The path of spring with heaps of care

Chanhap refers to a set of containers that are designed to store or carry side dishes on top of each other. Generally, three to five containers are stacked and carried on a wooden chest, or several drawers are piled to be hauled right away. When drawers are contained in a chest, one or two vertical pieces are placed on the front or on the side of the chest so that the drawers inside can be seen. Most Chanhap was made of wood, but porcelain and bamboo or Japanese wisteria barks were sometimes also used. Wooden Chanhap was lacquered to prevent wet food causing smearing. Containers for dry food were coated with oil instead. Won, the inn run by government offices during the Joseon Dynasty, provided guests with rice only, so travelers had to carry their side dishes or main dishes in Chanhap. This Chanhap is a relic from the 19th-20th century. It has a similar handle on a support that often matched with the wooden furniture from the Joseon Dynasty to hold a wooden plate for side dishes. A side board, which is erected to stably support the threetiered wooden panel, that is engraved with a grass pattern. The Geomeoljang, which is made of tin, holds the edges with shiny ornamentation that is in contrast with the dark wooden color. The three-tiered wooden lunchbox of artist Kang Hee Jung is ornamented with sensible patterns that are inspired by children’s lunchbox toy sets.