A Study on the Medical Care of the Royal Family in the Chosun Period in 1898

Taeuiwon(太醫院) was in charge of the medical care of the royal family in the Chosun period of 1898. The Taeuiwon Ilgi([太醫院日記]) is the document which was recorded by Taeuiwon officials. In this study, the authors studied the contents of Taeuiwon Ilgi of 1898 in order to understand the medical care of the royal family of Chosun Kingdom. In 1898, Taeuiwon took some careful measures to take good care of the royal family. Taeuiwon physicians made regular inquiry about their health through the format called Moonan(問安). The Moonan was to check out the health conditions of them. When Taeuiwon carried out Moonan, Emperor Kojong was asked to take a medical examination called Ipjin(入診) by the court physicians of Taeuiwon, even if he were in good condition. Taeuiwon physicians also regularly prescribed Insamsokmium(人蔘粟米飮), when the royal family performed the religious service or went into mourning. Insamsokmium is a kind of restorative food containing ginseng. From the above, we could conclude that Taeuiwon provided the preventive care to them. It was considered the proper way to such kind of high personage in that period.