Stamp with Wooden Rice Cake Pattern

Ddeoksal, also referred to as ddeokpan, is a tool used to print shapes and patterns onto the surface of ddeok, or rice cake, by applying pressure like a stamp. The surface of white or pounded rice cake is rubbed with sesame oil before it is impressed using the rice cake seal. These seals are made of wood, ash-glazed pottery, and porcelain. Some seals are designed in a circle, hexagon or octagon shape, while wooden seals mostly assume a rectangular shape. Some porcelain seals also use a rectangular shape, but a round shape is used more often. Since porcelain seals are smooth, hard and waterproof like glass, they prevent rice cakes from sticking, and allows clean and clear patterns to be printed. The wooden seals may print patterns on five or six pieces of rice cake at one time, while porcelain seals are able to impress only one piece of rice cake. Patterns used for seals include animals, plants, comb and wheel patterns, patterns wishing for blessings and good fortunes, long noodle patterns signifying longevity and long and happy marriage, and the yin-yang symbol representing the origin of the universe.