“Doraji” is an upbeat Korean folk song that stylizes the stereotypical hardworking and lively image of Korean women. The song originated from Gangwan-do, and its popularly quickly spread throughout the whole Korean Peninsula.

Legends say that there once was a young maiden named Doraji, who was about to be sold off by her lord as collateral to pay of debt. Infuriated, her lover axed the lord to death, and was immediately imprisoned. Horrified by this news, Doraji cried and cried. Her heart ached and ached. It was her sadness that killed her. On her deathbed, she requested to be buried on a mountain path her lover would always travel by when he needed to cut wood. Two years later on a spring day, little purple flowers blossomed around her grave. The people called the flower “doraji” (platycodon in Korean), after the girl’s name, and sung the maiden’s pure love story.

According to traditional cultural customs, Korean women may only leave the house special occasions. Thus, every spring, as they form groups to harvest balloon flowers, they will often sing this song to express their joyful mood.

Platycodon (Jie Geng) is the dried root of Platycodon Grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC. from the Campanulacea family. Its properties are bitter, acrid, and neutral. It enters through the lung.

Actions & Indications:

• Opens up and disseminates lunq qi and expels phlegm
• Promotes the drainage of pus in the lung or throat
• Benefits the throat
• Directs the effect of other herbs to the upper regions of the body