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Heo Jun

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(Redirected from Hur Jun)
For other uses, see Heo Jun (disambiguation).
Heo Jun
Korean name
Hangul
허준
Hanja
許浚
RRHeo Jun
MRHŏ Chun
Art name
Hangul
구암
Hanja
龜巖
RRGuam
MRKuam
Courtesy name
Hangul
청원
Hanja
淸源
RRCheongwon
MRCh'ŏngwŏn
In this Korean name, the family name is Heo.

Heo Jun (Korean: 허준; 1539 – October 9, 1615) was a Korean physician who served as the royal chief physician of the Naeuiwon during the reigns of King Seonjo (1597-1608) and King Gwanghaegun (1608-1623) of the Korea dynasty.[1]

Biography

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Childhood and youth

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Heo Jun was born in 1539 in the Gangseo District of Seoul into an affluent military family. Although he belonged to the Yangcheon Heo clan—a wealthy and respected household—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.[2]

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. It is unknown why Heo chose to pursue medicine, but his social status as a Jungin may have limited 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.[3]

Career progression

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Jun was appointed as a court physician at the age of 29.[4] 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."[5]

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.[2] He spent the remaining years of his life educating young physicians of Naeuiwon until his death in 1615.

Post-death and legacy

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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.[2]

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.[3]

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.[6]

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

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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:

  1. Naeui Sunsaen An (The List of Royal Physicians, 內醫先生案, 1605)[7]
  2. Unhae Taesan Jipyo (Compilation of the Essentials on Obstetrics with Korean Translations, 諺解胎産集要, 1607)[7]
  3. Unhae Gugeupbang (Formulas for Emergencies with Korean Translations, 諺解救急方, 1608)[7]
  4. Unhae Duchang Jipyo (Compilation of the Essentials on Smallpox with Korean Translations, 諺解痘瘡集要, 1608)[7]
  5. Dongui Bogam (Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine, 東醫寶鑑, 1610)[7]
  6. Chando Banglon Magkyul Jipseong (Compilation of Formulas, Doctrines, Pulse-taking, and Rhymes Redacted and Illustrated, 纂圖方論脈訣集成, 1612)[7]
  7. Shinchan Byukonbang (Newly Compiled Formulas to Ward off Epidemics, 新纂辟瘟方, 1613)[7]
  8. Byukyeok Shinbang (Divine Formulas to Ward off Epidemics, 辟疫神方, 1613)[7]
  9. Napyak Jeungchi Bang (End-of-the Year Medicines, 臘藥症治方)[7]
  10. Yukdae Uihak Sungshi (Names of Physicians Throughout History, 歷代醫學姓氏)[7]

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.[8][9] Donguibogam was added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2009.

Family

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  • Grandfather
    • Heo Gon (허곤; 許琨) (경상도우수사)
  • Father
    • Heo Ryun (허륜)
  • Mother
    • Lady Kim of the Yeonggwang Kim clan (영광 김씨)
  • Brothers
    • Older half-brother: Heo Ok (허옥; 許沃)
    • Younger half-brother: Heo Jing (허징; 許徵) (b. 1549)
  • Wife
    • Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan (정경부인 안동 김씨)
  • Son
    • Heo Gyeom (허겸; 許謙) (파릉군; 巴陵君)
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Film and television

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Literature

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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 허준 許浚 (1539 ~ 1615) [Heo Jun] (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
  2. ^ a b c International, Hektoen. "Heo Jun: brilliant physician in 16th century Korea - Hektoen International". hekint.org. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  3. ^ a b Kwon, Hyuk Joon (2021-01-02). "Heo Jun: physician of the people". Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives. 11 (1): 53–55. doi:10.1080/20009666.2020.1853316. ISSN 2000-9666. PMC 7850328. Archived from the original on 2025-02-15.
  4. ^ "Heo Jun (허준)". m.cafe.daum.net (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  5. ^ Kwon, Hyuk Joon (2021-01-26). "Heo Jun: physician of the people". Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives. 11 (1): 53–55. doi:10.1080/20009666.2020.1853316. ISSN 2000-9666. PMC 7850328. PMID 33552415.
  6. ^ Shim, Bum-Sang; Koh, Byung-Hee; Ahn, Kyoo-Seok (January 2004). "Education in Oriental Medicine in Kyung Hee University". Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 1 (3): 331–334. doi:10.1093/ecam/neh050. ISSN 1741-427X. Archived from the original on 2025-03-08.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Service (KOCIS), Korean Culture and Information. "What is the Dongui Bogam? : Korea.net : The official website of the Republic of Korea". www.korea.net. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  8. ^ Han, Sang-hee (31 July 2009). "Mirror of Eastern Medicine Becomes UNESCO Heritage". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  9. ^ Chung, Ah-young (7 August 2009). "Korean of Dongui Bogam Unveiled". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  10. ^ "Concentration Of Attention (Jibnyeom; 1976)". Korean Movie Database. Archived from the original on 2013-04-13. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  11. ^ Lee, Sang-min (February 2013). "Historical Drama and Future". KOFICE WebZine. Archived from the original on 2014-03-24. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  12. ^ Kang, Hyo-jin (6 March 2013). "Kim Joo Hyuk seeks to bring his new interpretation of Heo Jun in Gu Am Heo Jun". Korea Star Daily via Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  13. ^ "Hur Jun, the Original Story script reading of MBC's new drama series". MBC Global Media. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  14. ^ Oh, Jean (13 March 2013). "Period piece overload? Spring drama lineup goes heavy on historical settings". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  15. ^ "Hur Jun, the Original Story Casts Interview". MBC Global Media. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 2014-06-13.
  16. ^ Jeon, Hyo-jin (17 September 2017). "'명불허전' 엄효섭, 김아중 치료했다…김남길, 다시 조선行" ['Myeongbulheojeon' Um Hyo-sup heals Kim Ah-joong... Kim Nam-gil travels back to Joseon again]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved 1 April 2025.

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  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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