Objectives : Many curative methods are used utilized in order to rid human body of disease when people become sick. Traditional Korean medicine generally prescribe methods that involve acupunture, moxibustion, or herb formulae. However, different types of foods are sometimes used as well. While wondering the history and efficacy of Qi-elevation foods that were consumed by Koreans in the past, the author discovered that a record from the Joseon Dynasty, called The Daily Record of Royal Secretariat of Joseon Dynasty, contained information about different types of porridge. Hence, the author looked through the records of porridge as written in the historical material in an attempt to learn the examples and efficacy of medicine-porridge consumed in Joseon’s royal palace.
Methods : After searching for the keyword, ‘porridge’, in the Records as provided by the National Institute of Korean History, the author extracted the porridges recorded during the Yeongjo period that each has its own special name.
Results : Different types of porridge were recorded in the Records as following: arrowroot porridge, bean-leaf porridge, mung bean porridge, bean porridge, malt-rice porridge, oriental arborvitae seed porridge, crucian porridge, lotus seed porridge, adlay porridge, red bean porridge, welsh onion porridge, milk porridge, seashell porridge, ginko nut porridge, black sesame porridge, and mandarin porridge. Each porridge was used for the purpose of alleviating any disease that afflicted the king Yeongjo or his royal family members in relation with the ingredient herb’s medicinal function.
Conclusions : These porridges consumed by the king Yeongjo and his royal family members were used not only with a purpose of aiding their body’s recovery from disease, but with the goal to actively curing them of ailments.