guffy
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Posts: 27
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Post by guffy on Apr 7, 2004 11:46:32 GMT -5
Watching this drama makes me wonder if the medical profession was limited or relegated to whats referred as "low status" people in olden times. ( Considering that Jang-Geum and even her teacher sought out the only way to get into the palace. ) Anyone can comment on that ?
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Post by Soju on Apr 7, 2004 21:32:36 GMT -5
Do you mean like leather tanners and butchers? I would figure not, since they would have to study the medical texts, and low people were forbidden to be literate.
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Post by kemamusa on Apr 7, 2004 22:06:14 GMT -5
In Joseon dynasty, any knowledge other than literature and poetry were looked down upon because of Joseon's confucian ideals. Anything practical were considered as lowly. Professionals in medicine, science, economy, warfare, manufacturing and agriculture were all given second or third class status. This disregard for professionals that drove the economy and the defence
ultimately caused the downfall of Korea from one of the power houses of East Asia in the 10th century to a powder keg in the 20th century.
Well, to get back to the topic.. Because of this disregard for professionals, being a medical women and being a female professional didn't mean much. In the palace, medical women were only better than "musuri"s who were basically servants and housemaids.. The only reason medical women were allowed in palace were because male physicians were not permitted to treat female patients. So Jang-Geum's rise to king's personal female physician meant much more than just a success story.
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Post by kemamusa on Apr 7, 2004 22:26:45 GMT -5
There were four class divisions in Joseon.
Yangban - Aristocrats
Joongin - Middle class/merchants/professionals
Sangmin - Lower class/farmers/professionals
Cheonmin - Untouchables/butchers/servants/slaves
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guffy
New Addict
Posts: 27
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Post by guffy on Apr 8, 2004 11:00:18 GMT -5
Thx for the interesting facts y'all ! This drama has become a window to learning of Korean culture. ( Being a guy, i dont want to admit that also i like the soapiness of this wonderful series; well i did ! )
guffy.
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Post by Soju on Apr 19, 2004 19:36:55 GMT -5
Well, after Saturday night's episode, we see just how low their status was.
If saving people's lives isn't worthy of respect, I don't know what is.
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c
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Posts: 55
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Post by c on Apr 27, 2004 4:15:04 GMT -5
thanks kemamusa for the incredible info. i've read some things on the class system in the joseon dynasty but sometimes it would b/c a little confusing w/ all the grades. u broke it down, nice & simple for us. kamsa hamnida again. keep the great info coming.  |
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Post by jacques on Apr 27, 2004 23:07:36 GMT -5
Thx for the interesting facts y'all ! This drama has become a window to learning of Korean culture. ( Being a guy, i dont want to admit that also i like the soapiness of this wonderful series; well i did ! ) guffy. Ditto for me! My only worry is that my knowledge about Korean history is gonna be limited to Chung-jon ma-mas and Chusang Cheonhas, and Dae Janggeum, not that it's a bad thing. BTW, there's a new series starting here in Honolulu called Khukhee (not to be confused with Khakee which is an Indian movie!) about post-war Korea. Am slowly warming up to it...not quite an addict yet, but getting there. |
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