The food customs of a nation undergoes a change with the formation time of a nation with its starting point. Food culture is based on the natural environment, economy, culture, society, humanities and social factors such as religion and unique indigen...
The food customs of a nation undergoes a change with the formation time of a nation with its starting point. Food culture is based on the natural environment, economy, culture, society, humanities and social factors such as religion and unique indigenous cultures. Under the influence of these factors, traditional food life or culture is formed. For this reason, studies on food life have been conducted in various fields, and food life or food culture has steadily gained attention in the research field.
Subjects of this study are rice cakes called Tteok, which have been part of holiday meals and a rite of passage from the ancient times. Although group sympathy are weakened and seasonal customs or seasonal foods such as food of a rite of passage are skipped due to the change of culture according to the current of the times, we still maintain the tradition of our own culture in its existence. In this situation, rice cakes (Tteok) are closely related to our entire life, and contain several meanings. Korean people have always made rice cakes when they are delighted or sad, or serve their ancestors or gods. Therefore, rice cakes are necessity which cannot be missed.
Studies on rice cake in several areas have been carried out so far. However, in-depth study on rice cakes among studies of seasonal foods or rituals in the field of folklore has not been found. Accordingly, this study was conducted for the purpose of examining the meaning of rice cakes, which are used in festivals and a rite of passage, and the change of rice cake culture in the modern society from the folklore perspectives.
Our ancestors made rice cakes according to seasons and holidays each month. Rice cakes of individual seasons were made of seasonal ingredients, so that people could know what crops or fruits were harvested through rice cakes which are usually eaten each month. Rice cakes make the meaning and symbolism of ceremonies as well as seasons conspicuous. In addition, rice cakes are regarded as an important food and implies a lot of meanings in the time of birth rituals such as the hundredth day, the first birthday, or wedding ceremony among rites of passage. Rice cakes which were used for holidays or rites of passage performed various functions such as health food, offering, a token of sharing with neighbors and relatives, and food for blessing or prayer.
However, the meaning of rice cakes, which had implied special meaning according to seasons, changed into a cumbersome and conventional food as much as seasonal customs and rituals changed in the lapse of time. I investigated the aspect of substantial change through merchants of Rice cake alley, located at Nakwon-dong.
Along with folk costumes which were vanished, traditional rice cake disappeared in our eyesight. However, booming of well-being in the current time brought about the increase of demand for rice cakes contradictorily and the recognition of rice cake changed from special food to general food. Put simply, although rice cakes were precious food which were allowed to eat in holidays in the past and it was regarded as a cumbersome food in the modern society, now rice cakes are newly developed due to the change of recognition with the healthy food or food which is convenient to eat. In addition, diversification of rice cakes is being attempted.
Different kinds of rice cakes as a rite of passage are ordered for various ceremonies such as the hundredth day, a first birthday-party, the celebration of the 60th birthday, and wedding ceremony. Most people prefer small and pretty shape, so that luxurious shape of rice cakes is a trend. Now, more people distribute rice cakes to guests in appreciation for joining ceremonies such as a first birth day party or wedding ceremony. In the case of the opening ceremony, many people give the box of rice cake priced between 3000 won~5000 won to guests. When people buy rice cakes, they tend to buy a small amount of rice cakes compared to the past. Accordingly, the elaboration in making rice cakes is hardly seen and traditional rice cakes are disappearing. Now, only good-looking rice cakes on the surface are liable to be survived. The quality of rice cakes depends on how much money we pay in our money-oriented society. In this atmosphere, colorful and good-looking rice cakes are preferred regardless of traditional taste of rice cakes.