• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2010

King of Jujeong(周定王) named Jusuk(朱橚) was thought to be an exemplary character as a scholar and a politician, who was not an Oriental medical doctor but a compiler publishing a set of three medical books and a set of volumes on famine relief to save people in the areas of natural disasters or spring poverty. He was born on July 1, 1361 as the fifth son of Juwonjang(朱元璋), the first Emperor (1368-1398) of the Myeong-dynasty (1368-1644) of China. It was not clearly known about his mother other than assuming, but hard to ascertain, that she was from Goryeo, the ancient country in the Korean Peninsula, and became a loyal concubine of Juwonjang(朱元璋). He was the brother of Yeongrakje(永樂帝), the third Emperor(1402-1424) of the Myeong-dynasty. As a focal figure in the political forces at that time in the Myeong-dynasty, he had a life full of vicissitudes such as being removed from office, being exiled to a remote place, being scattered far and wide between family members, being implicated in the rebellion and so on. It seemed that he brushed up on his study, taking a class on an emir until the year of 1380 at the age of twenty. And he published "Bosaeng-yeorok(保生餘錄)" and "Bojebang(普濟方)" for eight years from 1381 to 1389 (at age 21-29), "Sujinbang(袖珍方)" in 1391 (at 31), and "Guhwangboncho(救荒本草)" in 1406 (at 46), republishing "Sujinbang(袖珍方)" in 1415 (at 65). Endowed with a brilliant talent from early days, Yeong-rakje(永樂帝) wrote the poem(the poem paying a high tribute to a King) well and composed one hundred pieces of poetry on the story of the Won Dynasty (1271-1368) of China. He leaded a quiet life in his later years and died a natural death at Gaebong(開封, a city in China) at 65 in 1425. He had 15 sons including king of Juheon(朱憲王) Yudon(有敦) and 11 daughters. His books contributed absolutely to the growth of Oriental medical field, and also to the increase in population, having influence on bringing about compilation of the books on Oriental medicine and famine relief of the Joseon Dynasty (the old Korean kingdom from AD 1392 to 1910).