Journal of Ginseng Culture (인삼문화)

  • Volume 3
  • /
  • Pages.38-53
  • /
  • 2021
  • /
  • 2671-5503(pISSN)
The Korean Society of Ginseng (고려인삼학회)
권호 표지

Ginseng Exhibit ofthe British Museum in the Eighteenth Century: Obtaining Route and Responses ofthe Contemporaries

18세기 대영박물관에 전시된 인삼: 입수 경로와 당대의 반응

  • Sul, Heasim (Department of History, Yonsei University)
  • Received : 2020.12.06
  • Accepted : 2020.12.15
  • Published : 2021.03.15
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Abstract

This research uncovered that the world-renowned British Museum has displayed ginseng as part of notable exhibitssince its opening. The British Museum was established in 1753 upon the bequest of Sir Hans Sloane, a famous physician, scientist, and collector. At the heart of his collections was the vast amount of vegetable substance specimens. This study first reconstructed Sloane's collection activities in the context of British Imperialism and botanical science in the early modern period. It then traced the origins and routes by which four ginseng specimens were obtained: Radix Ginseng or ninzin from China (VS 532), Ginseng. Id (VS 8,198), the roots and seeds of ginseng (VS 7,825), and ginseng root (VS 12,140). These specimens were presumed to originate from one type of Korean ginseng from China, a Japanese ginseng variant from Japan, and two ginseng species from North America. The English public learned about ginseng and ginseng exhibits via a flourishing printing culture. In England, Korean ginseng was appreciated much more highly than American ginseng.

이 연구는 세계적으로 가장 유명한 박물관으로 꼽히는 대영박물관이 개관 당시부터 인삼을 주요 전시품으로 취급하고 있었음을 학술적으로 규명했다. 대영박물관은 영국의 저명한 의사이자 과학자, 수집가인 한스 슬론(Hans Sloane, 1660-1753)의 유언에 따라 그의 컬렉션을 토대로 건립된 것으로, 인삼을 비롯한 '식물성 물질 표본(Vegetable Substances specimens)'이 그 핵심에 놓여 있었다. 이 글에서는 먼저 슬론이 방대한 컬렉션을 모으는 과정을 재구성하면서 영국의 초기 제국주의와 본초학, 수집과의 관계를 밝혔다. 대영박물관에 전시되었던 인삼 표본 4개--Radix Ginseng or ninzin from China (VS 532)/ Ginseng. Id (VS 8,198)/ Roots & seeds of Gin-seng (VS 7,825)/ Ginseng root (VS 12,140)--의 출처와 입수 경로를 추적하였다. 이들은 각각 중국, 일본, 북아메리카에서 온 것으로, 각각 고려인삼, 죽절삼, 화기삼으로 추정된다. 당시의 영향력 있던 인쇄물을 통해 인삼이 대영박물관의 주목할 만한 전시품으로 대중들에게 홍보되었으며, 영국에서는 화기삼이 고려인삼에 비해 열등한 평가를 받고 있었다.

Keywords

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