242 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
*
Kim Hŭisŏn, surveillance commissioner of Chŏlla Province, sent a report to
the Privy Council: “No one in the provinces is knowledgeable in medicine.
I request that the government dispatch an instructor in medicine to each
province, establishing a medical facility in every major county or district
(kyesugwan); select students among the children of yangban gentry and
train them in medicine; choose a leader among those students who are
learned and discreet and let him read the Prescriptions of Folk Medicine
Beneficial to the People (Hyangyak hyemin kyŏnghŏmbang);^20 and have the
instructor in medicine travel around to teach and explain about the medical
arts. The instructor should also be provided with an able-bodied person so
that with his help he can collect medicinal ingredients at the appropriate
time and treat the people immediately with the medicine he has prepared.”This month, the Eastern Expedition Field Headquarters (Chŏngdong
haengsŏng)^21 was repaired and renamed as Guesthouse of Great Peace
(T’aep’yŏnggwan).Second Month
1st Day (Pyŏngja)
When the king, early in the morning, gave orders to prepare the carriage for
his trip, Chŏng Yo, administrative commissioner of the Security Council,
brought in the report of the Privy Council from the capital.^22 According to
the report, Consort Hyŏn was ill, and bandits appeared in places such as
P’yŏngju and Pongju.^23
Displeased by the report, the king asked, “Did you say bandits? Was the
report made by the provincial military commander? Who brought that
report?” Yo was unable to answer.- A book of medicine presumed to be published during the Koryŏ period. It no longer
exists. - It was established by the Mongols in 1280 in order to prosecute the second campaign
against Japan and continued to exist even after they abandoned any thought of subjugating
Japan. (Ki-baik Lee, p. 157) - Kaesŏng.
- Modern Pongsan, Hwanghae Province.