西洋오랑캐

As of late I’ve been reading a lot of Korean history books / historical texts in Korean, because it seems like a decent thing to do. In my recent readings, I came across an outstanding list from the Chosun period (who doesn’t love lists or the Chosun period?) detailing food stuffs that should not have been eaten by pregnant women. So I have gone through the trouble of translating this list for everyone to enjoy.

「옛 임산부들의 금지식품」*
Food prohibited for pregnant women long ago

닭고기: 피부가 닭살처럼 된다.
Chicken: The skin will be like a chicken’s flesh.

돼지고기: 풍기가 있고, 족발을 먹으면 육손이 된다.
Pork: The child will have morals**, and if ham hocks (pig’s feet) are eaten the child will be born with six fingers.

오리고기: 손가락 발가락이 오리발처럼 된다.
Duck: The hands and feet will be like that of a duck (webbed).

개고기: 아이가 앙알거린다.
Dog: The baby will bark like a dog.

토끼고기: 언청이가 되거나 눈이 빨개진다.
Rabbit: The child will have a harelip and red eyes.

자라: 목이 짧은 아기를 낳는다.
Snapping Turtle: A short necked child will be born.

녹용: 머리가 둔한 아기를 낳는다.
Antlers of a Young Deer: A dull-witted child will be born.

잉어: 딸을 낳는다.
Carp: A daughter will be born.

게 아이가 옆으로 나온다.
Crab: The baby will come out sideways.

홍어: 아기 몸이 납작해지고 피부가 거칠어진다.
Skate: The baby’s body will be flat and the skin will be rough.

낙지, 문어, 해삼, 가오리: 뼈 없는 아기를 낳는다.
Squid, Octopus, Sea Cucumber, Stingray: A boneless child will be born.

가자미: 눈이 가자미처럼 삐뚤어진다.
Flatfish: The eyes will be crooked like those of a flatfish.

메밀: 임산부의 배가 얇아지거나 유산한다.
Buckwheat: The pregnant woman’s stomach will become thin or she will miscarry.

밀가루: 소화가 안되고 태아가 밀가루를 뒤집어쓴다.
Flour: The woman will be unable to digest and the embryo will be covered with flour.

쌀: 생쌀을 먹으면 젖이 마른다.
Rice: If you eat rice, your breast will be dry.

팥: 살경이 검은 아기를 낳는다.
Red Bean: A child with a dark complexion will be born.

버섯: 아기가 튼튼하지 못하다. 수명이 짧아진다.
Mushroom: The child will not be hearty, and the life span will be shortened.

고추: 유산하거나 바보를 낳는다. 입덧이 심해진다.
Red Pepper: The feteus will abort or the child will be born a moron. Morning sickness will be severe.

무, 두부, 호박: 임산부의 이가 상한다.
Radish, Tofu, Pumpkin/Zucchini: The pregnant woman’s teeth will rot.

미나리: 아기가 복학에 걸린다. 유산한다.
Dropwart: The baby will be caught in the spleen. Miscarriage.

더덕: 젖이 안 나온다.
Codonopsis lanceolata: Breast milk will not be generated.

밤: 쌍밤을 먹으면 쌍뚱이를 낳는다.
Chestnut: If you eat chestnuts, you will give birth to twins.

인삼: 젖이 잘 나온지 않는다. 태아가 커서 난산한다.
Ginseng: Breast milk will not be generated well. The delivery will be difficult due to the fact that the embryo will be large.

흰죽: 분만시 태아가 흰 보를 쓰고 나온다.
Rice Gruel: The child will come out in a white covering at the time of birth.

무김치: 임산부의 이가 상한다.
Radish Kimchi: The pregnant woman’s teeth will rot.

감주: 유산한다.
Sweet Rice Drink: Miscarriage.

* The original Korean version of this list originally appeared in the book 「뜻밖의 한국사」 by 김경훈.

** The word 풍기 means “morals” or “discipline” which doesn’t really seem like a negative trait. However the term 풍기 문란 means “corruption,” which seems more appropriate. The original text was lacking the 문란 part, therefore if you eat pork your child will be moral.