The Character and Meaning of the Reorganization of the Medical Institutions in the Early Chosun Dynasty
- Author:
Kyung-Rok LEE
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Article
- From:Korean Journal of Medical History 2020;29(1):1-42
- CountryRepublic of Korea
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Abstract:
In this article, I first explored the process and its characteristics of the reorganization of the medical institution in the early Chosun Dynasty. In the early Chosun Dynasty, medical institutions of Naeuiwon(內 醫院), Jeonuigam(典醫監), Hyeminseo(惠民署), Hwalinseo(活人署), Jesaengwon(濟生院) were operated. From the examining the history, members, and roles of these institutions, it can be said that Chosun was aimed at Minbon Thought(For the people) of Neo-Confucianism and a one-sided centralized system.
To understand the meaning of the change process of these medical institutions, we should pay attention to the social structure and ruling ideology of the late Koryo period. In other words, the autonomy and publicness of the people expanded in the land system of Koryo, while on the other hand, it became important to overcome the inefficiency of Buddhism, which was a dominant ideology. The movement to reflect the strengthened status of the people into the public national system by taking the Neo-Confucianism as the dominant ideology has been strengthened, and the medical rights of all the people have been guaranteed.
But it did not mean that the Minbon Thought(For the people) of NeoConfucianism put the people first. The reason why the medical institution was organized in the order of Naeuiwon(內醫院) → Jeonuigam(典醫監) → Hyeminseo(惠民署) → Hwalinseo(活人署) was because the theory of essence and end(本末論) of Neo-Confucianism was projected. At the same time, this hierarchical structure was also coincided with the statusclass structure of Chosun, which peaked at the royal family as the highest ruling class. For this reason, the status of the medical institutions for the people, Hyeminseo(惠民署) and Hwalinseo(活人署) was low.
