Korean Eunjangdo

[rusanstar]

Hello. I’m leaving a comment on this post after receiving your message.

I can confirm that this is "Ornamental Silver blade" in korean 은장도

은(Silver) 장(Ornamental) 도(sword, dagger, kinfe)

First of all, the primary purpose of this item is not for self-defense. Its main purpose is, quite literally, to be worn for style or ornamental purposes. This, I can say with absolute certainty.

If someone insists that its primary function is for self-defense, feel free to disregard that opinion — it is simply not accurate.

Now, regarding the chopsticks: they were not intentionally bent to make it easier to draw the blade. That is absolutely not the case.

The chopsticks are made of silver, and the bending is due to improper storage and lack of maintenance over time. That’s the correct explanation. Every instance of bent chopsticks shown in the linked examples is a result of poor care, nothing more.

I even shared some of the comments on this post with the son of a Korean National Intangible Cultural Heritage master craftsman — who himself is also a certified successor and future inheritor of that title. After reading them, he sighed and asked me to help correct the misinformation being spread here.

If I have time, I’ll share more information later.

[Norman McCormick]

Originally Posted by rusanstar

If I have time, IÂ’ll share more information later.

Hi Runastar,
I'm sure any more information you can impart re these knives will be much appreciated. Mr Lee of Swords of Korea did say that the chopsticks should be straight. It was I who suggested that each may have been bent in equal proportions on purpose to stop them falling out of the sheath and having found several illustrations of other Eunjangdo with this anomaly and on the available evidence it did seem a reasonable explanation. Nobody I believe suggested that they were a primary weapon for self defence only a secondary possibility in an emergency the primary function being ornamental. I'm not sure why someone would 'sigh' after reading the thread as you have to bear in mind that the information we have access to regarding these knives is scant at best, nobody here is deliberately trying to spread false information !!!! To the best of my knowledge we have no Korean members of this Forum therefore any knowledge gleaned is taken from articles on the internet and as you are aware this is sometimes not the most reliable source of information. I am from Scotland and I have seen many misinterpretations of Scottish items re their use and construction but I have to say I have never felt the need to 'sigh' regarding this as ofttimes anomalies get perpetuated by sheer repetition of false facts and not from intentional misinformation. This is why it is important that the insight you or your friend have on the Eunjangdo is shared in order to iron out any further inadvertent misinformation on what would appear to be an important Korean cultural icon.
My Regards,
Norman.

P.S. There really is no need for oversize script in posting, equivalent to raising a voice, as we are all friendly, and more importantly, all here to learn.