The 'Insam Culture,' Symbolizing Health and Longevity, to Become an Intangible Cultural Heritage

Comprehensive Coverage of Ginseng Cultivation and Processing Techniques, Ginseng-Related Foods, Excluding Holders and Holder Organizations
"Social and Cultural Symbolism as a Beneficial and Precious Medicinal Herb, Deeply Rooted in Korean Sentiment"

Preparation for Selling Ginseng

Ginseng is a representative medicinal herb of Korea. It has been used for diplomatic relations and trade since the Three Kingdoms period. It was considered precious and highly effective. The "Mingyi Bie Lu," compiled at the end of the Han Dynasty in China, even includes a poem praising ginseng by a Goguryeo person. The first recorded ginseng trade in historical texts was a tribute sent by King Muryeong of Baekje to Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty in 513. Subsequently, King Seong, who ascended the throne, also used ginseng in diplomacy. Silla also engaged in ginseng diplomacy. When Emperor Taizong of the Tang unified China, Silla sent ginseng as tribute to foster friendly relations.

Ginseng, known as Goguryeo-sam, Baekje-sam, and Silla-sam, was collectively called Goryeo-sam after the establishment of the Goryeo dynasty. According to the "Annals of the Joseon Dynasty," cultivation flourished significantly in the 18th century. Records from late Joseon period literature such as "Sanlim Gyeongje," "Haedong Nongseo," "Imwon Gyeongjeji," and "Monggyeongdang Ilsa" confirm that not only cultivation but also processing was practiced.

Ginseng seeds with red flesh removed

These include seed stratification (開匣, a method of promoting seed germination by providing moisture and controlling temperature after seed extraction), shading techniques to protect ginseng from sunlight and rain, mobile farming methods reflecting the difficulty of continuous cropping in ginseng farming, and using a traditional compass called yundo (輪圖) to determine the direction when making ridges in the field. These practices are still passed down among ginseng farmers today.

On the 28th, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced its intention to designate the "Ginseng Cultivation and Medicinal Culture," which has a long history, as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Opinions from various sectors will be collected and reviewed over a month, and the final decision will be made after deliberation by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee. This is the first time that traditional knowledge in the agricultural field has been announced for designation as an intangible cultural heritage. The scope covers the entire ginseng culture, including cultivation and processing techniques and ginseng-related foods.

Insammun Embroidery

The Cultural Heritage Administration focused on seven major values: ▲its long history and transmission throughout the Korean Peninsula ▲confirmation of its effects and cultivation records in various Joseon Dynasty documents ▲active research in fields such as Korean medicine and great potential for research in agriculture and economy ▲transmission of related cultures such as food, rituals, and folklore ▲its excellent medicinal efficacy and quality, which historically secured an important position in international trade ▲the existence of numerous communities and related groups such as regional ginseng cooperatives, various research institutions and academic societies, and public and private support organizations ▲and the maintenance of empirical agricultural knowledge through intergenerational transmission today.

In Geumsan, there is a story from the Baekje period about a monk named Gang Cheol-sa who cured his mother’s illness with ginseng. He planted ginseng near his home as instructed by an old man in a dream, and that place is said to be the present-day Gaesam site in Seonggok-ri, Nam-myeon, Geumsan County. In China, a legend tells of a weak blacksmith’s son who regained his strength by eating ginseng from Mount Geumgang and inherited the family business.

Current state of the sunshade facility

Ginseng has long been regarded as a "buluocho" (불로초, the herb of immortality) or "manbyeongcho" (만병초, the herb of all diseases). Its patterns symbolize health and longevity on various everyday items. A Cultural Heritage Administration official stated, "The sociocultural symbolism of ginseng as a beneficial and precious medicinal herb is deeply rooted in the Korean sentiment."

Ginseng cultivation is demanding and takes 4 to 6 years because it is a shade-tolerant plant that requires only a small amount of light for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis can even stop if the external temperature exceeds 30°C. Therefore, it is mainly cultivated in cool and shaded areas. The Cultural Heritage Administration noted that since ginseng farms are distributed throughout the Korean Peninsula, no specific holders or holder groups were recognized, similar to other intangible cultural heritages such as Ssireum (Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 131), jang fermentation (Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 137), and kimchi making (Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 133).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.