Iron rice bowl

The term is also used to some extent in [[Singapore]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.lawgazette.com.sg/2003-1/Jan03-feature.htm |title= Not an Iron Rice Bowl |date= January 2003 |work=Law Gazette |last=Tan |first=Nicole |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030512144405/http://www.lawgazette.com.sg/2003-1/Jan03-feature.htm |archive-date=2003-05-12}}</ref> a former British colony where the majority of citizens are ethnically Chinese. It is also used in [[Korea]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_international/196995.html |title=Korean civil servants' 'iron rice bowl' in jeopardy |date= 16 March 2007 |agency= Yonhap News Agency |via=The Hankyoreh|access-date=2019-12-12}}</ref> ({{Korean|hangul=철밥통|hanja=鐵飯桶|rr= Cheolbaptong|lit=}}) as a name for officials, not only because of their job stability, but also because of stable income.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/12/116_192788.html |title= Gov't seeks to break public servants' 'iron rice bowl' |date=9 December 2015 |last=Chung |first=Ah-young |work=The Korea Times|access-date=2019-12-12}}</ref> This phrase alludes to the jobs of civil servants being so stable that they would always be able to earn enough money to at least put food on the table. At the same time, civil servants must do their work to live just as rice is the staple of many Singaporean diets.

The term is also used to some extent in [[Singapore]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.lawgazette.com.sg/2003-1/Jan03-feature.htm |title= Not an Iron Rice Bowl |date= January 2003 |work=Law Gazette |last=Tan |first=Nicole |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030512144405/http://www.lawgazette.com.sg/2003-1/Jan03-feature.htm |archive-date=2003-05-12}}</ref> a former British colony where the majority of citizens are ethnically Chinese. It is also used in [[Korea]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_international/196995.html |title=Korean civil servants' 'iron rice bowl' in jeopardy |date= 16 March 2007 |agency= Yonhap News Agency |via=The Hankyoreh|access-date=2019-12-12}}</ref> ({{Korean|hangul=철밥통|hanja=鐵飯桶|rr= Cheolbaptong|lit=}}) as a name for officials, not only because of their job stability, but also because of stable income.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/12/116_192788.html |title= Gov't seeks to break public servants' 'iron rice bowl' |date=9 December 2015 |last=Chung |first=Ah-young |work=The Korea Times|access-date=2019-12-12}}</ref> This phrase alludes to the jobs of civil servants being so stable that they would always be able to earn enough money to at least put food on the table. At the same time, civil servants must do their work to live just as rice is the staple of many Singaporean diets.

== In popular culture ==

[[The Sand Pebbles (film)|The Sand Pebbles]] uses the phrase "it's his rice bowl" when referring to a person's livelihood or job in the context of a [[Coolie|Coolie's]] work on the ship.

== See also ==

== See also ==