Traditional 'Mangtae' bags, once common in everyday life, are now on display at a special exhibition.
The Jippul Living History Museum announced on June 18 that it will host the special exhibition "Original It-Bag: Mangtae" in Seoul and Miryang, highlighting various Mangtae bags and traditional weaving techniques recorded from rural, mountainous, and coastal areas across the country.
Mangtae, a traditional carrying tool made from straw and grass, was essential for producers to transport grains, firewood, agricultural products, and daily necessities. Depending on the region, it is known by various names, including Mangtaegi, Gurukmang, Melmangtae, and Jungtae. It is regarded as a cultural heritage that embodies the skills and labor involved in handling natural materials, as well as the local environment and lifestyle.
This exhibition will showcase 15 types of Mangtae structures based on materials collected and documented by the museum since the 1990s through field research across rural, mountainous, and coastal areas. Even among the same type of Mangtae, different structures and forms have evolved based on their intended use and regional environments. The exhibition aims to demonstrate the diversity and creativity of traditional Korean living technologies through these weaving structures.
The Seoul exhibition will feature various Mangtae artifacts, including Kkolmangtae, Seed Mangtae, Natt Mangtae, Egg Mangtae, Dosirak Mangtae, and Spoon Mangtae, along with photographs, video records, production tools, and materials such as rice straw, barley straw, bulrush, and reeds. Participatory programs like the "Large Mangtae Collaborative Production Project" will also be offered. In Miryang, a workshop based on straw and grass craft techniques will involve local artisan Park Ho-jin and artists from across the country.
Curator Lee Jeong-a said, "Mangtae is not just a simple tool but a cultural record that encapsulates the lives, labor, and skills of producers. I hope this exhibition provides an opportunity to reevaluate the value of traditional living technologies and experience the process of how the culture of producers continues into the language of today's creators."
The Jippul Living History Museum specializes in collecting, researching, and exhibiting various daily tools made from straw and grass, as well as traditional living culture.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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