Who is the founder of Vietnamese medicine?
It's Tuệ Tĩnh.
He may have been born in Nghĩa Phú Village, Hải Dương Province. Researchers have not determined the exact dates of his birth and death. Some say that Tuệ Tĩnh lived in the 14th century A.D. Analysis of his works and a stele at Giám Pagoda suggest that he was probably born in the 17th century and died in the early 18th century. According to legends from Nghĩa Phú Village, his real name was Nguyễn Bá Tĩnh, but he adopted the Buddhism. Since his home village was Nghĩa Phú, Thượng Hồng District, he also used the name Hồng Nghĩa.
Tuệ Tĩnh studied medicinal plants and cured many people. He combined information he collected from others with his own medical experiences into two major works, The Medical Books of Master Hồng Nghĩa and The Miraculous of the Southern Country.
Tuệ Tĩnh was not only a knowledgeable researcher but also an excellent organiser and practitioner. he initiated a health system for common people based at pagodas. Buddhist monks and nuns not only practised their religion but also spread information on preventive medicine and treated patients. They used the pagoda gardens to grow medicinal plants.
Tuệ Tĩnh was so beloved that, after his death, villagers built four temples within four kilometres of his home to honour him. These are the Temple to the Master of Southern Medicine in Nghĩa Phú Village; Bia Temple, located between Nghĩa Phú Village and Văn Thai Village; Trung Temple by the dike of Văn Thai Village; and Giám Pagoda (the biggest of the four) in Cẩm Sơn Commune, According to historical records, Tuệ Tĩnh came back to life twice in the 100 years following his death in order to help treat the diseases of his countrymen. The first time, in 1846, thousands of people poured into his temples to pray and ask for medicine. The second time, and even more people came to worship him. This time, each worshipper donated only one centime; the money collected amounted to 1,500 piastres.
Vietnamese have honoured Tuệ Tĩnh above all other physicians Việt Nam's medical history. The Health Department of King Lê Dụ Tông (1705 - 1729) praised his works in a court document's florid language: "Since the foundation of our country in the southern region, there have been hundreds of thousands of physicians, but it is almost impossible to find someone whose works are worthy for use by generations to come. Master Tuệ Tĩnh, a Buddhist monk, has studied extensively the mysterious principles of yin and yang and other principles of medicine and has prepared a pharmacopoeia of more than 630 medicines; he has turned his own experiences with thirteen ways for treating diseases and thirty-seven methods for treating cold-genic diseases into Vietnamese popular verses, and written a book to teach the people. His heart is kind... and his good name is known everywhere."
He may have been born in Nghĩa Phú Village, Hải Dương Province. Researchers have not determined the exact dates of his birth and death. Some say that Tuệ Tĩnh lived in the 14th century A.D. Analysis of his works and a stele at Giám Pagoda suggest that he was probably born in the 17th century and died in the early 18th century. According to legends from Nghĩa Phú Village, his real name was Nguyễn Bá Tĩnh, but he adopted the Buddhism. Since his home village was Nghĩa Phú, Thượng Hồng District, he also used the name Hồng Nghĩa.
Tuệ Tĩnh studied medicinal plants and cured many people. He combined information he collected from others with his own medical experiences into two major works, The Medical Books of Master Hồng Nghĩa and The Miraculous of the Southern Country.
Tuệ Tĩnh was not only a knowledgeable researcher but also an excellent organiser and practitioner. he initiated a health system for common people based at pagodas. Buddhist monks and nuns not only practised their religion but also spread information on preventive medicine and treated patients. They used the pagoda gardens to grow medicinal plants.
Tuệ Tĩnh was so beloved that, after his death, villagers built four temples within four kilometres of his home to honour him. These are the Temple to the Master of Southern Medicine in Nghĩa Phú Village; Bia Temple, located between Nghĩa Phú Village and Văn Thai Village; Trung Temple by the dike of Văn Thai Village; and Giám Pagoda (the biggest of the four) in Cẩm Sơn Commune, According to historical records, Tuệ Tĩnh came back to life twice in the 100 years following his death in order to help treat the diseases of his countrymen. The first time, in 1846, thousands of people poured into his temples to pray and ask for medicine. The second time, and even more people came to worship him. This time, each worshipper donated only one centime; the money collected amounted to 1,500 piastres.
Vietnamese have honoured Tuệ Tĩnh above all other physicians Việt Nam's medical history. The Health Department of King Lê Dụ Tông (1705 - 1729) praised his works in a court document's florid language: "Since the foundation of our country in the southern region, there have been hundreds of thousands of physicians, but it is almost impossible to find someone whose works are worthy for use by generations to come. Master Tuệ Tĩnh, a Buddhist monk, has studied extensively the mysterious principles of yin and yang and other principles of medicine and has prepared a pharmacopoeia of more than 630 medicines; he has turned his own experiences with thirteen ways for treating diseases and thirty-seven methods for treating cold-genic diseases into Vietnamese popular verses, and written a book to teach the people. His heart is kind... and his good name is known everywhere."
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