
If that's the case then,but why are the chopsticks flat?

This is nowhere academic input, but after reading these posts today I spoke to some people at work today about this subject (while using flat, metal chopsticks and spoons!)

The women I spoke to said the following;
1. Only the royal court of Joseon used silver chopsticks (not just any metal) because of coloration changes in the metal sheen when in contact with certain poisons.
2. Why you spoons? because it's easier (hard to argue with, no-one could add any more)
3. Why metal? practicality, the average peasant was definitely not well-off and metal bowls (and utensils) were simply less likely to be broken.

As I said, just the input from the people I spoke to.

[WuXiaHer0]

This is nowhere academic input, but after reading these posts today I spoke to some people at work today about this subject (while using flat, metal chopsticks and spoons!)

The women I spoke to said the following;
1. Only the royal court of Joseon used silver chopsticks (not just any metal) because of coloration changes in the metal sheen when in contact with certain poisons.
2. Why you spoons? because it's easier (hard to argue with, no-one could add any more)
3. Why metal? practicality, the average peasant was definitely not well-off and metal bowls (and utensils) were simply less likely to be broken.

As I said, just the input from the people I spoke to.

I understand that the Koreans use metallic dining utensils because it's easy to sterilize and durable.

And yes,the detecting poison part,I got it from the historical drama "Dae Jang Geum" where King Jungjong ate using silver spoons and chopsticks,except for the part where he ate poisoned duck meat because the silver utensils can't detect the poison.

But any idea why the chopsticks are flat?It's kinda difficult to use.
My mother gave up using them and she passed them to me and I'm having a hard time eating,especially noodles.I'm the last one in my family to finish up my meals when I use them.Right now the chopsticks are no longer in use,only kept as a collection with other Korean merchandise which my mother's friend gave.

[MJL]

But any idea why the chopsticks are flat?It's kinda difficult to use.

Possibly the waste of space here to say "I don't know, personal/cultural preference?" but I've not had any trouble using them.

Edited by MJL, 06 December 2009 - 01:11 PM.

[WangGeon]

But any idea why the chopsticks are flat?It's kinda difficult to use.
My mother gave up using them and she passed them to me and I'm having a hard time eating,especially noodles.I'm the last one in my family to finish up my meals when I use them.Right now the chopsticks are no longer in use,only kept as a collection with other Korean merchandise which my mother's friend gave.

This explanation I got from a documentary I saw in Korea:

It's again a matter of simple practicality. Traditional Korean diets were very much heavy in fish and the fish around Korea tend to have lots of bones (ever tried eating Korean grilled mackrel or yellowtail???). Flat chopsticks make it easier to pick out the meat when eating fish like these.

[pinpin]

i believed ancient chinese used all sort of chopsticks, ivory's, bronze', bamboo's, jade's, lacquer's and yes, even metal's. as for spoons, here's a link for you. chopsticks and spoon from song dynasty:

htt://picasaweb.google.com/GaryLeeTodd/LuoyangMuseum#

you will be surprised that ancient chinese chopsticks and spoons look much more similar to those use in korea now!

Edited by pinpin, 06 December 2009 - 10:04 AM.

[mariusj]

My explanation was that during culture revolution, PRC have extensive campaign collecting anything metallic - from silver to steel, to build up 'industries.'

It is very difficult to find any silverware in China that is made prior to the build up.

[SNK_1408]

^ North Korea did just that too, but they still uses metal spoons and chopsticks.