Gourd Dipper

Pyojubak is a small gourd dipper used to scoop and drink water. The shape of pyojubak shown here resembles a peach cut in half, with a loop tied to the edge of its body for hanging and carrying. Pyojubak was sometimes kept floating in a liquor jar and used to draw liquor, while a jangjorang dipper was kept floating in a soy sauce jar and used to scoop soy sauce. A small pyojubak was carried and used to scoop water while traveling, or was hung on the wall as decoration. Pyojubak was made by cutting a round gourd or bottle gourd in half, boiling it, and then hollowing it out. Since a gourd dipper was easily broken and usually misshapen, wood was also used to be carved into a dipper. Wooden pyojubak was usually modelled after a heavenly peach, with the stems, leaves and flowers embossed or open-worked onto the outer surface. A heavenly peach is a legendary fruit, which is said to grant a life of a thousand years to whoever eats it. Some pyojubak imitate the shape of a flower, a conical bamboo hat, or a turtle, while some are made of metal.