The Influence of 'Hyang-yak-myeong', Korean Idu Herbal Common Names, upon Japanese Herbals

우리의 이두향약명(吏讀鄕藥名)이 일본의 본초학에 미친 영향

  • Hong, Moon-Wha (Natural Products Research Institute, Seoul National University)
  • 홍문화 (서울대학교 생약연구소)
  • Published : 1972.03.15

Abstract

Syllabary called Idu that used the Chinese characters to transcribe the sounds of Korean was superseded by the Korean alphabet in the 15th century. In the middle of Koryo Dynasty, 'Hyang-yak-myeong'(鄕藥名), the Idu common names of herbs began to appear in herbal books of Korea as the synonyms of the Chinese names. Those Idu names were also introduced by the Japanese herbals such as 'Honzo-komoku-keimo' (本草綱目 啓蒙) and it is interesting to point out that some of them were mistakenly cited in the books for lack of the knowledge of Korean language.

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