Can you tell me the history of the Korean dish called Kim Chi?

Question

Can you tell me the history of the Korean dish called Kim Chi?

Answer 1

The history of kimchi traces back to ancient times. References to kimchi can be found as early as 2600-3000 years ago.[1] The first text-written evidence of its existence can be found in the first Chinese poetry book, Sikyeong (hangul:시경 hanja:詩經). In this book, kimchi was referred as “Ji”, the term used before it was known as “Chimchae”.[2]

The earliest form of kimchi was made of only cabbage, and it was in the 12th century when people began to include other spices to create different flavors, such as sweet and sour flavors, and colors of kimchi, such as white and orange.[3]

Chili peppers, now a major ingredient in most forms of kimchi, were unknown in Korea until the early 17th century. Chili peppers originated from the New World and were introduced to East Asia by Western traders.[4], specifically, the Portuguese trading in Nagasaki. This particular style of kimchi made with chili peppers and baechu, a variety of Chinese cabbage, gained popularity in the 19th century and this baechu kimchi continues to be the most common and popular form of kimchi today.[5]

Answer 2

Without giving you a wikipedia clipping, Kim Chi was invented as a means of survival.   Cabbage and other vegetables are preserved in a brine like solution.    Traditionally they were put in clay pots and buried and covered with hay in a manner similar to a root cellar.   They would eat the Kim Chi in the winter months.

Answer 3

From what my parent told me is that Korea is very cold & people preserve the vegetables to eat when fresh is not availabe (that is in ancient time, now we have fresh vegetables all the time).  And the spicy/hot flavor will keep the body warm.

Answer 4

A person a couple 1000 years ago by the name of Kim

(who was really Chuck Norris in disguise..)

had such powerful and mystical chi energy

that; he was able to roundhouse kick magical spices and peppers into any dish he pleased.

One day bored out of his skull, Kim (ahem Chuck) decided to start throwing random roundhouse kicks at a bowl of unused diced cabbage.

What happened next varies upon different accounts.  

However what everybody DID agree upon that ancient day was that; somehow the cabbage tasted very hot and spicy.  A new "kick" in flavor (excuse the pun hehe) and excitement for what was once considered to be a boring and useless vegetable.

So all the women of that particular village left their husbands and instead; married Kim (ahem Chuck)

Every single night onwards, the jealous former husbands of these women had to suffer by hearing them moan out

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh  Kimmmmmmmmm!!!!!!  Your CHI is sooooooooooooooooooo strong and satisfyingggggggggg ohhhhhhhh!"

^  Thus Kim (ahem Chuck) earned the nickname "Kim Chi"

and the rest is history.

Chuck Norris and his roundhouse kicks are so powerful that; he can end world wars with them.  Plus add more spice levels to food dishes.