Heo Jun

Heo Jun (; 1539 – October 9, 1615) was a Korean physician who served as the royal chief physician of the Naeuiwon during the reigns of King Sejong (1597–1608) and King Gwanghaegun (1608–1623) of the Korea dynasty.

Biography

Childhood and youth

In 1539, Heo Jun was born in the Gangseo District of Seoul into an affluent military family. Although he belonged to the Yangcheon Heo clan—a wealthy and respected household at that time—he faced discrimination from Yangban, the traditional ruling class, because his mother was a concubine. As a result, he could not attain Yangban status. Social status and hierarchical position were significant factors in the then-Confucian society of Korea, influencing quality of life, education, and recognition.

During the Joseon period, illegitimate children of aristocrats were classified as chungins and could not inherit their father's Yangban status. Jungin, or "middle people," were a social class of technicians and administrators, subordinate to the Yangbans. Heo may have chosen to pursue medicine due to his social status as a Jungin possibly limiting his opportunities for becoming a civil or military officer like his father. A widely circulated folktale recounts his first encounter with medicine.

According to the folktale, while working in the market, Heo encountered an elderly healer and asked to become his apprentice. The healer agreed but required continuous training for ten years. After eight years, Heo saved the life of a critically ill child. However, his master reprimanded him for interfering with nature, believing the child was destined to die. Their conflicting views on medicine and a physician's duty created a rift, leading Heo to abandon his apprenticeship.

The tale continues that Heo returned to his hometown and became a healer, eventually attracting the attention of the Chinese emperor, who invited Heo to heal the ailing princess. On his way to China, Heo saved an injured tiger. In gratitude, the tiger gifted Heo with a whetstone, acupuncture needles, and a cloth capable of reviving the dead. Arriving at the palace, Heo attempted to treat the princess but discovered she had been transformed into a snake below the waistline. That evening, his old mentor appeared in a dream and showed him how to cure her.

Career progression

Jun was appointed as a court physician at the age of 29. At 32, he entered the royal clinic, Naeuiwon, where he was promoted rapidly. In 1575, Heo treated King Seonjo, the fourteenth King of Joseon. In 1590, he was promoted to a senior third-rank government official position after treating the Crown Prince's smallpox.

"His care was not limited to the royal family as he also treated thousands of common folks suffering from smallpox. He continuously put himself at risk while treating the sick and even disregarded a religious law which forbade treatment of patients with smallpox; Heo could not idly stand by as people died without care."

The Imjin War (1592 - 1598) reportedly solidified King Seonjo's trust in Heo, who accompanied the King throughout the war while other government officers fled. King Seonjo rewarded Heo for his loyalty and his second successful treatment of the afflicted Crown Prince by promoting him to the senior second rank in 1596.

In 1600, Heo became the chief physician of the Naeuiwon—the palace's infirmary and pharmacy. During this time, King Seonjo ordered Heo to compile a medical book for the people, who had suffered from epidemics and famines after the war. King Seonjo requested that the book include preventative care, detailed drug formulas, and treatment methods that commoners with little or no education could easily access and comprehend. This initiative by King Seonjo has been noted by some scholars as one of Joseon's early efforts in public healthcare programs.

In 1608, following King Seonjo's death, government officials accused Heo of being culpable for the King's death. Consequently, he was exiled to the south-eastern countryside of Ulju, where he continued working on his book. In 1609, King Gwanghaegun, Seonjo's successor, restored Heo to office despite the disapproval of many officials. In 1610, after fifteen years of work, Heo completed the twenty-five-volume '' Donguibogam.'', a comprehensive compendium of Korean medicinal knowledge aimed at making healthcare information more accessible. He spent the remaining years of his life educating young physicians of Naeuiwon until his death in 1615.

Post-death and legacy

Heo Jun's work was influential in Korean medicine during the late Joseon period, with court physicians and scholars frequently citing his research. His integration of Confucian, Taoist, and empirical medical principles influenced medical ethics and practice. By using Hangul in his texts, he contributed to making medical knowledge more accessible to commoners, expanding healthcare information beyond the elite.

Although Heo Jun attained the position of Chief Royal Physician (Naeuiwon Jwasan), the social hierarchy reportedly prevented him from being fully accepted into Joseon's ruling class. However, after his death, he was posthumously granted the Senior First Rank Officer (Jwaeuijeong) title, the highest bureaucratic rank, in recognition of his contributions to Korean medicine.

Concepts and historical context related to Heo Jun are taught in Traditional Korean Medicine schools in South Korea, such as Kyung Hee University (College of Korean Medicine) and Dongguk University (College of Korean Medicine), which are officially recognized by the government for licensing traditional Korean medicinal doctors.

In honour of his legacy, the Heo Jun Museum was established in Gangseo District, Seoul, in 2005, preserving information about his contributions to traditional medicine. The district also hosts an annual Heo Jun Festival celebrating his impact on Korean healthcare and culture.

Contribution to medicine

He wrote several medical texts, but his most noted achievement is ''Donguibogam'' ("Mirror of Eastern Medicine"), which is considered a defining text of traditional Korean medicine. This work spread throughout East Asian countries like China, Japan, and Vietnam, where it is regarded as a classic of Oriental medicine.

It is divided into five chapters: "Internal Medicine", "External Medicine", "Miscellaneous Diseases", "Remedies", and "Acupuncture". In "Internal Medicine", Heo describes the interdependence of the liver, lungs, kidney, heart, and spleen. "External Medicine" explains how the skin, muscles, blood vessels, tendons, and bones function. "Miscellaneous Diseases" describes the symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment methods for various ailments. Heo's remedies often rely on medicinal herbs and provide detailed instructions on extraction, maintenance, and consumption. The final chapter explains methods of acupuncture. In addition to providing medical knowledge, the text reflects the philosophy of seventeenth-century East Asia.

As a royal physician, Heo Jun published 10 distinct books:

# ''Naeui Sunsaen An (The List of Royal Physicians'', 內醫先生案, 1605)
# ''Unhae Taesan Jipyo (Compilation of the Essentials on Obstetrics with Korean Translations, 諺解胎産集要, 1607)''
# ''Unhae Gugeupbang (Formulas for Emergencies with Korean Translations, 諺解救急方, 1608)''
# ''Unhae Duchang Jipyo (Compilation of the Essentials on Smallpox with Korean Translations, 諺解痘瘡集要, 1608)''
# ''Dongui Bogam (Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine, 東醫寶鑑, 1610)''
# ''Chando Banglon Magkyul Jipseong (Compilation of Formulas, Doctrines, Pulse-taking, and Rhymes Redacted and Illustrated, 纂圖方論脈訣集成, 1612)''
# ''Shinchan Byukonbang (Newly Compiled Formulas to Ward off Epidemics, 新纂辟瘟方, 1613)''
# ''Byukyeok Shinbang (Divine Formulas to Ward off Epidemics, 辟疫神方, 1613)''
# ''Napyak Jeungchi Bang (End-of-the Year Medicines, 臘藥症治方)''
# ''Yukdae Uihak Sungshi (Names of Physicians Throughout History,'' 歷代醫學姓氏)

These books were used in academic and administrative contexts within the palace, and by those studying medicine at the time.

Although Heo Jun worked extensively with the royal family, he emphasized making treatment methods accessible and comprehensible to common people. While common medical knowledge and most court physicians focused on the rarity and cost of ingredients, he advocated for the use of natural herb remedies that were easily attainable by commoners in Korea. Furthermore, he wrote the names of the herbs using simple hangul letters instead of the more difficult hanja (Chinese characters), which most commoners did not understand. ''Donguibogam'' was added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2009.

Family

* Grandfather
** Heo Gon () ()
* Father
** Heo Ryun ()
* Mother
** Lady Kim of the Yeonggwang Kim clan ()
* Brothers
** Older half-brother: Heo Ok ()
** Younger half-brother: Heo Jing () (b. 1549)
* Wife
** Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan ()
* Son
** Heo Gyeom () ()

In popular culture

Film and television

* Portrayed by Kim Mu-saeng in the 1975 MBC TV series '.
* Portrayed by Lee Soon-jae in the 1976 film '.
* Portrayed by Seo In-seok in the 1991 MBC TV series '.
* Portrayed by Jun Kwang-ryul in the 1999–2000 MBC TV series '' Hur Jun''.
* Portrayed by Kim Joo-hyuk and Kang Han-byeol in the 2013 MBC TV series ''Hur Jun, the Original Story''.
* Portrayed by Yoon Shi-yoon and Kim Kap-soo in the 2016 JTBC TV series '' Mirror of the Witch''.
* Portrayed by Um Hyo-sup in the 2017 tvN TV series '' Live Up to Your Name''.

Literature

*The novel ''Dongui Bogam'' by Lee Eun-seong was published in 1990 and became a bestseller.

See also

* Heojun Museum
*'' Dongui Bogam''
*UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme

References

External links

Information about Heo JunInformation about Korean Traditional Medicine

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heo, Jun
Ho Chun
1530s births
1615 deaths
16th-century Korean physicians
16th-century Korean writers
17th-century Korean physicians
17th-century Korean writers
Court physicians
Yangcheon Heo clan
Korean medical writers
People from Seoul
People of the Imjin War