• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.5
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• pp.21-31
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• 2023

Korean ginseng, a special product of Korea, has been one of the most important exports since the era of the Three Kingdoms. However, not many records were kept about ginseng in Korea until the Goryeo Dynasty. This paper summarizes the records relating to international diplomatic relations and trade of ginseng in the Goryeo Dynasty and the medicinal books known to have been published at the time. During the Goryeo Dynasty, ginseng was actively transported to the neighboring countries of Bohai, Song, Wa, Later Jin, and Yuan as a diplomatic gift or as a trade item. Ginseng was mainly exported from Goryeo to these countries, but it was also received as a diplomatic gift from Bohai and Khitan. Arabian merchants came to Byeokran Port, a representative international trading port of Goryeo, and traded ginseng. After the Mongol invasion, the demand for ginseng in the Yuan Dynasty was excessive, which became a big social problem. During the Goryeo Dynasty, several medicinal books were published, including Jejungiphyobang, Eouuichwalyobang, Hyangyakgobang, Samhwajahyangyakbang, Hyangyak Hyemin Gyeongheombang, Hyangyak Gugeupbang, and Biyebaekyobang. Hyangyak Gugeupbang, which was reprinted during the Joseon Dynasty, has been handed down to the present time, although this has not been the case for the originals of the remaining books. Recently, some of the latter books have been restored through the study of the references in various medicinal books of later generations. While the medicinal books used in the royal court showed that a high proportion of the prescriptions containing ginseng, not a single prescription for ginseng has been found in theHyangyak Gugeupbang, which was mainly used for commoners. This is thought to be because ginseng was very rare and expensive at the time, so it was difficult for commoners to access it.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.5
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• pp.252-305
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• 1992

The Korean Medicine in the middle period of the Chosun Dynasty, with its clear independence, has made an excellent display of originality and superiority in the world medicine. By pinpointing its merits, classifying its lineal descent, and examining its relation with present Korean Medicine we can draw the following conclusions. First, the study on the history of Korean Medicine should, in terms of time, grasp the generational stream and, in terms of space, examine the relation with medicines of neighbouring countries, with both an inner and outer way of observing. Secondly, it is but a manifestation of the colonial view of history to classify the 460 years from Tae-jo(太祖) to Cheol-jong(哲宗) as Mordern Period of Korean Medicine. Therefore, the 250-year period between the mid-16th century of Myung-jong(明宗) to the late-18th century of later Jeong-jo(正祖), which saw a pivotal development of the national medicine as a practical medicine based on experiences, should be established as the period of Korean Medicine in the mid-Chosun dynasty. It is required from both nationalistic view of history and history as a positive science. Thirdly, Korean Medicine in the mid-Chosun period was developed with an emphasis on an independent development and creative succession of the national medicine, which was succeeded to the late-Chosun period. Fourthly, medical thought in the mid-Chosun period was much influenced by, and based on the practicality of, Shil-hak(or practical science : 實學) as was the current of the times. Fifthly, though medicine in the mid-Chosun period was generally developed, the recipes for the measles, epidemic and smallpox were especially developed owing to rage of epidemics, and the development of the acupunture as a military medicine was the most c lear because of the two major wars against the Japanese and Chinese, respectively in 1592 and 1636. Sixthly, Whang doh-yeon(黃道淵)'s Bangyak-happyeon(方藥合編), Lee je-mah(李濟馬)'s Tongui-susebawon(東醫壽世保元) and Lee kyu-jun(李奎晙)'s Uigam-jungma(醫鑑重磨) are representative medical books, in the late-Chosun period, which creatively succeeded national medicine. Seventhly, the lineage of national medicine flows from Hyangyak-jipseongbang(鄕樂集成方) Uibangryuchui(醫方類聚) Gugeupbang(救急方) to Uirimchualyo(醫林撮要) Tonguibogam(東醫寶鑑) Uimunbogam(醫門寶鑑) Jejung-sinpyeon(濟衆新編) and to Bangyak-happyeon(方藥合編) Tongui-susebawon(東醫壽世保元) Uigam-jungma(醫鑑重磨). These books are representative medical books in the early middle and late Chosun period respectively. On the basis of the above facts, it is clear that the orthodoxy of national medicine is in the direction of a creative succession and that is the best way to keep the spirit of Korean medicine today.