Current of Traditional Medicine in Japan and Korea / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

The Japan Society for Oriental Medicine, and The Korean Oriental Medical Society, organizations representing traditional medicine in both countries, concluded a convention of scientific exchange and held a formal signing ceremony on March 29, 2009. Taking this opportunity, the presidents of both societies gave commemorative lectures on behalf of their organizations.<br>1) Korean president Kim spoke of an original medical tradition differing from that in China, having existed before the time of Christ. He raised <I>yomogi</I> and garlic as examples of herbs not described in Shennong's <I>Classic of Materia Medica</I>. He told how traditional medicine exchange was already active between China, Korea and Japan, during China's Three Kingdoms period, and how after the <I>Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine</I> was published, traditional Korean medicine took root with the common people, and the concept of Four Constitution Medicine was created. Kim then spoke of how western medicine was introduced in 1876, and how a dual medical system has since developed in his country.<br>2) President Ishino told of how Kampo medicine originated from China, and how in particular, it was Japanized during the Edo period. He spoke of how its characteristic feature is a focus on “practice” rather than “theory”, which eliminates idealism, places more emphasis on positivism, and has led to the development of fukushin, or abdominal diagnosis. He explained the history of Kampo medicine in great detail, and spoke of how after the medical system was reformed in the Meiji era, Japanese medicine became western based. He then explained how after entering the Showa era, Kampo medicine was revived, and is now well-established and integrated with western medicine.