oriental melon

{{Infobox Chinese

| title = Regional names

| c = {{linktext|香瓜}}

| l = fragrant melon

| p = xiāng guā

| kanji = {{linktext|真桑瓜}}

| hiragana= まくわうり

| romaji = makuwa uri

| hangul = 참외

| rr = chamoe

| mr = ch'amoe

| hide = no

}}

File:Chamoe-jangajji.jpg ({{lang|ko|참외장아찌}}): {{transliteration|ko|chamoe}} pickled with spices]]

In China, Oriental melon is locally called xiāng guā (香瓜, "fragrant melon"). It was called tián guā (甜瓜, "sweet melon"), gān guā (甘瓜, "sweet melon") or guǒ guā (果瓜, "fruit melon") in ancient times.{{Cite book|author=李時珍|title=本草綱目|year=1596|location=金陵}} However, the latter two names are seldom in use now, and tián guā (甜瓜) has become the name of the species Cucumis melo, thereby also referring to other types of melon such as cantaloupe and honeydew.{{Cite web|title=甜瓜 Cucumis melo|url=http://www.iplant.cn/info/%E7%94%9C%E7%93%9C?t=z|access-date=2021-01-28|website=iPlant 植物智——植物物种信息系统}}

The Korean name chamoe ({{lang|ko|참외}} {{IPA|ko|tɕʰɐmø|}}) is a composite of words: cham meaning "true" or "real" and oe meaning "cucumber (melon)".{{Cite web |url=http://www.invil.org/english/specialProducts/detail.do?cat_eng=/speciality/fruit/melon&con_no=23005 |title=Oriental melon |website=Information Village Network |publisher=Invil Central Council |access-date=13 July 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} It is thought that the oriental melon was introduced to Korea through China during the Three Kingdoms period.{{cite journal |last=Kitamura |first=S. |year=1950 |title= Notes on Cucumis of Far East |journal=Acta Phytotaxon Geobot |volume=14 |pages=41–44}} The fruit has long enjoyed popularity in Korea, where it is considered the representative fruit of summer. Oriental melons are sometimes made into a side dish, called chamoe-jangajji, whereby they are pickled with spices. In 2017, {{Convert|41943|ha}} of land was used for their cultivation, yielding about {{convert|166281|t|ST}} of melons.{{cite web|url=http://kosis.kr/statHtml/statHtml.do?orgId=101&tblId=DT_1ET0027&conn_path=I2|script-title=ko:채소생산량(과채류)|date=6 September 2018|website=Korean Statistical Information Service|publisher=Statistics Korea|language=ko|access-date=19 September 2018}} Seongju County in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea is famous as the centre of oriental melon cultivation in Korea, with farms in the area comprising 70% of total production in the country.

In Japanese, they are called makuwa uri ({{lang|ja|真桑瓜}} {{IPA|ja|ma.kɯ̟.wa ɯ̟ɾi|}}). Oriental melon seeds have been found in Jōmon period archaeological sites, attesting to the long history of cultivation in Japan. The name makuwa uri is said to derive from the village of Makuwa, in the ancient province of Mino (now part of Motosu, Gifu), which became known for its high-quality Oriental melons in the 2nd century AD. They were once widely eaten in Japan, having been so common that the general word {{Nihongo|uri|瓜}}, meaning gourd or melon, came to refer specifically to the Oriental melon.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BpoPAAAAYAAJ&q=%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E6%BA%90%E5%A4%A7%E8%BE%9E%E5%85%B8 |title=日本語源大辞典 [Nihongogendaijiten] |date=2005 |publisher=小学館 [Shogakukan] |page=65 |isbn=9784095011813 |language=ja}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6KJMAQAAIAAJ&q=%2522%E7%9C%9F%E6%A1%91%E7%93%9C%2522 |title=日本見聞録にみる朝鮮通信使 [Nihon kenmonroku ni miru Chōsen tsūshinshi] |last=西村毬子 |date=2000 |publisher=明石書店 [Akashi Shoten] |page=344 |isbn=9784750313672 |language=ja |access-date=13 September 2018}} Starting in 1925, when the first western melon cultivars were introduced, the Oriental melon began to fall out of favour among wealthy consumers, and by the late 20th century came to be thought of as a peasant food.{{Cite web |url=http://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/37294 |title=固い皮の中は謎だらけ、「メロンパン」の形はどこからやって来たのか |date=8 March 2013 |website=JBpress（日本ビジネスプレス） |language=ja-JP |access-date=13 September 2018}} It is commonly used as an offering during the Bon Festival, with the period around the festival considered to be the best time to harvest them (shun, 旬). Unripe melons are often made into various kinds of tsukemono (pickles).{{Cite web|url=http://foodslink.jp/syokuzaihyakka/syun/fruit/makuwa.htm|title=マクワウリ（真桑瓜/まくわうり）：特徴と旬の時期や主な産地 [Makuwauri: Tokuchō to shun no jiki ya omona sanchi]|website=旬の食材百科|language=ja-JP|access-date=13 September 2018}}

The plant was first classified as "Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa" in 1928 by Japanese botanist Tomitaro Makino.{{Cite report|year=1963 |title=園芸試験場報告 |author=久留米. D |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s3-32h1Iy7EC |language=ja |publisher=農林省園芸試験場久留米支場 |page=54}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-6rIPLDYg_4C |title=Biosystematic Monograph of the Genus Cucumis (Cucurbitaceae): Botanical Identification of Cucumbers and Melons |last=Kirkbride |first=Joseph H. |date=1993 |publisher=Parkway Publishers, Inc. |isbn=9780963575203 |page=110 |language=en}} However, it is now usually treated as a cultivar group, Cucumis melo Makuwa Group. Makino's proposed name remains recognised as a synonym.{{Cite web |url=http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Cucumis.html#melo-makuwa |title=Cucumis |website=MULTILINGUAL MULTISCRIPT PLANT NAME DATABASE |access-date=9 November 2018}}

The oriental melon is a cool sub-temperate crop, growing best with day temperatures between {{convert|24|and|28|C|F}} and night temperatures between {{convert|16|and|24|C|F}}. It requires good sunlight and rich, well-drained, friable, and moisture-retaining soil. It is drought tolerant, but requires sufficient water for optimal growth.

The plant, a cucurbit, is an annual herbaceous plant that branches and trails. The stem is angular and hirsute (hairy) and {{convert|7|mm|frac=5}} in diameter. The leaves are reniform (kidney-shaped) with 5-7 lobes. It is andromonoecious (both bisexual and male flowers on same plant) with yellow flowers.

File:Growing Korean melons 1 Seeds.jpg|Seeds

File:Growing Korean melons 4 Seedlings.jpg|Seedlings (6 days)

File:Growing Korean melons 5 Young plants.jpg|Young plants (12 days)

File:Cucumis melo var. makuwa 01.jpg|Unripe melons

File:Korean melons 1.jpg|Ripe melons

File:Cucumis melo var. makuwa 02.jpg|Flowers

File:Cucumis melo var. makuwa 03.jpg|Leaves

File:Korean melon1.jpg|Fruit

File:Korean melon transverse.jpg|Transverse Section

File:Korean melon longitudinal.jpg|Longitudinal Section

File:Korean melon-Chamoe-01.jpg

There are many varieties of oriental melon.

The most well-known variety is called {{nihongo|ginsen makuwa|銀泉まくわ}} in Japanese and euncheon-chamoe ({{lang|ko|은천참외}}) in Korean. Euncheon is the Korean reading of the Chinese characters used in the Japanese name. This type of melon was developed in Toyama, Japan, where it is now recognised as a "traditional vegetable".{{Cite web |url=http://www.maff.go.jp/hokuriku/seisan/engei/dentou.html |title=北陸の地方野菜 |website=maff.go.jp |publisher=Hokuriku Regional Agricultural Administration Office |language=ja |access-date=18 September 2018}} It was introduced into Korea in 1957, rapidly became the dominant commercial variety there, and its descendants remain so today.{{Cite web |url=http://www.invil.org/english/specialProducts/detail.do?subMenu=Fruit&con_no=101432 |title=Yeoju Golden Melon |website=Information Network Village |publisher=Invil Central Councill |access-date=18 September 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NTttDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT37 |script-title=ko:단어로 읽는 5분 한국사 |last=김 |first=영훈 |date=18 June 2018 |publisher=글담 |isbn=978-9791186650 |language=ko}} Varieties developed from the euncheon include: sin-euncheon ('new euncheon'), developed in the 1970s, and geumssaragi-euncheon ({{lang|ko|금싸라기은천|}}, 'gold dust euncheon'), developed in 1984, which is now dominant.{{cite news |author=황교익 |script-title=ko:연하고 작은 참외가 훨씬 더 맛있다 |url=http://weekly.donga.com/List/3/all/11/92441/1 |access-date=19 September 2018 |work=Weekly Dong-A |issue=795 |date=11 September 2011 |language=ko}}{{Cite web |url=http://bburikitchen.com/chamoe |title=Chamoe: A must-eat summer melon · bburi kitchen |date=10 June 2015 |website=bburi kitchen |access-date=19 September 2018}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PMxADwAAQBAJ&pg=PT18 |script-title=ko:농산물 백과사전 작물농업과 작물재배 |date=19 November 2017 |publisher=Kyobobook MCP |isbn=9788969107046 |page=18 |language=ko |access-date=19 September 2018}} It is yellow in colour, typically about {{convert|6|in|cm}} long, and weighs about {{convert|1|lb|g}}.{{cite news |last=Boerman |first=Esther |date=7 February 2005 |title=All about melons |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=20050207&id=jAkoAAAAIBAJ&pg=1249,3218676 |newspaper=The Argus-Press |location=Owosso, Michigan |access-date=12 July 2014 }}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_eY5DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA36 |title=Genetics and Genomics of Cucurbitaceae |last1=Grumet |first1=Rebecca |last2=Katzir |first2=Nurit |last3=Garcia-Mas |first3=Jordi |date=13 October 2017 |publisher=Springer |isbn=9783319493329 |language=en}} It is smooth and oblong, with white stripes that run the length of the fruit. It has white flesh that is juicy and sweet, and is filled with small white seeds.{{Cite web |url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E9%8A%80%E6%B3%89%E3%81%BE%E3%81%8F%E3%82%8F-705745 |title=銀泉まくわ |author=デジタル大辞泉プラス [Digital Daijisen Plus] |website=コトバンク |language=ja-JP |access-date=18 September 2018}}

Other cultivars are coloured green and ivory, and vary from spherical to oblong in shape.

There are two major landraces of chamoe in Korea: sunghwan-chamoe ({{lang|ko|성환참외}}), also known as gaeguri-chamoe ({{lang|ko|개구리참외}}, 'frog chamoe'), and Gotgam-chamoe ({{lang|ko|곶감참외}}).{{cite journal | doi = 10.1007/s11033-013-2803-0 | pmid=24096890 | title=Development of SSR markers by next-generation sequencing of Oriental landraces of chamoe (Cucumis melo var. makuwa) | journal=Molecular Biology Reports |year=2013 | volume=40 | issue=12 | pages=6855–6862 | first=Inkyu | last=Park| s2cid=18913709 }} The sunghwan-chamoe is sometimes classified under another cultivar group, Cucumis melo Chinensis Group.{{Cite journal|last1=Pitrat|first1=M.|last2=Hanelt|first2=P.|last3=Hammer|first3=K.|title=Some Comments on Infraspecific Classification of Cultivars of Melon|date=2000|url=https://www.actahort.org/books/510/510_4.htm|journal=Acta Horticulturae|volume=|issue=510|pages=29–36|doi=10.17660/ActaHortic.2000.510.4|issn=0567-7572|via=|url-access=subscription}} The gotgam-chamoe is particularly unique, having the aroma of a dried persimmon (called gotgam in Korean), from which it takes its name. These two landraces contain more nutrients and have greater disease resistance than other varieties.

A variety called the {{nihongo|Golden Makuwa|黄金まくわ}} is recognised by the government of Nara Prefecture as a {{nihongo|"Yamato vegetable"|大和野菜}}, a distinction indicating its importance in that region's agricultural and culinary tradition.{{Cite web |url=http://www.pref.nara.jp/dd.aspx?menuid=8047 |title=黄金まくわ/奈良県公式ホームページ [Ōgon makuwa/Nara ken kōshiki hōmupēji] |website=pref.nara.jp |publisher=Nara Prefecture |language=ja |access-date=14 September 2018}} It has golden skin, white flesh, and usually weighs about {{convert|300|g}}.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sakataseed.co.jp/product/search/code00920870.html |title=まくわうり 「黄金まくわうり」 ｜商品情報いろいろ検索｜タネ・苗・園芸用品・農業用資材の総合案内：サカタのタネ |website=sakataseed.co.jp |publisher=Sakata Seed Corporation |language=ja |access-date=17 September 2018 |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703163531/https://www.sakataseed.co.jp/product/search/code00920870.html |url-status=dead }} In 1955, Golden Makuwa comprised 85.6% of all melons (western and oriental) sold at the Osaka Central Wholesale Market.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AwZSuAEACAAJ&q=%E5%A4%A7%E5%92%8C%E3%81%AE%E8%BE%B2%E6%A5%AD%E6%8A%80%E8%A1%93%E7%99%BA%E9%81%94%E5%8F%B2 |title=大和の農業技術発達史 : 奈良県農業試験場百周年記念誌 [Yamato no nōgyō gijutsu hattatsu-shi: Nara ken nōgyō shikenjo hyakushūnen kinenshi] |date=1995 |publisher=奈良県農業試験場 |page=102 |language=ja}}

Another variety, the {{nihongo|New Melon|ニューメロン}}, is spherical, has a greenish-yellow skin, green flesh, and usually weighs about {{convert|300|–|400|g}}.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lnp8DQAAQBAJ&pg=PA173 |title=図説 果物の大図鑑 [Zusetsu kudamono no daizukan] |date=31 October 2016 |publisher=マイナビ出版 [Mynavi Publishing] |isbn=9784839953843 |page=173 |language=ja}} In 1962, the Sakata Seed Company crossbred this with the Charentais melon, a type of European cantaloupe, to produce the {{nihongo|Prince Melon|プリンスメロン}}, which quickly became the dominant commercial melon variety in Japan.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LO9JAAAAYAAJ |title=Vegetable Seed Production Technology of Japan Elucidated with Respective Variety Development Histories, Particulars |last=Shinohara |first=Suteki |publisher=Shinohara's Authorized Agricultural Consulting Engineer Office |year=1984 |page=362 |language=en}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.sakata100th.jp/episode/07/ |title=Episode 07 メロン｜サカタのタネ 100周年記念特設サイト PASSION in Seed 100 years |publisher=Sakata Seed Corporation |language=ja |access-date=17 September 2018}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WFsfAQAAMAAJ |title=Proceedings of the IInd International Symposium on Cucurbits: Tsukuba, Japan, 28 September-1 October, 2001 |last=Nishimura |first=Shigeo |publisher=International Society for Horticultural Science |year=2002 |isbn=9789066057760 |page=198 |language=en}} Prince melons weigh between {{convert|500|and|600|g}}, have a greyish-white skin, and orange flesh.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sakataseed.co.jp/product/search/detail.php?code=00920800 |title=メロン 「プリンスメロン」｜商品情報いろいろ検索｜タネ・苗・園芸用品・農業用資材の総合案内：サカタのタネ |website=sakataseed.co.jp |publisher=Sakata Seed Corporation |language=ja |access-date=17 September 2018 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806114951/https://www.sakataseed.co.jp/product/search/detail.php?code=00920800 |url-status=dead }} The development of sweeter and easier to produce varieties of hybrid melon, most notably the Prince, led to a rapid decline in cultivation of oriental melons in Japan.

File:銀泉まくわうり.jpg|Ginsen–makuwa from Japan

File:개구리참외.jpg|Gaeguri-chamoe (frog chamoe) from Korea

File:ニューメロン.jpg|New Melon from Japan

File:Ougon-makuwa.JPG|Ōgon-makuwa (golden makuwa) from Japan

File:사과참외 2.jpg|Sagwa-chamoe (apple chamoe) from Korea

File:Prince melon May 25 2020 05-29PM.jpeg|Prince melons being sold in Japan

South Korea National Treasure numbers 94 and 114 are both formed in the shape of an oriental melon.{{cite web |url=http://www.skynews.co.kr/article_view.asp?mcd=189&ccd=6&scd=5&ano=214 |title=Koreas Treasure No. 114 |publisher=SkyNews (Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd.) |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-date=13 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813091909/http://www.skynews.co.kr/article_view.asp?mcd=189&ccd=6&scd=5&ano=214 |url-status=dead }}

The annual Yeoju Geumsa Oriental Melon Festival ({{Korean|hangul=여주 금사참외축제}}) is held once a year, and visitors can sample the melons there.{{cite web |url=http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=1805534 |title=Yeoju Geumsa Oriental Melon Festival (여주 금사참외축제) |publisher=Korea Tourism Organization |access-date=9 July 2014 |archive-date=1 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001055057/http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=1805534 |url-status=dead }}

There is an Oriental Melon Ecology Centre in Seongju County, designed to educate the public regarding the cultivation and other aspects of the fruit.{{cite web |url=http://www.invil.org/english/tourism/themeTour/museum/contents.jsp?con_no=848770&page_no=1 |title=Oriental Melon Ecology Center |publisher=Invil Central Council |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714150330/http://www.invil.org/english/tourism/themeTour/museum/contents.jsp?con_no=848770&page_no=1 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}

Included in a collection of drawings of Japanese yōkai by 17th century artist Yosa Buson is a depiction of an {{nihongo|"oriental melon monster"|真桑瓜のばけもの|makuwauri no bakemono}}.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/search?qt=wikipedia&q=isbn%253A9784309761251 |title=図說妖怪画の系譜 [Zusetsu Yōkaiga no keifu] |author= Hyōgo Prefectural History Museum |author2= Kyōto International Manga Museum |publisher=Kawade Shobō Shinsha |year=2009 |isbn=9784309761251 |location=Tokyo |pages=12–14 |language=ja}}

A sign that promotes 'the birthplace of the oriental melon' was erected at Kitagata-Makuwa Station in the city of Motosu, Japan, the site of the former village of Makuwa.{{Cite news |url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20180628/k00/00e/040/300000c |title=岐阜：マクワウリの発祥地に看板 北方真桑駅で除幕式|date=28 June 2018 |work=Mainichi Shimbun |access-date=14 September 2018 |language=ja-JP}}

File:Musk melons on vine (Makuwauri).jpg|Print of oriental melons on the vine by Shibata Zeshin

File:청자 참외모양 병 02.jpg|Melon-shaped Celadon Bottle from Goryeo (918–1392), at the National Museum of Korea

File:청자 상감모란국화문 참외모양 병.jpg|Melon-shaped Celadon Bottle with Inlaid Peony and Chrysanthemum Design from Goryeo, at the National Museum of Korea

File:Korea-Goryeo celadon-06.jpg|Melon-shaped Celadon Kettle from Goryeo, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

File:청자 양각 대나무 마디 무늬 참외 모양 주전자 고려-靑磁陽刻竹節文瓜形注子 高麗-Melon-shaped ewer with bamboo decoration MET h1 1996.471.jpg|Melon-shaped Celadon Kettle from Goryeo, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

File:Box in the Form of a Melon LACMA M.2000.15.145a-b.jpg|Melon-shaped lacquerware from Joseon, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

File:Buson Oriental Melon.jpg|18th century drawing by Yosa Buson of an "oriental melon monster".

File:Korea-Yecheon County-Korean melon Tower at Wolpori-01.jpg|Oriental melon Tower in Yecheon, Korea

File:Melonpan Kure.JPG|The original Japanese melonpan was produced in the shape of an oriental melon.

File:Korea-Chamoe-Oriental melon-01.jpg|Oriental melon stall in Seoul, South Korea

File:Sold ougon-makuwa.JPG|Golden Makuwa melons on sale in Japan

File:Chamoe Jangajji.jpg|Chamoe-jangajji sold at Namdaemun Market in Seoul

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