Songpyeon: How a Turtle’s Back Turned Into a Dessert
Overview:
Chuseok(Korean Thanksgiving) is approaching next Monday, and you will probably end up eating Songpyeon as you always have. But have you ever wondered about the origins of Songpyeon?
Songpyeon is a rice cake commonly consumed throughout Korea during Chuseok, but few know the tradition behind eating it every Chuseok.
What does a turtle have to do with Songpyeon?
It is said that one day, during the unification of Korea(668 AD), in the Three Kingdoms period, a turtle had emerged from palace grounds with its back reading “Baekjae is a full moon, Silla is a half moon”.
The full moon was interpreted as representing the Baekje Kingdom, which had reached its full potential. This fullness symbolized both its imminent decline and the coming reunification with Silla, which was half-full. The moment those in the Silla Kingdom heard about this, they began to make rice cakes in the shape of a half moon, which we now call Songpyeon.
Different Types of Songpyeon by Region in Korea:
Seoul:
Songpyeon from Seoul is the most common type of Songpyeon, characterized by its small size and colorfulness, filled with a mixture of honey and ground sesame seeds.
Chungcheong Province:
This type of Songpyeon is visually appealing because it is formed in the shape of a pumpkin, made using ground dried pumpkins and rice powder for the dough, and filled inside with roasted chestnuts and a mixture of ground sesame seeds and honey.
Where to find Songpyeon here in Washington:
You can find it at your local Korean supermarket, such as HMart, or at places selling Korean desserts.
References:
Korelimited. “Chuseok Songpyeon - Korea’s Half-Moon Rice Cake.” KORELIMITED, KORELIMITED, 9 Sept. 2022, korelimited.com/blogs/korelimited/chuseoks-songpyeon-the-half-moon-rice-cake.
Park, Yerica. “Regional Variances of Songpyeon, a Chuseok Staple.” MICHELIN Guide, MICHELIN Guide, 20 May 2019, guide.michelin.com/kr/en/article/features/regional-variances-songpyeon-chuseok-staple.