Beyond the simple history of hygiene, a dynamic drama shaped by religion, philosophy, and the everyday lives of ordinary people.
- You can grasp how Korean bath culture has changed over different eras.
- You will understand the social and philosophical meanings embedded in the act of bathing.
- You can discover the deep historical roots of the jjimjilbang culture we enjoy today.
Questions Raised in the Jjimjilbang
In a space filled with hot steam, the sound of water all around, and the sweet smell of baked eggs and icy sweet rice drink, today, the jjimjilbang is not just a place to wash the body, but a unique cultural space that encompasses relaxation, socializing, and play.
But doesn’t it make you wonder? Since when have we been bathing like this? Where did this unique Korean bathing culture of scrubbing and soaking in warm water begin?
This article is a long journey following the tumultuous trajectory of Korean bathing culture, from its origins as a sacred ritual to a luxurious hobby, then to a period of ideological oppression, and finally to its splendid revival in modern times.
Part 1. Sacred Water: Bathing to Build a Nation (Three Kingdoms Period)
The history of Korean bathing surprisingly begins not with ‘cleanliness’ but with ‘holiness’. Its origins lie not in the need for cleanliness but in the majestic myths that prove the birth of a nation and the sanctity of its kings.
Bathing in Myth: Purification Rituals that Gave Birth to Kings
The oldest record of bathing is the story of Park Hyeokgeose, the founder of Silla, and Queen Alyeong. According to the Samguk Yusa, when Park Hyeokgeose was bathed in Dongcheon shortly after his birth, a radiant glow emanated from his body. Bathing was thus the first gateway that transformed an ordinary baby into a sacred being.
The story of Queen Alyeong is even more dramatic. Born with a beak of a chicken, when she bathed in Bukcheon, her beak fell off, and she attained perfect beauty. This symbolizes that bathing has the power of transformation, changing imperfection into perfection and rebirthing humans into sacred beings.
Buddhism Leads Bathing into Daily Life
The primal reverence for water was systematized as a religious practice with the introduction of Buddhism. In Buddhism, the act of cleansing oneself before rituals or prayers, known as ‘mugyojae’ (沐浴齋戒), became an important precept.
Thanks to this religious obligation, the Silla people began to bathe more frequently. At that time, temples installed large public baths for worshippers, which became the first public bathing facilities in Korean history. As a result, bathing became a part of the faith that the common people could easily access, and this developed culture even spread to Japan.
Part 2. Aesthetic Water: Pursuing Beauty (Goryeo Period)
The religious bathing culture of Silla reached an unprecedented golden age during the Goryeo period. The sacred act of purification evolved into a secular and aesthetic culture focused on cultivating beauty and pursuing life’s pleasures.
“Goryeo people bathe three to four times a day”: The Golden Age of Bathing
In the 12th century, the Song Dynasty envoy Seo Gyeong recorded in Goryeo Dogyeong that “Goryeo people bathe three to four times a day,” expressing his astonishment. This shows that bathing was a source of pride and an integral part of daily life for Goryeo people.
One of the most interesting parts of his record is that men and women bathed together in the large river of the capital, Gaeseong. This custom, known as ‘honyok’ (混浴), suggests that the Goryeo society had a much more open attitude towards the body compared to later generations.
Investment in Beauty: Orchid Baths and Natural Soaps
Bathing in Goryeo went beyond mere cleanliness to become a sophisticated beauty practice.
- The pinnacle of skin care, orchid bath (nantang): The upper class enjoyed bathing in water boiled with orchids to make their skin white and soft. Various other ingredients were also used, such as ginseng leaf-infused water (samtang) and peach blossom water.
- Natural cleansing agent ‘jodu’ (澡豆): The powder made from ground red beans or mung beans, known as ‘jodu’, was used like soap to effectively remove dirt.
As bathing culture flourished, the upper class even had separate bathing facilities called ‘jeongbang’ (淨房) in their homes. However, this aesthetic culture became a target of criticism from Confucian scholars of the next dynasty, who advocated strict asceticism.
Part 3. Hidden Water: Trapped by Etiquette (Joseon Period)
The free bathing culture of Goryeo rapidly declined with the establishment of the Joseon Dynasty. As the state ideology shifted to Neo-Confucianism, the act of exposing one’s naked body became one of the most taboo acts.
Is Undressing a Sin? The Era of Partial Bathing
In Joseon society, undressing was considered a rude act that violated etiquette. Full-body bathing became rare, and bathing was reduced to ‘partial bathing’ (부분욕).
At that time, people would stand next to a ‘hamjibak’ (함지박) fully clothed, using a small ladle to pour water over themselves. This symbolically shows the era’s obsession with not exposing the body.
The King’s Exception: Royal Spa Visits for Healing
Paradoxically, the king was the most frequent bather, but this was only permitted under the pretext of ‘healing’.
King Sejong, who suffered from various ailments throughout his life, made countless royal spa visits to hot springs across the country, such as Onyang and Icheon. This was a desperate medical act to restore the king’s health.
Folk Traditions of Bathing: Dano and Yudu
Even under the oppression of official ideology, ancient folk beliefs stubbornly survived.
- Dano (端午) and Changpo: On the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, women washed their hair in water boiled with changpo (菖蒲). This had not only beauty effects but also a magical meaning of warding off evil spirits.
- Yudu (流頭) and Dongryusu: On the 15th day of the 6th lunar month, people bathed in flowing water to the east to prevent summer illnesses and wash away misfortune.
Part 4. Public Water: The Era of Bathhouses and Reconnecting with the Body (Modern Era)
The private bathing era that lasted for centuries came to an end in the early 20th century with the opening of ports. With the influx of new values of ‘hygiene’ from the West, modern public bathhouses emerged.
The Birth of Bathhouses and the Emergence of ‘Scrubbing’
In 1924, the first modern public bathhouse opened in Pyongyang, and after liberation, urbanization and industrialization progressed, leading to its popularization. At that time, most households lacked bathing facilities, so neighborhood bathhouses became essential facilities and served as community gathering places.
In this new space, a unique Korean bathing culture, difficult to find elsewhere in the world, was born: the professional ‘scrubbing’ culture. Today, this profession, known as ‘sesinsa’ (洗身士), is believed to have emerged around the 1970s. The act of scrubbing has established itself as a ritual that provides a refreshing feeling of shedding the old.
Comparison of Korean Bath Culture by Era
Comparing the long history of Korean bathing culture at a glance reveals its distinct characteristics.
| Era | Core Purpose | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Three Kingdoms Period | Religious Purification | Proving the King’s Holiness, Temple-centered Mugyojae |
| Goryeo Period | Beauty, Socializing | Mixed bathing culture, Aesthetic trends like orchid baths |
| Joseon Period | Taboo, Healing | Confucian Oppression (Partial Bathing), Royal Spa Visits, Folk Beliefs |
| Modern Era | Hygiene, Leisure | Emergence of Public Bathhouses, Scrubbing Culture, Development of Jjimjilbang |
Conclusion: Jjimjilbang, a New Icon of K-Culture
The long journey of Korean bathing culture culminates today in the unique space of ‘jjimjilbang’. The jjimjilbang can be seen as the ultimate synthesis where various past bathing cultures have merged and been reborn in a modern context.
The various themed jjimjilbangs evoke the culture of the Joseon royal family, which sought healing through hot springs, while dining and entertainment spaces remind us of the social culture of the Goryeo period where people gathered and interacted. This unique culture is now recognized as an icon of global K-Culture.
Looking back, Korean bathing culture seems to have returned from the ‘open bathing’ of Goryeo, which was shared with the community, to the ‘closed bathing’ of Joseon, hidden under Confucian order, and then back to a new form of ‘open bathing’ in the jjimjilbang. The jjimjilbang I experienced was not just a place to wash the body but a precious space for bonding with family and friends in a relaxed manner.
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Key Summary
- From Holiness to Leisure: Korean bathing has evolved from a purification ritual towards the divine into a culture of beauty, healing, hygiene, and today’s complex leisure culture.
- A Mirror of the Times: Changes in bathing methods reflect the dominant ideologies and social conditions of each era, such as Buddhism and Confucianism.
- A Fusion of Cultures, Jjimjilbang: The modern jjimjilbang is a unique space that embodies historical codes of purification from Silla, socializing from Goryeo, healing from Joseon, and hygiene from modern times.
As apartment culture becomes more common, old neighborhood bathhouses are gradually disappearing, but their legacy continues in the form of jjimjilbangs. Next time you visit a jjimjilbang, why not reflect on this grand history of water and the body? The familiar space will surely look new to you.
View References
- Bathing (沐浴) Encyclopedia of Korean Culture
- How Did We Bathe? National Folk Museum
- Bathhouse Culture Reflected in Foreign Media Policy Briefing
- Bathing, Embracing the Flesh of History Aladin
- Why Do Korean Bathhouses Scrub So Hard? Joongang Ilbo
- [The Annals of Sejong and Royal Medicine] The King’s Spa Visits and Eye Diseases Market Economy
- Where Have All the Bathhouses Gone? Hankyoreh
- Bathhouses, From Entertainment to Hygiene to Cultural Spaces! Seoul Archives