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The Three Characters of 蔘鷄湯
The character "蔘" (sam) for ginseng combines the radical for "grass" (艸) with the character for "human shape" (參), signifying a mysterious herb that resembles a person. "鷄" (gye) for chicken is formed by "how" (奚) and "bird" (鳥). "湯" (tang) for soup combines "water" (氵) with "sun" or "bright" (昜), indicating something boiled. These three characters together represent the essence of Korean restorative cuisine. It is uncommon for a Korean dish to have a name directly derived from Chinese characters in this manner, suggesting a more academic or descriptive naming convention that sets it apart from many Japanese or Chinese dishes.
A Recent Dish (1920s)
Ginseng, a mysterious medicinal herb native to the Korean Peninsula, has been utilized for its restorative properties for over a millennium. Similarly, chicken stew, or dakbaeksuk, has a long history. However, the specific dish known as "Samgyetang," with its distinct name and form, emerged relatively recently in the 1920s. During the Japanese colonial period, wealthy Japanese residents began consuming a combination of Korean ginseng and dakbaeksuk. It was in the 1960s and 1970s that Koreans solidified the now-familiar preparation method of stuffing a whole ginseng root inside the chicken.
Iyeolchiyeol (以熱治熱)
The custom of consuming hot Samgyetang on Boknal, the hottest days of summer, stems from the Eastern medical philosophy of "以熱治熱" (iyeolchiyeol), or "fighting heat with heat." The "Suwen" chapter of the classic text 「황제내경 (Huangdi Neijing)」 states: "夏暑汗多, 氣隨汗泄" — meaning that in the summer heat, excessive sweating leads to the dissipation of qi. By warming the body's core with hot food, qi is replenished. Ginseng is considered the foremost qi-tonifying medicine, which is why 「본초강목 (Bencao Gangmu)」 praised it as "신초 (shencao)," or a divine herb.
Ginseng's Character 蔘
The Chinese character "蔘" (sam) for ginseng is composed of the radical for "grass" (艸) and the character "參" (cham). The latter character, 參, visually represents three stars (三星) combined with a human figure (人), conveying a sense of mysterious, human-like form. This etymology directly reflects how ginseng roots naturally grow to resemble the human body. The ancient medical text 「본초강목 (Bencao Gangmu)」 further reinforces its significance, stating: "人蔘, 一名神草" — "Ginseng, also known as divine herb." In Eastern medicine, ginseng holds the highest regard among all medicinal herbs. The single character 蔘 thus encapsulates a millennium of restorative philosophy.
