ISHS Acta Horticulturae 620: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Asian Plants with Unique Horticultural Potential: Genetic Resources, Cultural Practices, and Utilization
THE HISTORY OF GINSENG CULTIVATION IN THE ORIENT |
| Author: | H. Park |
| Abstract:
The history of Panax ginseng cultivation is explained according to legend, terminology, cultivation method, ethnic tradition and literature. Most ginseng legends are Korean, some Chinese, and a few Japanese. Korean legends include both finding mountain ginseng, and cultivation, indicating that cultivation began wherever and whenever seeds were found. According to legends citing location and growers’ family name, ginseng cultivation began 1,500 years ago. Ginseng growers used the word “Joolg” instead of “Jool Gi” for stem, indicating that ginseng cultivation may indeed have begun so long ago when such a distinguished word was used. The first record of ginseng is in 2137 BC by the 4th Dan Goon, Osagoo of the former Korea. Shen Nong (2737-2698 BC) described seven effects of ginseng. Osagoo and Shen Nong were closely related to the Bear Family of Dong Yi suggesting that primitive ginseng cultivation was possible 4000 years ago. Archetype of ginseng cultivation seems to be “sowing of wild ginseng seeds in mountain” equivalent to present “Man grade” of mountain ginseng in Korea. Prototype of cultivation in China was proposed as “transplanting young mountain ginseng to house garden” by Shi Le 1,600 years ago, but this is not practiced for sustaining naturl ones in digging of Korean Symmani. The poem “Korean ginseng admiration” written by the former Korean was introduced in “Notable physicians Reference” in the Liang dynasty (520-557 AD). Plant shape, physiology and shade trees were explained. Three quality grades, Heaven, Earth and Man, of mountain ginseng were introduced, corresponding to the Heaven Code, one of three classics of the oldest Korea. The county governor (1551-1554 AD) of Poonggi openly recommended ginseng cultivation, previously practiced illegally. This is in accordance with ginseng cultivation mentioned in Ben Cao Gang Mu (1596 AD). Ginseng cultivation appeared in the King Seon Jo era (1567-1608 AD). A similar method to present cultivation seems to have been practiced at that time. Current cultivation techniques, such as seed treatment, field selection, soil preparation and quality control measures could not have been so finely developed without long cultivation experience. The Chinese have long believed that cultivated Korean ginseng has the same properties as Chinese wild ginseng, and Chinese woods grown ginseng is better when originating from Korean seed and seedlings. Ginseng from Baeg Je, the central part of the Korean peninsula, was better than from Go Goo Ryeo, Manchuria, reports Tao Hong Jing (520-557 AD). In Japan, the first cultivation began with Korean seeds and fresh roots in Tokyo in 1727-1728. | |
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