The table
A traditional first-birthday table, the dolsang, holds things like rice, a skein of white thread, a book, paper, a writing brush, and a bow and arrows. Whatever the baby reaches for first is taken as a hint of what lies ahead.
What the objects mean
- Thread or noodles: a long life.
- Rice or money: wealth.
- Brush or book: a name made through learning and writing.
- Bow and arrows: a military career, a general.
Nobody takes the result seriously as a prediction. It is a family game, and the grab is usually followed by a lot of cheering and photos.
A prince's first grab, 1791
The custom shows up in the royal records. The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty describe the first birthday of King Jeongjo's heir, the future King Sunjo, in 1791. The record says the baby first took hold of colored thread, and then picked up arrows and a musical instrument. The word "doljabi" does not appear, but the scene is exactly that.
How old is the custom?
Mentions of first-birthday parties in noble families start to appear around the 1500s, and the game has been part of Korean first birthdays ever since.
FAQ
What is doljabi?
Doljabi (돌잡이) is a game at a Korean first birthday in which the baby grabs one object from a table, and the family reads it as a playful sign of the child's future.
What do the doljabi objects mean?
Traditionally, thread means a long life, rice or money means wealth, a brush or book means scholarship, and a bow and arrows mean a military career.
Is doljabi an old custom?
Records of first-birthday parties appear around the 1500s, and the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty describe a royal baby's first grab in 1791.
Sources
- Encyclopedia of Korean Culture: "Dolsang" (돌상, Korean)
- Encyclopedia of Korean Culture: "Dol" (돌, Korean)
- Woori History Net: the first birthday table (Korean)
- Annals of the Joseon Dynasty: Jeongjo, year 15, 6th month, 18th day (Classical Chinese/Korean)
Written by the Korea in Time team. Each fact above is checked against the sources listed. Found a mistake? Tell us.
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