Bathing Culture Studied via Historical Literature -History of the Three States, Prehistory of the Three States, History of Koryo, True Records of Chosun Dynasty-

옛 문헌을 통해 본 한국인의 목욕의식 -삼국사기, 삼국유사, 고려사, 조선왕조실록을 중심으로-

In this study, 2,238 incidents from History of the Three States, Prehistory of the Three States, History of Koryo, True Records of Chosun Dynasty had been analyzed in order to examine the bathing styles of Koreans. The results were as follows. In the period of Three States, baths were taken for the purposes of cleanness, remedy, and beauty culture as well as etiquettes. And spa, rainwater, rivers, streams, and bath tubs were used. In the period of Koryo, it included not only reasons for etiquettes as in the period of the Three States but also reasons for medical care and daily life. In spa, temples, and homes, baths were taken by using perfumes and towels. In Chosun Dynasty, daily baths were for hygiene, health, and bodily charms. Before religious ceremonies, they made sure that they took baths, and spa baths were popular for the medical care. The ways to take baths included the order which area was the first to be washed, time, and areas concretely, and seasons, weather, and conditions of body were considered before taking baths. Moreover, the places included natural places such as streams, reservoirs, rivers, as well as artificial places such as temples, places for envoys, and palaces. Especially, in spa areas, bathing buildings were constructed. Considering all these, baths were taken for the purposes of ceremonies and medical care in the period of the Three States, and daily baths took down their roots in the period of Koryo. In the period of Chosun Dynasty, spa baths for cures, prays and rituals, hygiene and bodily charms were considered as a reason. How to take baths and means were decided carefully. Therefore, the results above demonstrated that baths took down their roots in people's daily life in Korea since the period of Koryo.