武寧王陵 出土 靑銅匙箸硏究

Abstract

This work tries to understand bronze spoons and chopsticks found from the Tomb of King Muryeong. Several aspects have been discussed here such as the excavation environment, manufacture places and the characteristics of the very primitive bronze spoon and chopstick in Korea. Total five set (three spoons and two chopsticks) were found from this Tomb. One found from the bronze pot at the Queen's coffin seemed to be made in China, and other twos found from tomb corridor and entrance seemed to be manufactured in Baekje assembling Chinese spoon and chopstick. Those two Baekje ones are vividly different from the one found from the bronze pot and also the manufacture technique, including handle shape, thickness and decoration, is quite remained at the primitive stage. The reason of assuming the bronze spoon found from the Queen's coffin is China's one is that this one was used for the example of the other two spoon and chopstick. In the meantime, almost similar ones with this spoon were found from Jeonghyeon (Habook), Gowon (Nyeongha) and Namchang (Gangseo) in China, although the time periods of those areas are not perfectly lined with the construction period of the Tomb. Regarding that bronze spoons and chopsticks were not buried in tombs normally in China, it is highly likely that the deceased buried with spoons and chopsticks might be an important person. Also it should be remembered that those bronze spoon and chopsticks were also found from the Emperor tombs. So it could be possible that bronze spoon and chopstick were one of the priceless objects of those time, like gold and silver objects. Instead of the scissors which was highly popular in Namjo, bronze spoon was chosen to bury in the Tomb of King Muryeong. Given that Baekje people described King's death as ‘Bung’, spoon burial can be understood in this unique cultural context. Also this uniqueness was proven again that spoon is located in the corridor while chopstick is in the entrance. It is also highly likely that silver knife and bronze spoon seemed to be the favorite items of the Queen and so those two objects were in the bronze pot, in side the Queen's coffin. This is the only example around China and Korea, so it is worth waiting further excavation result which could understand more historic background. It should be also highlighted that the bronze spoon and chopstick found from the Tomb King Muyryeong is the very first ones among the tombs of Three Kingdoms Period. This spoon and chopstick, therefore, could be the valuable object to comprehend food culture of Korea. Basically steaming was the typical way of cooking, but spoon and chopstick seemed to bring different food culture. This also led Baekje people to bury bronze spoon in their tombs.