• 인삼문화
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• 제4권
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• pp.59-102
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• 2022

산삼이라는 약초가 자생하는 나라가 흔하지 않은 만큼 산삼을 채취하는 직업의 문화인 심메마니(산삼채취인) 문화를 가지고 있는 나라는 아주 드물다. 정통어인마니가 사라진 작금에는 심메마니에 관한 유무형의 문화는 시간의 흐름과 함께 더욱 소실되고 있다. 지금까지의 산삼채취인에 관한 연구는 ① 심메마니 은어에 관한 연구, ② 심메마니 습속에 관한 연구, ③ 심메마니 습속 변화에 관한 연구, ④ 심메마니와의 면담을 통한 추가적 채록 등의 부분적이고 단편적으로 진행되어 왔으며 심메마니 문화에 관한 총체적 연구는 아직 이루어지지 않았다. 이 연구에서는 앞선 연구에서 미반영한 사료를 보완하며, 산삼의 정의부터 산삼의 분류·심메마니의 어원·채삼 업종·심마니의 분포·법사회적 관점에서의 산삼채취·입산 시기·입산 조직·입산 택일·준비물·금기·출발과 입산·사신제의·도사(禱詞)·해몽·산삼 수색·산삼 발견과 그에 따른 일련의 절차·산삼 채굴·하산·배분·산삼채취량과 그 가격까지 심마니 습속의 행위별 비교와 어인의 제문(祭文), 사료의 사진, 삽화까지 첨부하면서 인삼 종주국의 산삼채취문화의 총괄적으로 연구하였다.

• 고려인삼학회:학술대회논문집
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• 고려인삼학회 2002년도 학술대회지
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• pp.456-466
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• 2002

Wild ginseng production is increasing due to forest recovery for last 30 years. Total number of Symmani (traditional mountain ginseng digger) was 558 in 2001. Provincial distribution of Symmani in 2001 was highest in Kangwon $(32\%),$ next in Choongbook $(21\%)$ and least in Jeonnam $(0.7\%)$ and Kyoungnam $(0.9\%).$ Age distribution of Symmani was $33\%\;for\;fourties,\;32\%$ for fifties and $20\%$ for sixties. There were 8 persons in eighties. Symmanies are still keeping traditional ritual for mountain god serving clothes of colored ribbons and foods. Increased production induced open market system from underground dealing of mountain ginseng. Korea Mountain Ginseng Association established mountain ginseng assessment committee with professional Symmanies in 2001. From September to November in 2001, 987 roots were requested for quality assessment to the committee and 476 roots $(48\%)$ were passed and graded and others were rejected. Highest frequency of rejection was foreign origin. Pass rate was highest $(74\%)$ in Choongnam suggesting best place for quality. Number of collected roots in each province was positively correlated (p=0.05) with number of Symmanies. There are 3 quality groups of mountain ginseng, Heaven (pure natural), Earth (from seeding of wild ginseng) and Man (from seeding or seedling of wild ginseng with slight environmental modification). The relationship between price and age was polynomial in high quality root, Heaven, Earth and seed long head of Man group, and linear in low quality group, seedling long head of Man. The best one in 2001 was 26 g, 124 years old and sold with 109 million won. Quality criteria are age, shape, weight, color and healthy outlook. Fine roots are criteria for health status of roots and taproot is criteria for efficacy and called as medicine barrel. The implication is that ginsenosides have rarely been experienced for efficacy. The quality criteria of cultivated ginseng were originated from those of mountain ginseng. It is unique for mountain ginseng that only fresh one can be on market. Since quality criteria of mountain ginseng must be based on the efficacy experience it is well expected that present criteria might almost be established at the age of Shinnong Materia Medica.