In Seoul’s historic Namseong Market (남성시장), you’ll find traditional foods, vegetable stalls, and even live turtles. It can be a fascinating and often chaotic whirlwind of noise, images and impressions.
On a visit to one of the market’s oldest traditional Korean medicine clinics, I spotted this timeworn grid of gorgeous antique drawers. They housed all manner of herbs, tinctures and powders within their ancient depths.
I wondered just how long they’d sat waiting in that exquisite cabinet, longing to be mixed into a healing potion for some needy customer.
To get to Namseong Market: go to Chongshin University/Isu Station on Line 4, make a u-turn out of Exit 14 and turn right.
Have you visited any traditional markets in the world? What was your favourite part of it?
Pingback: Travel-Stained Monthly Recap: September 2015 | Travel-Stained
Sha
Those are really beautiful drawers, just look at all the details and scratches! Love it! 🙂
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Gorgeous, aren’t they? They must’ve been around for a very, very long time…
Sha
I LOVE old stuff like these!! 🙂
thegrownupgapyear
I absolutely love visiting markets! Especially when they have so much history, like this one.
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Markets are such a great way to get a sense of a country’s daily life. I also love wandering around them when traveling, even though I don’t usually buy anything. 🙂
allentimphotos2
The cabinet drawers make a great interpretation for this week’s photo challenge.
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Thank you very much Allen! Those drawers are gorgeous, aren’t they? 🙂
allentimphotos2
Yes they are. Reminds me to the cabinets found in traditional Chinese pharmacies.
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Actually, the writing on these drawers is Chinese, so I think they must’ve been around for a very, very long time! Maybe even from before Korea had it’s own written language…
allentimphotos2
Yes, the characters are Chinese and I believe they are traditional not simplified. The action of the pharmacist,appears to be doling out traditional medicine on paper that is folded into an envelope that can be opened when someone needs to take it.
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Haha, yes!! The medicine was actually being doled out for my husband, who was having some stomach troubles!! 🙂
Stefano Scheda
Nice shots for this challenge, Shelley!
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Thanks Stefano! Those drawers were screaming for a pic! 🙂
lexklein
This might be my favorite grid so far! I really love this – such great texture and color.
Shelley @Travel-Stained
These drawers are gorgeous, aren’t they? I’m not a big antiques person, but I would love to have these sitting in my house somewhere! 🙂
Tina Schell
Wonderful choice!
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Thanks Tina! 😀
tefltravelling
I’ll have to check this place out.
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Some of the traditional markets in Seoul are so big! This is a great one to explore for a few hours, without getting overwhelmed. 🙂