This study aimed to characterize the use of spices in Korean cookbooks published from the 1400’s to 1700’s. We conducted a content analysis of seven old cookbooks (「Sangayorok」,「Suunjapbang」,「Eumsikdimibang」),「Yorok」,「Jubangmun」,「Somunsaseol」, and 「Jeungbosallimgyeongje」). We collected a total of 238 food recipes, including spices as ingredients. We analyzed the types of spices used and characteristics of the recipes according to 18 dish groups. As results, a total of 10 spices were used as ingredient: ginger, pepper, Chinese pepper, garlic, sesame, chili, mustard, cinnamon, fennel, and clove. Among 238 food recipes analyzed, ginger was used most often (40.3%), followed by pepper (36.1%), Chinese pepper (30.3%), garlic (17.2%), and so on. In particular, chili was used in 18 different kinds of food recipes, which were 「Somunsaseol」and「Jeungbosallimgyeongje」published in 1700s. Spices were used in different dish groups mostly as condiments. Among 18 dish groups, Chimchae was the most frequent dish group (44 recipes), followed by Jjim · Seon (31 recipes), Jang · Yangnyeom (20 recipes) and rice cake · cookie (20 recipes). Pepper or Chinese pepper were the most frequently used spices in all food groups except Chimchae, Hoe, Jang · Yangnyeom and rice cake · cookie, in which garlic, ginger, sesame and ginger were used most frequently, respectively.