• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.72-83
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• 2000

This study purports to review traditional health concepts of Korea by age, and to compare them to health concepts defined in western societies. Furthermore the study offers these results as the basis of construction for Korean nursing theory. Literature for the review were traditional health books published in Korea. These books are Euibangyoochui, Hyangyakjibsungbang, Dongeuibogam, Eiyangpyun, Dongeuisoosebowon, & Hwangjaenaekyung. In addition, articles that studied traditional literature or Korean medical history were reviewed when no publication of a primary source was available. In ancient Korean society, health was viewed as a 'good relationship or harmony with a supernatural subject', 'harmony of earth, water, fire, and air', and a 'long life with no illness'. The treatment aspect of medicine was emphasized in the middle-aged society. The health concepts in the pre-modern society included such concepts as 'jeongkhibojeon', 'adjustment to the nature', 'harmony between yang and yin', 'strengthening of jeongkhishin', 'circulation of owoonyookchi', 'kyungjok mind-body state' and 'jeongshimjeonghang'. Major health concepts in western literature were 'adaptation', 'role performance', 'actualization of human potential', 'adaptation and actualization of potential', and 'comfort'. Traditional health concepts of Korea focus on principles. They deliver abstract meanings, which make their measures uneasy. They believe in holism and unity with nature and especially emphasize the mental aspect. On the other hand, health concepts of western societies focus on phenomena. Their meanings are somewhat concrete, which make their measurements relatively easy. They see a person adapts positively to the environment as an independent being from the environment. These concepts have biopsychosocial aspects with no partial emphasis in the mental aspects. These traditional concepts of health were classified into two main perspectives. One is the unity of heaven & man, and the other is the unity of mind and body. The former perspective is based on the main concept of Chi. The latter has the main concept of ruling of the mind. The two main concepts discussed above need further examination for development of a nursing theory for Korean society. The application of circulation of Chi needs balance and harmony, and the application of ruling of mind needs temperance.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.445-453
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• 2008

Purpose: This paper analyzed the historical origins of the Qi concept and assesses its possible contribution to the development of complementary therapy and new nursing practices. Methods: In order to clarify the Qi concept measure its theoretical/clinical potentials, this study analyzed both historical data and experimental research that adopt and apply the concept. These include modern/contemporary research measuring its effects in promoting mental and physical health. Using the method of cross-cultural comparison, this study analyzed diverse approaches to the Qi concept and sought to find common features among the approaches. Results: A historical, cross-cultural analysis revealed several fundamental similarities between Qi theories that have developed in the east and the holistic concepts that have evolved in the western traditions. Especially, the analysis of the more recent research on the Qi concept shows ample possibilities of its future contributions to the development of new diagnostic applications and the promotion of overall human health. Conclusion: The historical study of the Qi concept found some key common factors in the diverse philosophical traditions in the east and the west. Considering the growing popularity of complementary therapy among health professionals and the general public, the Qi concept and its clinical applications are expected to promote human health. In this context, this research contributes to developing new nursing practices based on the concept by clarifying its philosophical origins and theoretical backgrounds.

• Sim-seong Yeon-gu
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.107-138
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• 2013

The purpose of this article is to awaken our colleagues to the culture and mind issues that have been forgotten or neglected by contemporary psychiatry under the prevalence of materialistic orientation. Cultural psychiatry too, though it has been contributed a great deal to widen the mental vision of psychiatry, has revealed several limitations in its approach. In the course of one sided search for culture specific factors in relation to mental health, conventional cultural psychiatry has neglected an effort to explore the common root underlying the different cultures and the common foundation of human mind. Cross sectional comparisons of the cultures alone have inevitably prevented the global considerations to culutre and mind in historical aspects and the dynamic interactions between mind and culture more in depth. The author suggested that the total view of mind and total approach of analytical psychology of C.G. Jung might be capable to replenish those limitations. Author explained the ways of C.G. Jung's observations and experiences of non-western culture and his concepts of culture and mind. The author demonstrated Jung's view of culture with the example of Filial Piety, Hyo, the Confucian moral norm which can be regarded as components of the collective consciousness though connected with archetypal patterns of behavior of intimacy between parent and child. In regard to the coexistence of multi-religious cultures in Korea the author made a proposal of 'culture spectrum' model for understanding value orientations of person in religious cultures. He identified in case of the Korean 4 types of cultural spectrums: Person with predominantly the Buddhist culture; with the Confucian; with the Shamanist; and with the Christian culture. The author also made an attempt to depict the dynamic interactions of different religious cultures in historical perspectives of Korea. Concepts of mind from the Eastern thoughts were reviewed in comparison with Jung's view of mind. The Dao of Lao Zi, One Mind by Wonhyo, the Korean Zen master from the 7th century, the Diagram of the Heaven's Decree by Toegye, a renowned Neo-Confucianist of Korea from the 16th century and his theory of Li-Ki, were explored and came to conclusion that they represent certainly the symbol of the Self in term of C.G. Jung. The goal of healing is 'the becoming whole person'. Becoming whole person means bringing the person as an individual to live not only within the specific culture but also to live in the world beyond the culture which is deeply rooted in the primordial foundation of human mind.