48. The Principles of TCM. 14. Treatment shows god’s mercy

Master Sunsimaio, a representative medical doctor of China’s Sui and Tang Dynasties, refused invitations from successive emperors, cared for patients in the open air, and left behind many great medical books, including Dayijingcheng (A true doctor must be sincere). is considered China’s first book on medical ethics. “When a doctor engages in treatment, he or she must calm his mind, completely exclude any personal desires, and then exercise mercy and compassion toward the patient. (凡大醫治病, 必當安神定志, 無欲無求, 先發大慈惻隱之心)”

Zhamgzhongjing (張仲景), who lived at the same time as Heo Jun of Joseon, is famous as a medical scholar who wrote the best annotations on the Emperor’s Internal Classics, and the author also studied the annotations. He said, “When a doctor treats, he must concentrate his mind as one. Therefore, we must see through the essence of the patient. (Medicine 之臨證, 必期以我之一心, 洞患者之一本)”.

Hippocrates, known as the father of Western medicine, also said, ‘Before diagnosing the disease, diagnose the soul first.’

I believe that the medical system and medical practice must move away from the concept of profit-seeking pursued by capitalism. This is the first reason I practice treatment at home, but next time I move, I hope to at least have a separate entrance.

Dr. Jin-man Kim, director of Peace Oriental Clinic
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