Chambit Master Artisan

Chambit refers to a fine-toothed comb with narrow, closely set teeth. Depending on size, types include daeso, jungso, eojungso, jinyangso, hwagakso, mingapso, milso and sseoulchi. The history of combs in Korea is very long: combs have already been excavated from Nangnang tombs dating to around the first century BCE, and in the Joseon period the Ministry of Public Works (Gongjo) maintained jukso-jang, craftsmen who made chambit from bamboo. A chambit was used to further tidy the hair after it had first been arranged with a wide-toothed comb (eolebit), and was sometimes also used to remove impurities from the hair. It is usually made by setting fine bamboo teeth closely together, though some are made of tortoiseshell, and the teeth themselves range from coarse to fine. Most chambit are rectangular in shape. Chambit have traditionally been made in Yeongam, Damyang, Naju and Namwon, but today they are made only in Yeongam and Damyang. Of these, the chambit of Yeongam are renowned nationwide for their fine quality and durability. Lee Sik-u of Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, has been making chambit for five generations, and to keep the tradition of chambit-making alive, South Jeolla Province has recognised both Lee Sik-u and Go Haeng-ju of Damyang as holders of the chambit-making skill and is working to preserve it.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Damyang, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Provincial Intangible Heritage · 시도무형유산