A Research paper on Hyo-geon(孝田)’s Anthology on food, referred as the ‘Korean Michelin Guide’, was recently published for the first time.

Prof. Ahn Dae-hoe of Sungkyunkwan University(SKKU) in his paper ‘The record on gastronomic preference and tastes of the 18th and 19th century’ talks about the anthology of Shim Noh-seung(1762 - 1837), otherwise known by his pseudonym Hyo-geon(孝田), who was a 18th century government official with a romantic flair that left, besides his anthology, many romantic lyrical poems.

An anthology recording critiques on food like ‘Hyo-geon's Anthology’ is extremely rare. This is because in the Joseon-era people were bounded by confucian morals which made them reluctant towards displaying their desire for a materialistic life. Hyo-geon traveled all over the country writing poetry, prose and critiques on foods of different regions which was the basis for such an anothology.

He especially liked buckwheat noodles and regarded Pyeongyang-style cold buckwheat noodles to be the best. “The quality of buckwheat noodle in the Kwanso region is the best. Seoul’s cold noodles are worse than hot noodles. I feel down if I can’t have buckwheat noodles every few days” he states.

There are interesting phrases in ‘Hyo-geon’s Anthology’ “My eyes opened and my mouth was watering after I saw what I wanted to eat”, “I long for steamed rice cake.” It is almost impossible to find such phrases in other nobleman’s anthologies.

“Hyo-geon’s Anthology shows that the Joseon society, in the 18th century, pursued materialistic desire and began to boaster over the consumption of goods.” explains Prof. Ahn.

                         Actual image of the 'Hyo-geon(孝田) Anthology'

Link to media report: http://news.donga.com/STUDIO/iview?f=i&s=2&idxno=201504240035