Facts About Ttukbaegi
A ttukbaegi is a type of oji-gureut, which is an onggi coated with brown-tone ash glaze. The small, black to brown earthenware vessel is a cookware-cum-serveware used for various jjigae, gukbap, or other boiled dishes in Korean cuisine. As a ttukbaegi retains heat and does not cool off as soon as removed from the stove, stews and soups in ttukbaegi usually arrive at the table at a bubbling boil.
History
The Ttukbaegi dates from the Goryeo Dynasty and has been widely used from the Joseon Dynasty up to the present day. In the Goryeo-period poem "This month" (이달충), the phrase "White-makgeolli is brought to the Ttukbaegi" indicates the existence and common use of Ttukbaegi.
Kinds
The ttukbaegi can be classified according to the production process and usage.
Classification according to production process
- Oji ttukbaegi(오지 뚝배기):The 'Oji' of the Oji bowl refers to the bowl of '오자기'(烏 瓷 器) which is of a solid black color. The pottery is heated with lye, which is a natural glaze, is already found in the Gaya period and early Silla period.
- Jil ttukbaegi(질 뚝배기): The 'Jil ttukbaegi' is not coated with lye. This ttukbaegi can be considered to be almost the same as the ancient earthenware.
Idioms
As ttukbaegi is considered a crude pottery, people use the proverb "Soybean paste stew tastes better than a ttukbaegi looks. (Ttukbaegiboda jangmasi jota; 뚝배기보다 장맛이 좋다.)" to say that you shouldn't prejudge the content by the humble outward appearance.