Juksun(Bamboo shoot) that pierces the earth to come out for the first time in South Korea is Maengjongjuk 孟宗竹. Planting of 3 bamboo trees imported by a resident of Hacheong-myeon in Geoje in front of his house after industry inspection in 1926 is known to be the start of Maengjongjuk of South Korea.

Although it was imported through Japan in this way, the hometown of Maengjongjuk is actually China. For the background where the name of person called ‘Maengjong’ is attached to this bamboo growing mainly in China and Taiwan and being called Mojuk 毛竹, there is a story transmitted for a long time.

Country O era of China
Maengjong was a person with extremely deep filial love. Although Maengjong who lost his father early took care of his mother with extreme faithfulness, there was no improvement. Meantime, on a day of white snow, Maengjong wandered about searching for Juksun at a bamboo field because of his mother’s saying that she wanted to have Juksun, but was not successful, because Juksun growing in warm spring could not be found in cold winter. Maengjong who failed to find Juksun wailed with a sorrowful heart, and Juksun was sprouted at a place where tears dropped melting the snow as if heaven were touched by this tear. His mother who boiled and ate this Juksun bestowed by heaven had the illness healed neatly, after which this bamboo came to be called as Maengjongjuk.

In this way, Maengjongjuk may symbolize extreme filial love beyond a simple food ingredient. “Maengjong Seolsun” meaning that the snow melted and Juksun was sprouted at a place where Maengjong shed tears originates from this story of filial behavior.

[Reference data] Homepage for Geoje Maengjomg bamboo festival, Encyclopedia of Korean Culture

Editorial Dept.