Jang-Geum | |
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장금 | |
Born | Jang-Geum c. 1474 |
Died | c. 1550 (aged 75–76) |
Nationality | Joseon (Korean) |
Other names | Dae Jang Geum (Great Jang Geum) |
Occupation | Physician |
Years active | c.1513 - c.1550 |
Known for | Being the first personal female doctor of a Korean king (Jungjong of Joseon) |
Jang-geum | |
Hangul | 장금 |
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Hanja | 長今 |
Revised Romanization | Jang-geum |
McCune–Reischauer | Changgeum |
Note that "Jang-geum" is only a given name |
Jang-geum (fl. early 16th century) was reputedly the first female Royal Physician in Korean history. She was mentioned 10 times in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty . It is known that King Jungjong was pleased with Jang-geum's medical knowledge and trusted her with taking care of the royal family. Henceforth,Jang-geum became the third highest-ranking officer in the Court,and was granted the use of Dae(Korean : 대; Hanja : 大; RR : Dae; MR : Tae) (which means "great" in Korean) before her first name.
Some sources attest to Jang-geum as a real person [1] [2] [3] and it is still a topic of debate among scholars.
Jang-Geum is considered an important person in Korean history,although there is little information about her. Since the king trusted her so much,people started to respect her and give her attention.
Mentions of "Jang-geum (長今)",sometimes alongside the title "female doctor" ( uinyeo ;醫女),were noted on 10 occasions:
Jang-geum was also mentioned in a book title "Yi dynasty Medical Officer's Journal". The following was a text regarding Jang-geum's origins and achievements,as recorded in the medical journal.
"Medical Lady Jang-geum,whose origins cannot be traced,received the right to be called "Dae Jang-geum" under an edict issued by the 11th King of Korea,Jungjong,in the 18th year of his reign [1524–1525]. At that time,there was no precedent of a Medical Lady treating a King,but the King trusted in Jang-geum's method of treating illness with food. Jang-geum,with the granting of the right to use "Dae" in her name,is certainly an epic lady whose name will be recorded in the history books."
Sejong,personal name Yi To,commonly known as Sejong the Great,was the fourth monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He is regarded as one of the greatest rulers in Korean history,and is remembered as the inventor of Hangul,the native alphabet of the Korean language.
Taejo,personal name Yi Sŏng-gye,later Yi Tan,was the founder and first monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. After overthrowing the Goryeo dynasty,he ascended to the throne in 1392 and abdicated six years later during a strife between his sons. He was honored as Emperor Go following the establishment of the Korean Empire.
Injong,personal name Yi Ho,was the 12th monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. His father was King Jungjong and his mother was Queen Janggyeong,whose brother was Yun Im. As the firstborn,he became crown prince in 1520 and succeeded his father in 1544. He had the shortest reign amongst all of Joseon's kings.
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Princess Suknyeong was a Korean Joseon Dynasty Princess,and the only daughter of King Hyojong of Joseon and Royal Noble Consort An.
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Princess Hyohye,born Yi Ok-ha,was a Joseon Dynasty princess as the daughter of King Jungjong and Queen Janggyeong. She was the older sister of Injong of Joseon.
Prince Imhae,was a Joseon Royal Prince as the eldest son of King Seonjo and the elder brother of King Gwanghae. He was known for such a violent and arrogant personality,that he murdered some government officials alongside his half brothers:Prince Jeongwon (정원군) and Prince Sunhwa (순화군),but were survived under their father's protection. Also,when his depravity led to government officials demanding severe punishment for his actions,he was able to avoid such punishment by his father's protection too.
Gim Goeumga or posthumously honoured as Royal Noble Consort Jeong,was the third wife of Yi Jachun.
Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan,posthumously honored as Princess Anui,was a Goryeo-born woman who became a part of the early Joseon Royal family member as the only daughter of Yi Haengni and would become the paternal grandaunt of Yi Seonggye,its founder.
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Yi Cheon-gye,formally called Grand Prince Yeongseong,was a warrior in the late Goryeo periods who became part of the early Joseon dynasty royal family member as the second son of Yi Jachun and half elder brother to Yi Seonggye,its founder.
Yi Yang-mu was a Goryeo general and nephew of Yi Ui-bang,father of Queen Sapyeong. As part of the Jeonju Yi clan,he was the 5th generation ancestor of Yi Sŏng-gye,founder of the Joseon Dynasty.
...only woman to serve as head physician to the King in the rigidly hierarchical and male-dominated social structure of the Joseon Dynasty.
Janggeum was a real person, mentioned in Joseon Dynasty annals who lived in Korea some 500 years ago.
When the producer Lee Byung Hoon was working on the historical drama "Heo Jun," he came across a noteworthy passage while searching the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty for information about Heo Jun (1539–1615), a Joseon court physician who attended the royal family. It was a statement by King Jungjong (r. 1506–1544) who declared: "No one knows my illnesses as well as Jang Geum."