Gujeolpan
Encyclopedia
Gujeolpan refers to either an elaborate Korean dish consisting of nine different foods assorted on a wooden plate
with nine divided sections in an octagon shape or the plate itself. The name is composed of three hanja
words: gu (구, "nine" ), jeol (절, "section"), and pan (판, "plate") in Korean
. Foods are separated by color and ingredients, and comprise various namul
(seasoned leaf vegetable
s), meats, mushrooms, and seafood items. In the center of the tray is a stack of small jeon
(Korean style pancake
s) made with wheat flour
, which are called miljeonbyeong (밀전병). In addition to its use as a food platter used to serve many dishes of food at once, gujeolpan is also considered a decorative item.
royalty. The octagonal dish itself can be made of wood or plastic and its divided into eight side sections and one center section; slightly resembling a flower. It also can include elaborate carvings, gem encrustations and detailed drawings. Original royal gujeolpan dish platters can be observed in museums as featured artifacts in royal table setting reconstructions.
Gujeolpan is considered to be one of the most beautiful and colorful centerpiece Korean dishes. The nine sections are carefully divided and assorted with an appropriate amount of assorted meats and vegetables to make it colorful and aesthetically appealing. It has even been said that author Pearl S. Buck
was so amazed by the beauty and colorful appearance of gujeolpan that she could not stop praising it, and as a result, refused to eat it as she did not want to "destroy such a beautiful thing by eating it."
can now be enjoyed by anyone in many places in Korea that specialize in preparing ancient Korean cuisine (though in some establishments it can be quite expensive). It is also sometimes prepared for wedding banquets. Each of the outer sections has different varieties of meat and vegetables, such as carrots, mushrooms, beef, bean sprouts, leeks, radishes, etc. while the center section is usually reserved for miljeonbyeong, which are small circular, paper-thin wheat flatcakes similar, though smaller and softer than tortilla
s. These are used to wrap the various meats and vegetables from each of the eight sections. Gujeolpan consumers pick and choose from the various eight sections, put them on a sheet of miljeongbyeong, wrap it and eat it whole.
Plate (dishware)
A plate is a broad, concave, but mainly flat vessel on which food can be served. A plate can also be used for ceremonial or decorative purposes.-Materials:...
with nine divided sections in an octagon shape or the plate itself. The name is composed of three hanja
Hanja
Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
words: gu (구, "nine" ), jeol (절, "section"), and pan (판, "plate") in Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
. Foods are separated by color and ingredients, and comprise various namul
Namul
Namul is a general term for a Korean seasoned vegetable dish. The name of the dish may vary slightly depending on what vegetables are used and how they are prepared, but they will nonetheless still be a type of namul....
(seasoned leaf vegetable
Leaf vegetable
Leaf vegetables, also called potherbs, green vegetables, greens, leafy greens or salad greens, are plant leaves eaten as a vegetable, sometimes accompanied by tender petioles and shoots...
s), meats, mushrooms, and seafood items. In the center of the tray is a stack of small jeon
Jeon (food)
Jeon , buchimgae, jijimgae, or jijim refer to many pancake-like dishes in Korean cuisine. It has been also called jeonyueo or jeonyuhwa, especially in Korean royal court cuisine. Sometimes, jeonya is used as an abbreviated term for the two...
(Korean style pancake
Pancake
A pancake is a thin, flat, round cake prepared from a batter, and cooked on a hot griddle or frying pan. Most pancakes are quick breads; some use a yeast-raised or fermented batter. Most pancakes are cooked one side on a griddle and flipped partway through to cook the other side...
s) made with wheat flour
Wheat flour
Wheat flour is a powder made from the grinding of wheat used for human consumption. More wheat flour is produced than any other flour. Wheat varieties are called "clean," "white," or "brown" if they have high gluten content, and they are called "soft" or "weak" flour if gluten content is low...
, which are called miljeonbyeong (밀전병). In addition to its use as a food platter used to serve many dishes of food at once, gujeolpan is also considered a decorative item.
History and aesthetic appeal
The history of gujeolpan dates back as early as the 14th century in which it has become closely associated with the JoseonJoseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
royalty. The octagonal dish itself can be made of wood or plastic and its divided into eight side sections and one center section; slightly resembling a flower. It also can include elaborate carvings, gem encrustations and detailed drawings. Original royal gujeolpan dish platters can be observed in museums as featured artifacts in royal table setting reconstructions.
Gujeolpan is considered to be one of the most beautiful and colorful centerpiece Korean dishes. The nine sections are carefully divided and assorted with an appropriate amount of assorted meats and vegetables to make it colorful and aesthetically appealing. It has even been said that author Pearl S. Buck
Pearl S. Buck
Pearl Sydenstricker Buck also known by her Chinese name Sai Zhenzhu , was an American writer who spent most of her time until 1934 in China. Her novel The Good Earth was the best-selling fiction book in the U.S. in 1931 and 1932, and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1932...
was so amazed by the beauty and colorful appearance of gujeolpan that she could not stop praising it, and as a result, refused to eat it as she did not want to "destroy such a beautiful thing by eating it."
Consumption
What was once available to Korean nobilityYangban
The yangban were part of the traditional ruling class or nobles of dynastic Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. The yangban were either landed or unlanded aristocracy who comprised the Korean Confucian idea of a "scholarly official." In reality, they were basically administrators and bureaucrats who...
can now be enjoyed by anyone in many places in Korea that specialize in preparing ancient Korean cuisine (though in some establishments it can be quite expensive). It is also sometimes prepared for wedding banquets. Each of the outer sections has different varieties of meat and vegetables, such as carrots, mushrooms, beef, bean sprouts, leeks, radishes, etc. while the center section is usually reserved for miljeonbyeong, which are small circular, paper-thin wheat flatcakes similar, though smaller and softer than tortilla
Tortilla
In Mexico and Central America, a tortilla is a type of thin, unleavened flat bread, made from finely ground maize...
s. These are used to wrap the various meats and vegetables from each of the eight sections. Gujeolpan consumers pick and choose from the various eight sections, put them on a sheet of miljeongbyeong, wrap it and eat it whole.
See also
- SinseolloSinseolloSinseollo or yeolguja tang is an elaborate dish consisting of meatballs, small and round jeonyueo , mushrooms, and vegetables cooked in a rich broth in Korean royal court cuisine. The dish is a form of jeongol...
- JeonJeon (food)Jeon , buchimgae, jijimgae, or jijim refer to many pancake-like dishes in Korean cuisine. It has been also called jeonyueo or jeonyuhwa, especially in Korean royal court cuisine. Sometimes, jeonya is used as an abbreviated term for the two...
- SsamSsamSsam, literally meaning "wrapped," refers to a dish in Korean cuisine in which usually leaf vegetables are used to wrap a piece of meat such as pork...
- NamulNamulNamul is a general term for a Korean seasoned vegetable dish. The name of the dish may vary slightly depending on what vegetables are used and how they are prepared, but they will nonetheless still be a type of namul....
- Korean royal court cuisineKorean royal court cuisineKorean royal court cuisine was the style of cookery within Korean cuisine traditionally consumed at the court of the Joseon Dynasty, which ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910. There has been a revival of this cookery style in the 21st century...