Naeuiwon() was a palace pharmacy during
Joseon dynasty
Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...
. Literally, it refers to the place located at the palace for medical issues. Its other names were such as Naeguk () and Naeyakbang () of which terms also designated the place or room for treatment. In
Changdeokgung
Changdeokgung (Hangul: 창덕궁, Hanja: 昌德宮; literally, "The Palace of Prospering Virtue"), also known as Changdeokgung Palace or Changdeok Palace, is set within a large park in Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the "Five G ...
palace, tourists can experience how royal physicians worked long before western modern medicine arrived at
Korean peninsula
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
.
History
The first formation of Naeuiwon firstly appeared at the reign of
Taejong of Joseon
Taejong of Joseon (13 June 1367 – 8 June 1422), personal name Yi Bang-won (Korean: 이방원; Hanja: 李芳遠), was the third ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great. Before ascending to the throne, he wa ...
under the title of Naeyakbang - Yak bang means pharmacy room. Later in 1443 during
Sejong
Sejong of Joseon (15 May 1397 – 8 April 1450), personal name Yi Do (Korean: 이도; Hanja: 李祹), widely known as Sejong the Great (Korean: 세종대왕; Hanja: 世宗大王), was the fourth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Initial ...
's era, the title name of Naeuiwon was announced, which implies before 1443, independent organ for medical issues did not exist. The full personnel was 16 people and each personnel was called as ''Eoui''(in Hangul:어의), meaning a royal physician. There were also women doctors who only took care of higher rank women.
After 3 decades passed, Sejo initiated government offices, while the transformation of personnel occurred depending on contemporary situation.
Throughout Joseon, Naeuiwon was the heart of skillful medical affair, affecting tremendous effects of
Korean medicine
Traditional Korean medicine (known in North Korea as Koryo medicine) refers to the forms of traditional medicine practiced in Korea.
History
Korean medicine traditions originated in ancient and prehistoric times and can be traced back as far a ...
Administration
Generally speaking, Naeuiwon refers to the place in charge of royal family's health and medical affair. Additionally, as
royal cuisine of Joseon was quite different from normal dining at that time, Eoui also took charge of serving appropriate diet depending on the symptom and preserving
materia medica.
See also
*
Dongui Bogam
The ''Dongui Bogam'' (동의보감 東醫寶鑑) is a Korean book compiled by the royal physician, Heo Jun (1539 – 1615) and was first published in 1613 during the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. The title literally translates as "A Precious Mirror ...
*
Heo Jun
Heo Jun (허준, 1539 – 9 October 1615) was a Korean physician. He was the royal chief physician of ''Naeuiwon'' during the reign of King Seonjo and King Gwanghae of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea.
Biography
Heo Jun was born in 1539 to an afflue ...
References
Note
* Yoon Suk ja, 2009, ≪Interesting food story≫
External links
Wikimapia - Naeuiwon
{{coord missing, South Korea
Joseon dynasty
Korean culture
Traditional Korean medicine