Kind · By use
Wedding-chest wrapper
A hambo wraps the 함, the box of betrothal gifts that the groom's family sends to the bride.
- Meaning
- 'box wrapper' (函 box or chest + 褓)
- Made of
- Silk
- Era
- Joseon (1392–1910) to today
The cloth that wraps the 함, the box of betrothal gifts sent by the groom's family, and on which the box is set. A wedding bojagi, usually red and blue.
History & tradition
Joseon to today
Before the wedding, the groom's family sent a box (함) holding the bride's clothes, jewellery and the marriage letter (혼서지), often carried by a hired porter or, later, the groom's friends. The box was wrapped in a lined cloth, traditionally red and blue, and set down on a red cloth or a rice-cake steamer at the bride's house. A woman with many children opened it and read omens from the first cloth she drew out.
The 함 is still sent in many Korean weddings, wrapped in a red-and-blue silk bojagi tied in a set knot.
Encykorea's bojagi entry says the hambo was used to set the 함 on (받치는); the 혼례 entry describes a red cloth under it. Both senses occur.