Jang-geum

For the South Korean TV series, see Dae Jang Geum.
Jang Geum
Born 15th century CE
Joseon (Korea)
Died 16th century CE
Joseon (Korea)
Nationality Joseon (Korean)
Other names Dae Jang Geum (Great Jang Geum)
Occupation Physician
Known for Being the first personal female doctor of a Korean king (Jungjong of Joseon)
Jang-geum
Hangul 장금
Hanja 長今
Revised Romanization Jang-geum
McCune–Reischauer Changgeum
Note that "Jang-geum" is only a given name; her family name is Seo.

Jang Geum (fl. early 16th century; family name Seo) was reputedly the first female Royal Physician in Korean history. She was mentioned more than seven times in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. It is known that King Jungjong was pleased with Jang Geum's medical knowledge and trusted her with taking care of royal family members. Henceforth, Jang Geum became the third highest-ranking officer in the Court, and was granted the use of Dae (Hangul: ; hanja: ; RR: Dae; MR: Tae) (which means "great" in Korean) before her first name.

Some sources attest to Jang Geum as a real person[1][2][3] and it is still a topic of debate among scholars.

Mentions in Annals of the Joseon Dynasty

Mentions of Jang Geum, or a "female doctor", happened on these occasions:

The entry on October 29, 1544 was the last entry regarding Jang Geum.

Mention in other medical annals

Jang Geum was also mentioned in a book title "Yi dynasty Medical Officer's Journal". The following was a text regarding Jang Geum's origins and achievements, as recorded in the medical journal.

"Medical Lady Jang Geum, whose origins cannot be traced, received the right to be called 'Dae Jang Geum" under an edict issued by the 11th King of Korea, Jungjong, in the 18th year of his reign [1524-1525]. At that time, there was no precedent of a Medical Lady treating a King, but the Emperor trusted in Jang Geum's method of treating illness with food. Jang Geum, with the granting of the right to use "Dae" in her name, is certainly an epic lady whose name will be recorded in the history books."

Portrayal in television

Jang Geum was portrayed in the popular Korean drama series Dae Jang Geum (also known as Jewel in the Palace) by Jo Jung-eun and Lee Young-ae. The show was critically well received and was an incredible ratings success in many Asian countries. However, the portrayal of Jang Geum in this series is considered to be fictionalized because Jang Geum was portrayed as a Palace Chef-turned-Medical Lady. This is mainly because of the vague details on Jang-Geum's Life.

Jang Geum is also portrayed in the 2013 Korean drama series The Fugitive of Joseon, where she is played by Kim Mi-kyung.

See also

References

  1. "Daejanggeum (Jewel in the Palace)". Korea Tourism Organization. Retrieved 21 February 2012. ...only woman to serve as head physician to the King in the rigidly hierarchical and male-dominated social structure of the Joseon Dynasty.
  2. "Daejanggeum spurs continuing interest in royal court cuisine". Hancinema. 8 January 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2012. Janggeum was a real person, mentioned in Joseon Dynasty annals who lived in Korea some 500 years ago.
  3. Shin, Myung-Ho (2008). "Annals of Joseon History Brought To Life by the Digital Era" (PDF). Retrieved 21 February 2012. When the producer Lee Byung Hoon was working on the historical drama “Heo Jun,” he came across a noteworthy passage while searching the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty for information about Heo Jun (1539-1615), a Joseon court physician who attended the royal family. It was a statement by King Jungjong (r. 1506-1544) who declared: “No one knows my illnesses as well as Jang Geum.”
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