Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 36

Extracurricular 36. Imperial Miscellanea (1)

Part 1: Meat Master Sejong

Sejong’s “love for meat,” or perhaps more accurately, his “meat addiction,” was legendary.

It was a well-known fact that Sejong suffered from various adult-onset health issues due to this dietary imbalance, this meat-偏食 [pyeonshik, or unbalanced diet].

Worried about this, Hyang actively intervened to improve Sejong’s eating habits.

“Father! You can’t stay healthy if you only eat meat!”

“Alright, alright!”

Initially, Sejong managed to maintain a more balanced diet, as Hyang’s words had some effect.

However, as he aged, the impact gradually diminished.

“Father!”

“What’s going to ‘stand’ at my age? It would only complicate the family tree.”

So, Hyang devised another strategy.

It involved leveraging Gyeok-bang [a traditional Korean martial art similar to wrestling], Sejong’s only favored form of exercise.

“If you keep eating only meat, your knees will weaken, and you won’t be able to practice Gyeok-bang!”

“Then I’ll just watch….”

“Have you forgotten how large the Gyeok-bang field is? You can’t always ride in a Yeon (轎, palanquin) [a covered chair carried by poles], can you?”

“Good grief….”

In the end, thanks to health management through consistent dietary adjustments, Sejong enjoyed a longer life than in the history before Hyang’s intervention.

And, in the process, Sejong developed a new hobby.

It was cooking, or more precisely, meat cooking.

Sejong had discovered the joys of cooking by tasting new beasts—no, the meat of beasts—and encountering new cooking methods like Pemmican in Shinji.

As time passed and Sejong returned to the mainland, switching places with Hyang, he began experimenting with the ingredients and cooking techniques they had encountered.

At first, he would instruct the cooks on the methods and have them prepare the dishes, or give them assignments.

However, as the desired results repeatedly failed to materialize, Sejong began to enter the royal kitchen himself and cook.

“Your Majesty, this is unacceptable!”

The astonished officials desperately tried to stop him, but Sejong ignored them.

“It’s an old man’s amusement. It’s not against propriety, so don’t interfere.”

“But….”

“Tsk, tsk!”

“…As you wish.”

In the end, the officials waved the white flag.

With the obstacles removed, Sejong began to genuinely indulge in his new passion, his 덕질 [deokjil, or passionate devotion to a hobby].

And as he accumulated considerable experience, Sejong began to organize his knowledge in writing.

-Looking at meat and cooking methods broadly, it can be compared to the Three Bonds and Five Relationships [core tenets of Confucianism, emphasizing hierarchical relationships and moral conduct].

-The Three Bonds can be seen as the types of meat: the meat of beasts, the meat of 금 (禽, birds), and the meat of 어 (漁, fish).

-The Five Relationships can be said to be the methods of cooking them.

Broadly speaking, these are grilling, pan-frying, boiling, deep-frying, and pickling.

(Omitted)

-When examining the characteristics of the ingredients, Yin and Yang can be applied. The texture of the meat often differs depending on whether it is male or female. The cook should keep this in mind.

(Omitted)

-Various changes can be achieved depending on how the ingredients are prepared.

Taking knife skills as an example:

The subsequent cooking method and taste will vary depending on whether you cut it into thick chunks, cut it to a suitable thickness, slice it thinly like silk, or shred it.

(Omitted)

-Pickling can also offer various changes. You can experience a variety of flavors depending on what you pickle the meat with, such as vinegar, salt, soy sauce, 된장 [doenjang, a type of fermented soybean paste], honey, or oil.

(Omitted)

The results organized in this way amounted to a vast quantity of over 15 volumes.

But this was not the end.

As new cooking methods were introduced from Europe, the results finally exceeded 20 volumes.

Hyang shook her head as she looked at this cookbook, which filled one shelf on one side.

“I’ve lost….”

But what was surprising was that Sejong also faithfully recorded information about vegetables in addition to meat.

“When I eat, I get tired of eating only meat and can’t eat much. If I add some vegetables, I can eat more deliciously.”

It was thanks to realizing the importance of vegetables through this experience.

And, as time passed, the results created by Sejong received higher praise than expected.

-A must-read and must-have professional book for those who want to become a renowned chef.

-A masterpiece of cooking books.