A Collection of Epidemic Prescriptions in Traditional Korean Medicine Becomes a National Treasure

'Gani Byeok Onbang Unhae' and 'Singu Gongsin Sanghoe Jemyeong Jido Byungpung' Announced for Treasure Designation

Simplified Warm Wall Room Translation

The 15th-century Korean medicine book "Gani Byeok Onbang (簡易?瘟方)" translated into Hangul and the 17th-century folding screen painting "Shingu Gongshin Sanghoe Jemyeong Jido" depicting a gathering of meritorious subjects will be upgraded to Treasure status. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 2nd that it will give prior notice of the designation of these two cultural properties as Treasures. After collecting opinions from various sectors for a month and undergoing a review by the Cultural Heritage Committee, the final decision on designation will be made.

The Gani Byeok Onbang Hangul translation, held by the National Hangeul Museum, is a medical book published in Hangul by medical officers Kim Sunmong (金順蒙), Yoo Youngjeong (劉永貞), and Park Seguh (朴世擧) in the 20th year of King Jungjong’s reign (1525). It was compiled by royal order to respond to an epidemic (typhoid fever) that spread mainly in Pyeongan Province. It contains prescriptions, symptoms, treatments, and daily rules to observe.

The publication used the Eulhaeja (乙亥字), a Hangul metal type cast in 1455. The book bears the royal seal "Seonsajigi (宣賜之記)" certifying the royal gift. On the back of the front cover is the Naesagi (內賜記), which records the date and officials involved in the royal gift. According to this, the Gani Byeok Onbang Hangul translation was delivered by Yoon Doosu, who served as Dosungji (Vice Minister of Personnel) in the 11th year of King Seonjo’s reign (1578), to Kim Jip, a scholar at Sungkyunkwan. The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "This is evidence that it was published before 1578," and added, "Among similar cultural properties known so far, it is the earliest in terms of period. Its rarity makes it highly valuable in bibliographic studies."

Simple Warm Wall Room Translation

The Shingu Gongshin Sanghoe Jemyeong Jido folding screen, held by Dong-A University Seokdang Museum, is a pictorial record depicting a banquet held in November 1604 at the Chung Hunbu (Office for Meritorious Subjects) for old and new meritorious subjects who were honored during King Seonjo’s reign. The holding of this banquet is also confirmed in volume 181 of the "Annals of King Seonjo." It is recorded that Lee Hangbok and Yoo Younggyeong presented a formal letter of thanks for the liquor bestowed by King Seonjo.

At that time, 151 meritorious subjects participated. They included 42 individuals who were honored as Gwangguk Gongshin (光國功臣) and Pyeongnan Gongshin (平難功臣) on February 1, 1590, and 109 individuals who were honored as Hoseong Gongshin (扈聖功臣), Seonmu Gongshin (宣武功臣), and Cheongnan Gongshin (淸難功臣) on June 25, 1604. The left panel of the folding screen lists the names of 60 meritorious subjects. Among them, five?Lee Sanhae, Ryu Seongryong, Jeong Tak, Lee Unryong, and Namjeol?were absent due to old age.

Folding Screen Depicting the Titles of the Old and New Meritorious Subjects

The folding screen was made in four panels. The first panel on the left depicts the banquet scene, the middle two panels list the participants, and the remaining panel contains only the title. Each panel consists of two silk sheets vertically joined from top to bottom. A red line is drawn at the top to section off the area, within which the title is inscribed in seal script.

In the center of the painting, the meritorious subjects are shown receiving liquor from the king on a three-tiered stone staircase. On the right, scenes of heating food over a brazier next to a tree are depicted. The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, "Like other 17th-century pictorial records, it is drawn in a bird’s-eye view style that captures only the essential features with simple line drawing. The brushwork is delicate and neat enough to convey the season (early lunar November) through the snowy mountains in the background and the bare tree branches." They also noted, "It is the only painting depicting meritorious subjects and has a clear production date, giving it historical and art historical significance."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.