48. The Principles of Oriental Medicine : The Great Physician Must Have Sincere Devotion

Sun Simiao (孫思邈), a renowned physician of the Sui and Tang dynasties in China, refused repeated imperial summons and instead lived in seclusion, dedicating his life to treating patients and leaving behind many great medical writings. Among them, the chapter Dà Yī Jīng Chéng (大醫精誠), meaning “The Great Physician Must Have Sincere Devotion,” is regarded as the first Chinese text on medical ethics. It states:

“When a great physician treats a disease, he must calm his mind and stabilize his will, remove all selfish desires and distractions, and first cultivate great compassion and a heart of sympathy for 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)

Jang Gyeong-ak (張景嶽), a contemporary of Korea’s Heo Jun and renowned for his commentaries on the Huangdi Neijing, the foundational text of East Asian medicine, said:

“When a physician treats a patient, he must bring his mind into perfect focus to perceive the essential nature of the illness.”
(醫之臨證, 必期以我之一心, 洞患者之一本)

Hippocrates, known as the father of Western medicine, also emphasized:

“Before diagnosing the disease, diagnose the soul.”

I believe that medical systems and medical practice must break away from the profit-driven model of capitalism. This is one of the primary reasons I choose to treat patients from my own home.

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