Rice paddle

A rice paddle (Chinese: 饭勺, Japanese: shamoji (しゃもじ, 杓文字), Korean: 주걱; RR: Jugeok) is a large flat spoon used in East Asian cuisine.

The specific origin of the rice paddle is unknown, but it has been spotted in artifacts dating back to the 4th or 5th century.

One such artifact originating from the Silla dynasty in Korea was excavated from the Gold Crown Tomb in Gyeongju along with a pot.

[2] The word is an example of nyōbō kotoba, being derived from the first part of shakushi (杓子, "ladle"), plus the moji (文字, "character") suffix.

[5] In Japan, the rice paddle (shamoji) has also been a symbol of unity between the mother and wife in Japanese society.

traditional Japanese rice paddle
A rice paddle and a table spoon for size comparison
A 4th-century Korean rice paddle
At a souvenir shop in Miyajima , where Itsukushima Shrine is located, many shamoji are sold with various wishes, such as "good health" and "prosperous business.