음식이 조선왕들의 질병과 사망에 미친 영향에 관한 연구-조선말기: 조선제 19대 숙종~조선제 26대 고종-

Abstract

This study analyzed the effects of foods on the illness and death of kings in late Joseon Period, focusing on the 19th King Sukjong to the 26th King Gojong. The analysis of the kings in late Joseon in terms of their foods, personality, illness and causes of death highlighted the 19th King Sukjong was neither a generous and easygoing person nor a timid and tepid person but a hothead. As for foods, King Sukjong enjoyed dog meat, plum and garlic chives which are good for the liver. As for the cause of his death, he seemed to die of lung cancer. The 20th King Gyeongjong was wishy-washy, indecisive, mentally and physically weak, and impotent, and had no children. Due to some political circumstances beyond his control, he ate too much and became obese. Consequently, he seemed to have severe abdominal pain and diarrhea before suffering a sudden death. The 21st King Youngjo was a strong-willed person mindful about staying healthy. He was thoroughgoing about self-care and frequently took such super foods as Ginseng, Matsutake, young pheasant meat, red chilli pepper paste, Songjeol tea and deer tails. He lived to 83 and died naturally from ailments associated with aging. The 22nd King Jeongjo was academically intelligent, thoroughgoing about self-care and keen to be a perfectionist. Therefore, he enjoyed such vegetarian foods as Kkakdugi instead of meat and relieved stress with smoking. He seemed to die of a heart condition resulting from some side effects of an abscess. The 23rd King Sunjo was helpless and introverted unlike his father Jeongjo, and presumably died of abscess-related complications. The 24th King Heonjong was timid but promiscuous, had a high libido and collected paintings. To father a son, he frequently ate super foods such as Ginseng and deer antlers, and seemed to die of heart conditions. The 25th King Cheoljong was helpless and fiddled around doing nearly nothing but having sex. He enjoyed deer antlers and Ginseng, both of which are deemed good for stamina, chicken soup and rice wine. He seemed to die of tuberculosis. As the de-facto last emperor of Joseon, the 26th King Gojong was a helpless and timid night owl, who stayed up and enjoyed snacks until late at night for self-protection. He enjoyed coffee, cookies and Ginseng soup. He suffered from insomnia, colds, indigestion and gallstones before dying of cerebral palsy resulting from cerebral hemorrhage or heart conditions.