Bangjja

Bangjja, also known as yugi, is a Korean type of hand-forged bronzeware. A complete set of bangjja includes dishes, bowls, spoons and chopsticks. The main difference between Korean bronzeware or Banjja from other bronzeware is the alloy ratio of copper to tin. The Bangjja contains much more tin than other bronzewares (Cu:Sn = 78:22 as volume) while the normal ratio of tin to copper is 1/9. Due to this compositional difference, bangjja (unlike other kinds of bronzeware) can be sterilized. For this reason, it has historically been used as tableware for the royal families of Korea. Bangjja is used for the traditional presentation of Korean royal court cuisine (surasang). In 1983, the government of South Korea has officially designated bangjja as an Important Intangible Cultural Property.

History

Bangjja brassware reflects its deep historical value as well as traditional fashion of Korea. The history of Bangjja starts from the Bronze Age and it was widely used make to a variety of tools and tableware. Ordos region’s bronze culture related to Scythian Bronze Culture was spread and affected several regions including Korean territory. As the Bronze Age culture in Korea was influenced by Ordos region, where bronze culture was originated from the northern part of Siberia, Korean also produced ceremonial products such as ritual tools with bronze.