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Ancient Koreans considered mushrooms "the food of the earth" or "the incarnation of the fairy." while the ancient Greeks and Romans said it was a "food of the gods. "
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| The Chinese, who have a long history, treated it with great care, for they thought of it as the elixir of life. The Korean botanical list called "Bonchogangmok" classifies mushrooms as "Kyun"(fungi) for those that grow on hard surfaces and "Ji" for those that grow on soft surfaces. |
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| Mushrooms were first brought to Korea during the era of the "Three Kingdoms." There are records proving that the Kum-ji was offered on the first month as a tribute in Woong Chun Joo (presently referred to as Kong Joo), as well as the Su-Ji in Sa Bul Joo (presently referred to as Sang Joo). |
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| Also, historical evidence that fungi on wood and on the ground were used during the period of King Sungduk can be found . By looking at the other chronicle, Sejong Sillok, we can see that pine-mushrooms, oak-mushrooms, and some other mushrooms were used as food during the period of King Sejong, the fourth king of the Chosun dynasity. The record that Wolfiporia cocos was used for medicinal purposes proves that the mushroom has been used for a long time. |
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| In ancient records regarding the mushroom, Choi Woo says "the mushroom expunges toxic heat, enlivens the body, and cools the body temperature. The mushrooms grown in winter that are soft and white are non-toxic ,and if you take them for an extended period of time, they strengthen the stomach and the intestines." In Yang-Sang-Yo-jib, the mushroom is referred to as a "sweet, warm-natured food that lightens the body movement and improves the function of the 9 Kung (angular measure of 30 degrees)." As can be seen in the ancient records above, people ate wild mushrooms in the mountains and fields as a delicacy and considered them as a rare health-enhancing ingredient. Consuming mushrooms even at the risk of danger shows how mushrooms were important to our ancestors. |
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