How was Bibimbap made?

Have you ever tried Bibimbap? Bibimbap is a traditional Korean food containing bean sprouts, bracken, spinach and red pepper paste with rice. If we ask foreigners what a traditional Korean is, they’ll probably say Bibimbap. However, many people don’t know how and when Bibimbap was made.  As it is a food representing Korea, Koreans should know the origin of it.

The start of Bibimbap was chaotic. The name of Bibimbap is from the verb ‘비비다’ which means to mix. The start of it is related to the name. It was a food that ancestors had after the memorial service called ‘jesa’. ‘jesa’ involves honoring ancestors with food offerings on specific dates. The food offerings placed on jesa were evenly mixed together, then descendants enjoyed them.

However, there was no name such as Bibimbap. The word "Bibimbap" has a complex origin, dating back to as early as the 1500s to the 1900s. The earliest record of it appears in late 16th-century "Gijeapjabgi" . By Gijeapjabgi, we can know that people had mixed fishes and vegetables in one bowl. After that, until the 1900s, the existence of bibimbap was sporadically documented.

Bibimbap is a precious traditional food of Korea, with cultural significance that Koreans strive to preserve. Today, it has become globally renowned and can be easily found in countries outside of Korea.