Bibimbap History: The Theories Behind Its Origin

All About Korea’s Iconic Dish.

Korean cuisine has grown in popularity over the years all around the globe. One of the most iconic dishes loved by locals and Korean-food fans alike is the bibimbap. And like many famous dishes, the bibimbap history has more than one origin story.

What is Bibimbap?

Bibimbap actually combines to words, “Bibim” meaning mixing ingredients together and “bap” meaning rice. So, then, bibimbap translates to mixed rice.

The dish combines rice, sautéed and/or seasoned and/or raw vegetables, meat typically ground or chunks of beef, a fried or raw egg, sesame oil, and gochujang (a chili paste sauce) in a bowl. The contents are mixed with chopsticks and eaten with a long stainless steel spoon.

The beauty of bibimbap is that it is seasonal, regional, and flexible. There is no one correct way to prepare and eat the bowl other than it should be nutritious from the vegetables, balanced, and colorful.

In fact, the colors in the bowl each have meaning and representation within the culture and with nutrition in mind. Black/dark marks the North and benefits the kidneys so mushrooms or seaweed can be used. Red/oranges represents the South and heals the heart so chili, carrots, or jujube dates are added. Green points to the east and helps the liver so cucumber and spinach are included in the mix. White means West and alleviates the lungs so bean sprouts, radish, and rice are vital. And finally, yellow brings in the center and serves the stomach, and this is typically the egg in the middle of the bowl.

The Stories Behind the Bibimbap History

Bibimbap was originally known as “goldongban” (which means mixing together various objects with already cooked rice) in the 1400s and then later “bubimbap” in the late 1800s. Between the 1800s and 1900s bibimbap significantly changed in terms of ingredients added to the bowl.

There are multiple references to bibimbap in historical documents and books as far back as the 1500s as well as the first known recipe in the late 1800s. Then, in the 1920s bibimbap popularized beyond the home and into restaurants where presentation of the bowls refined and became far more interactive and customized. Today you can find bibimbap in high-end restaurants, convenience stores, and even on airlines.

It is only fitting that this iconic dish has such a complex history with more than one origin story like many of the world’s most famous foods.

Theory 1
One origin points towards the royal court of the 1400s in which this mixed rice bowl was served as a part of the king’s meal or for when the royal family attended the royal court.

Theory 2
A second theory suggests that the history of bibimbap has its roots from ritual rites. Locals would go to the countryside away from their homes with ancestral offerings. After the ceremony, they opted to eat the food they brought on the spot rather than bring it all back home. So, the people mixed together the rice with the vegetables and side dishes in a single bowl and ate it together.

Theory 3
Another story speculates the dish has a history with farmers in that the farmers’ wives prepared the dish and the men mixed it together and shared this quick meal in the fields.

Theory 4
A fourth origin theorizes that bibimbap evolved from New Year’s Eve traditions. In order to start the new year fresh with a clean slate, one would mix all their leftovers with rice and begin the year with a clean fridge. These days, locals carry on that practice at the end of the week with their weekly leftovers.