Homi

Homi (Korean: 호미), also known as a Korean hand plow,[1][2] is a short-handled traditional farming tool used by Koreans.[3][4][5] It is a farming tool that removes grasses from paddies and fields.[6] It is also used when plowing a rice field, planting seeds, plowing up soil, and digging potatoes in fields. It is a farming tool inspired by the hoe. It is an important extension of agriculture from the ancient times because the homi was excavated in the Bronze Age historic site of the Pyeongnam Mangsan Daepyeong-ri and the early Iron Age historic site of Yangpyong, Gyeonggi Province.[7]

Homi
The pointed part of the triangular shape on the left side is nal (날 lit. 'blade'). The part connecting the handle and the blade is called seumbe (슴베 lit. 'tang'), and the handle is called jaru (자루).
Korean name
Hangul	호미
Revised Romanization	homi
McCune–Reischauer	homi
IPA	[ho.mi]

Shape

Homi is made of iron and consists of a blade, a tang, and a handle. The blade is the iron plate used to dig or pull grass. The handle is made from a circular piece of wood and is located at the end of the tang. The tang connects the blade to the handle. The shape of the blade is usually an inverted triangle as the lower part is pointed and the upper part is broad. [6]

Names

The name of the tool tends to vary according to region. Some common names include homaengi (호맹이), homei (호메이), homu (호무), hommi (홈미), homani (호마니), heome (허매), heomi (허미), and huimi (희미). The name of the tool can also vary depending on its shape, the shingles, the clogs, the shovels, the ear homi, there are gyeongjigi (경지기), makjigi (막지기), gotjigi (곧지기), gwi-homi (귀호미), nal-homi (날호미), pyeong-homi (평호미), dongja-homi (동자호미), bupae-homi (부패호미), byeotsoe-homi (볏쇠호미), susuip-homi (수수잎호미), kkaennip-homi (깻잎호미), yonggang-homi (용강호미), byeorugae (벼루개), gakjaengi (각쟁이), golgaengi (골갱이), and byeokchae (벽채).[8]

The name of part of homi by region[9]

section/region	the standard language	Banwol, Gyeonggi-do	Deokjeok, Gyeonggi-do	Yeongsan, Gyeongsangnam-do	Geomun-do, Jeollanam-do
a blade	Nal (날)	Nal (날)	Nal (날)	Ipari (이파리)	Ip (잎)
a tang	Seumbe (슴베)	Seumbe (슴베)	Simbe (심베)	Sumu (수무)	Sume (수메)
a handle	Jaru (자루)	Jaru (자루)	Jarak (자락)	Homangjari (호망자리)	Jari (자리)

Classification

By shape

This is a simple representation of Korean farming tool. The smallest and curved ones in the center of the picture are homi.

Plowshare-shaped

Boseup-hyeong (보습형, plowshare type): In the case of boseup-hyeong homi, it is also called non-homi (논호미, paddy field homi). The pointed end of the blade and the broad blade are effective for digging soil and turning the soil upside down. The blades strength gives it the ability to weed a rice paddy. Boseup-hyeong homi is often used in paddy farming, and is wrapped with straw or hemp cloth to prevent slipperiness caused by damp soil. It can be seen mainly in Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheong-do, and some parts of Jeollabuk-do province. Boseup-hyeong homi (weight about 400g) enables a man to weed a rice paddy of 300 pyeong (roughly 1,000 m² equivalent) a day.[7][9]

• 
  Boseup-hyeong (plowshare-type) homi

Sickle-shaped

Nat-hyeong (낫형, sickle type): The blade is longer than the width like a sickle and its tip is sharp. It is convenient to use where many obstacles are present such as gravel. It is called bat-homi (밭호미, non-paddy field homi). It has fewer blades than boseup-hyeong homi, the angle between blade, and the homi is gentle. It is mainly used in Gyeongsangnam-do, Jeju-do, Jeollanam-do, island regions, and mountainous regions.[7][9]

• 
  Nat-hyeong (sickle-type) homi

Triangle-shaped

Semo-hyeong (세모형, triangle type): This type takes the shape of a long triangle with the length of the bottom is longer than both sides. The blade and handle of this type is the longest allowing people to stand up. This makes it convenient to uproot the grass of a wide field like barley, corn, and wheat. It is not suitable to use on paddy fields as the power to plow up the soil is weak. It is mainly used in northern parts.[7][9]

• 
  Semo-hyeong (triangle-type) homi

By use

For paddy fields

Non-homi (논호미, paddy field homi) has a sharp blade. The top width of the blade is about 10 cm and the length is 20~25 cm. The blade is convex. Therefore, using this homi can turn over the soil well. It is of great use when making a furrow or pulling out the weeds in a rice paddy. Its handle is wrapped in Saekki(hangul: 새끼=straw rope) to prevent wet hands from slipping. The southern homi has a narrow blade and a pointed tip. Tools with four ends at the end of blade are called non-homi. It is mainly used in Jeolla-do to plow up the soil between the furrow and pull out the weeds.[8]

• 
  Non-homi (paddy field homi)

For non-paddy fields

Bat-homi (밭호미, dry field homi) has various shapes. It is used for all crops except aquatic rice. It is lighter and smaller than the non-homi. There are two kinds of homi: Oegwi-homi (외귀호미, single-ear homi) and yanggwi-homi (양귀호미, double-ear homi). The end of oegwihomi's blade is pointed like non-homi. Oegwihomi in the seaside district has more smaller and pointed blade. This phenomenon is noticeable in rainy regions. The homi of Jeju Island called golgaengi (골갱이) has a sharp and small blade like hooks. This is because the roots of crops fall deep into the ground in rainy region.[8]

• 
  Single-ear bat-homi (dry field homi)
• 
  Double-ear bat-homi (dry field homi)

History and tradition

History

Homi was a unique tool of Korea, as homi was called "Eastern hoe (東鋤; the "East" referring to Korea)" in the Essays on Rural Life and Economy written by Seo Yugu during the years 1806–1842. It stated homi as a useful tool in the Eastern nation (Korea). It can be seen in the relics from Anapji in the Unified Silla period, and the shape of homi in the Goryeo period is the same today. The homae reported in Farming in Korea and homi from the painting of Gisan show that the short homi of old times is much longer than the current homi. The name of long handle homi which pulls out the weed was changed to gajiip-gwaengi (가지잎괭이) or susuip-gwaengi (수수잎괭이).[8]

In Guui-dong ruins, 7 iron homi was excavated. The neck of the homi was made with iron plate to insert the handle. The blade was made in trapezoidal or rounded rectangle shape.[10]

In the Goguryeo area, the neck of a homi blade is short and the blade is slightly outward curved. The edges of the blade are rounded. It was excavated mainly with U-shaped ironware. Homi was found not only in the tomb but also in many historical sites such as buildings and castles.[10]

As the region entered the unified Silla period, the blade of homi has changed from wide shape to narrow and sharp shaped as it is today. In Anapji, wide bladed homi assumed as long handle homi was excavated with nat-hyeong (sickle type) homi having narrow blade. This nat-hyeong (sickle type) homi is most similar to today's homi.[10]

Tradition

Goyang Songpo homigeori[11]

Homigeori (호미걸이), also called homissisi (호미씻이), means that after finishing the farming of the year, farmers wash the homi and hang it for the farming of the next year. It is based on the dure (farmers' cooperative group) community, which was active in farming areas. It is done in July when weeding is finished. Hanging homi on an agricultural machine actually means ending the farming. In 1984, it won the General Excellence Award at the Gyeonggi Province Folk Art Competition. In 1998, it was designated as the Gyeonggi-do Intangible Cultural Asset No. 22.[11]

It is said that it is not done every year, but only when it is judged that the farming was done well by some degree of the farming about the year. When homigeori is determined, the villagers prepare the feast by checking the musical instruments and flags to be used in the play and preparation of the food. Before the dawn, the men gathered in front of the flag and performed Sangsanje, playing the Marching Song. Next, the women set the table sirusang and performed Daedongje in the yard. Sangsanje means wishes for good farming of the next year. Daedongje means wishes for no disease and no injuries to the villagers.[11]

After the end of pungmul, Daedongje, people head to the village entrance to greet neighboring durepae (farmers' cooperative group people) with their flags. And neighboring durepae gather in a yard with a cart with liquor barrels. As people do gijeolbatgi (기(旗)절받기) and gisseulgi (기(旗)쓸기), people play with the pungmul. When it is sunset, Neighboring durepae returns. After neighboring durepae return home, they do jipdori (visiting several houses) and finish the homigeori.[12]

The Songpo homigeori, which contains the power and soul for the arts, was discontinued at the end of 1931, but recently it has been partly reproduced by the efforts of the Preservation Society of Songpo homigeori.[12]

Outside Korea

The common homi in Korea is emerging as an "it" item abroad. It is being reinterpreted as a revolutionary farming tool. It is also emerging as a farming tool that gardeners use outside Korea. Homi is sometimes written with hiphen as ho-mi outside Korea. On the site Amazon, over 130 companies sell homi.[13]

On YouTube, guide videos are available to explain how to use a homi. A farmer outside Korea began to introduce digging the soil with homi and removing weeds while gardening.[14]

Gardeners' attention to homi outside Korea is due to the high demand for equipment that can do delicate work in the United States where the landscape culture has developed. Most people used shovels to plow fields before they knew homi. Due to the fact that the scope of digging the land is large, the crops had unwanted scratches and people also used a lot of power. However, homi can only dig in the ground of the desired part, and has the advantage of being able to cut grass like a knife at a time.[15]

In 2018, it gained traction abroad, mainly the United States, and orders began to pour in[16]. It was later proclaimed the hottest gardening tool of spring 2019 by Quartz[17].

In popular culture, homis were referenced during the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, when RM from BTS performed a new verse for Old Town Road with Lil Nas X, called "Seoul Town Road".[18][19][20] In the context of hip-hop, homi is also a homophone of homie, usually a term for a friend used often in hip-hop. BTS confirmed the wordplay on Twitter: "Seoul Town Road with my Ho-Mi @LilNasX", along with a picture of a homi.[21]

See also

• Hoe
• Weeder
• Guna

References

1. Cutler, Karan Davis (2002). Essential Tools: Equipment and Supplies for Home Gardeners. Brooklyn Botanic Garden. p. 98. ISBN 9781889538501. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
2. Robbins, Michael W. (2009). Whole Green Catalog: 1000 Best Things for You and the Earth. Rodale. p. 131. ISBN 9781594868870. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
3. Kalins, Dorothy (13 October 1997). "Dorothy Kalins: Heirloom-variety: Garden Design's editor has created a refuge that's anything but bush-league". New York. 30 (39). p. 79. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
4. Lembke, Janet (2006). From Grass to Gardens: How to Reap Bounty from a Small Yard. Guilford, CT: Lyons Press. p. 35. ISBN 1592287468. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
5. Kim, Ji-myung (25 November 2011). "An unknown hallyu ― 'homi'". The Korea Times. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
6. "호미, 문화콘텐츠닷컴(문화원형백과 조선후기 시장), 2003., 한국콘텐츠진흥원".
7. "호미, e뮤지엄, 국립중앙박물관".
8. "한국의 농기구, 2001. 6. 25., 어문각".
9. "한국민족문화대백과, 한국학중앙연구원".
10. "한국의 농기구, 2001. 6. 25., 어문각".
11. "문화재청".
12. "고양송포호미걸이, 국립민속박물관".
13. "채상우 (2017-09-17) ""HO-MI라면 정원 관리 OK"…'포대기' 이어 '호미' 외국서 인기" 《이데일리》 Retrieved 2017-10-24".
14. "문지영 (2017-09-16) "외국에서 '잇템'으로 떠오른 한국 전통 농기구 '호미'" 《YTN》 Retrieved 2017-10-24".
15. "윤진근 (2017-09-14) "미국 정원을 강타한 '호미'…"미국 정원사들의 잇 아이템"?" 《스포츠경향》 Retrieved 2017-10-24".
16. "Traditional Korean hoe is a surprise international success". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
17. Griffin, Annaliese. "A traditional Korean garden hoe has become the "it" tool for spring". Quartz. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
18. BTS (방탄소년단) 'Old Town Road' Live Performance with Lil Nas X and more @ GRAMMYS 2020, retrieved 2020-02-10
19. Lil Nas X - Old Town Road (Seoul Town Road Remix) feat. RM of BTS, retrieved 2020-02-10
20. Lil Nas X (Ft. RM) – Old Town Road (Seoul Town Road Remix), retrieved 2020-02-10
21. 방탄소년단 (2019-07-24). "Seoul Town Road with my Ho-Mi @LilNasX #oldtownroad17 #seoultownroadpic.twitter.com/4GWN0q8Ifd". @BTS_twt. Retrieved 2020-02-10.

External links

• homi-digger/ The University of Maine - Weed Ecology and Management