Traditional Korean medicine: Encyclopedia - Traditional Korean medicine

Traditional Korean medicine

Traditional Korean medicine (Hangul: 한의학, Hanja: 韓醫學) developed alongside and from Chinese medical techniques and procedures. Techniques in treatment and approach are similar in the main to Chinese medical techniques, but boosting the essence is the main focus in Korea.

Traditional Korean medicine - History

The origin of Korean Medicine goes back to ancient times. In Samguk Yusa·Gojoseon(삼국유사·고조선), where the founding myth of Korea is recorded, there is a story of a tiger and a bear who wanted to reincarnate in human form took wormwood and garlic. In Jewang Ungi(제왕운기), which is written in around time with Samguk Yusa, wormwood and garlic are described as 'eatable medicine' and this tells us that even in times when incantatory medicine was the mainstream, medicinal herbs were applied. Moreover the fact that wormwood and garlic are not found in Chinese herb classic shows Korean Medicine had its own originality.

In the period of the Three Kingdoms(삼국시대), Chinese Medicine and Indian Medicine were adopted thereby setting up the foundation of original Korean Medicine. In the period of Goryeo(고려), traditional medicine from Silla(신라) and especially Indian Medicine affected by Buddhism were adopted. By the time Yuan Dynasty(元) was established in China, Goryeo Medicine of could develope its originality because there was not enough interchange of medicine between the two countries. Therefore more investigation of domestic herbs were required and the result was publication of numerous books on domestic herbs. The theories were based on medicine of Song(宋) and Yuan(元) but prescriptions were based on medicine of Unified Silla(통일신라). Hyangyak Gugeupbang(향약구급방)』is the book that can evidence this fact.

Medicine was in full flourish in the period of Joseon(조선). By the time of King Sejong, a book named Euibang Ryuchwi(의방류취) was published and it was the integration of every books on Chinese medicine. After this, many books on specialties were published. After Japanese invasion in 1592(임진왜란) Dongeui Bogam(동의보감) was written by Heo Jun(허준) and it was the integration of Korean medicine. By that time Korea medicine was based on Chinese medicine in theory, and on Korean herbal drugs (향약; herbs produced in Korea) in practice. But Dongeui Bogam unified these. Heo Jun gathered all the previous theories before him and made his own. It was the unification of Chinese(Ming) Medicine and Korean(Joseon) Medicine. Therefore it has spread widely to China, Japan and Korea and is still effective.

In late Joseon dynasty, positivism was in widespread. Thereby, actual proofs and experiences were taken highly. Scholars who had turned away from politics devoted themselves to treating diseases and as consequence new school tradition was established. Simple books on medicine for the common people were made. During those days Sasang typology(사상의학) by Lee Jema(이제마) was established. He typified human and matched treatments. After this, Korean medicine went through much difficulties when Western medicine was introduced and Japan ruled Korea. However Korean Medicine kept its progress.

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• Traditional Korean thought
• Sasang typology
• Traditional Japanese medicine (Kampo)
• traditional Chinese medicine

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Traditional Korean medicine", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki