Rice Container

This is a household item used to store grains including rice, which served the same role as duiju (another form of wooden rice chest). Since duiju is a very large chest, rice for daily use was kept in a smaller container that was placed in the kitchen. The wooden rice chest shown here is made by hollowing out a large log, forming it into a cylindrical shape, then attaching a plate to the bottom and completing it with joint bars. The exterior surface of this cylindrical rice chest has been smoothed, and there is a handle on both sides. The upper plate is divided into two pieces: the rear plate is fixed with joint bars, while the front plate is designed to be opened, and both plates are joined with hinges. It has small iron rings, through which a lock can be inserted, and a dangling iron hook for holding up the lid. It is made of old limewood because it is soft and easy to hollow out. This type of rice chest was produced and used throughout Gangwon Province. In this mountainous area where wooden planks were scant, logs were used instead since they were easily available to make a wooden rice chest as shown here. This chest was occasionally used to store kimchi, but it was mostly used for grains.