Primitive Veterinary Medicine of
Myun Hee KANG (
(1) Legendary originator of veterinary medicine in Korea Legend has it that Hwan-Woong, the heavenly king, was the originator of Korean veterinary medicine.Nevertheless, more noticeable is that it was the animals such as bear and tiger to which the medicinal wormwood and garlics were applied.
(2) Veterinary art in primitive age Although it is difficult to determine definitely when agriculture or livestock farming began in the 2000 year period between Age of Tan-Gun Legend and Age of Three Kingdoms, various domestic animals were raised and utilized undoubtedly. Therefore, it is thought likely that knowledge of animal physiology, anatomy and hygiene, as well as healing art, was acquired from experiences in the course of stock-farming in this time. This is indicated, for example,by the fact that in the late period of Old-Chosun a healing technique using stone needles called Pyom-Suk ( ) for acupuncture was developed and propagated to Han China.
(3) Introduction of Chinese veterinary medicine The foundation of Han-Sa Gun in 108 B.C. gave a turning point for the beginning of Korean cultural history. Presumably, the Chinese veterinary art was directly introduced in this time, but it seems to have been no more than a simple medicinal therapy or even a shamanistic one. It is therefore regarded as reasonable to say that the full-scale import of Chinese literature on veterinary science was not done before the middle of the Age of Three Kingdoms. Such veterinary literatures, as Shin Gak Cham Bo (新刻参補), Ma Kyong Dae Jon (『馬経大全』) and Won Hyong Ryo Ma Jip (『元亨療馬集』), are main examples which laid the basis of Korean veterinary medicine in the ancient period.
