Honoring the legacy of the 'Vietnamese Medical Saint'

The set of woodblock prints of the book "Hai Thuong Y Tong Tam Linh" by the great physician Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac, dating back to 1885, was recognized as a National Treasure in 2021.

(PLVN) - To commemorate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac, and to affirm the great contributions of the renowned physician to medicine, literature, culture, and history in Vietnam and the world , the Vietnam Cultural and Art Exhibition Center recently collaborated with relevant units to organize the exhibition "The Legacy of Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac".

Traditional Vietnamese medicine treats men.

In the history of Vietnamese medicine spanning thousands of years, there is a "shining star" whose name, whenever mentioned, brings to mind his invaluable and unique collection of medical books in the nation's traditional medicine treasury. That is the great physician Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac and his book "Y Tong Tam Linh" (The Heart of Medicine).

The renowned physician Lê Hữu Trác, also known as Hải Thượng Lãn Ông, was born into a family with six PhDs (from Liêu Xá commune, Yên Mỹ district, Hưng Yên province), a lineage known for its scholarly tradition and the distinctive cultural heritage of both Hưng Yên and Hà Tĩnh provinces. This contributed to shaping Lê Hữu Trác's soul, intellect, talent, and character.

Much of his life (from the age of 26 until his death) was spent in his mother's hometown in Bau Thuong village, Tinh Diem commune, Huong Son district, Duc Quang prefecture, Nghe An province (now Quang Diem commune, Huong Son district, Ha Tinh province). This was also the period when he developed a career in medicine, practicing traditional medicine.

With his profound medical knowledge, he quickly elevated the medical ethics, theories, techniques, and pharmacology of his time to new heights, establishing them as classic academic disciplines with the motto "Southern medicine treats Southern people." His profound wisdom created ethical standards for the medical profession, including the "Nine Medical Teachings and Maxims," considered the "Hippocratic Oath" of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

After decades of dedication to medicine, Hai Thuong Lan Ong conducted in-depth research into the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine through classic texts such as the Nei Jing, Nan Jing, Shang Han, and Jin Gui; he studied the traditional medicine of the nation; and, combining this with his extensive practical experience in treating patients, he systematized the essence of Eastern medicine theory along with unique innovations through the application of classical theory to the conditions of Vietnam, thus consolidating the traditional medicine of the nation.

He left behind many great works such as: "Hai Thuong Y Tong Tam Linh," a 28-volume, 66-book compilation that distills the essence of traditional medicine, considered the most outstanding medical work in medieval Vietnam; and the books "Linh Nam Ban Thao" and "Thuong Kinh Ky Su," which are valuable not only in medicine but also in literature, history, and philosophy.

Le Huu Trac was not only a great physician and pharmacist but also an outstanding poet, writer, and progressive thinker with a profound humanitarian spirit. After his death, he was revered by the people and the medical community nationwide as the "Medical Saint of Vietnam".

Promoting the achievements of traditional medicine.

To commemorate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac (1724 - 2024), considered the founder of Vietnamese traditional medicine, the Vietnam Cultural and Arts Exhibition Center, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in collaboration with relevant units, is holding the exhibition "The Legacy of Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac" at the Ha Tinh Cultural and Film Center (Ha Tinh City, Ha Tinh Province) from December 25 - 28, 2024.

The highlight of the exhibition is the presentation to the public of several woodblock prints of "Hai Thuong Y Tong Tam Linh," showcasing valuable books on medicine, literature, history, and philosophy such as "Thuong Kinh Ky Su," "Chau Ngoc Cach Ngon," "Dao Luu Du Van Quyen," "Y Hai Cau Nguyen," "Van Khi Bi Dien," "Bao Thai Than Hieu Duoc Ca," and "Linh Nam Ban Thao"... In addition, the exhibition includes display areas for traditional medicine units such as the Central Traditional Medicine Hospital, the Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital, the Ha Tinh Traditional Medicine Hospital, and the Ha Tinh Traditional Medicine Association, aiming to promote the medical principles of Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac in diagnosis and treatment.

Previously, on December 20th, the Hung Yen Provincial Party Committee, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee, the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee, and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, organized the International Scientific Conference “Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac (1724 - 1791) - Cultural Figure and Heritage Values”. The presentations by delegates outlined new directions in preserving and promoting the heritage values of Le Huu Trac; suggesting issues requiring further research such as: digitizing Hai Thuong Lan Ong's heritage; building a museum and cultural space dedicated to Le Huu Trac, linked to promoting and showcasing the outstanding achievements of the great physician, creating a basis for applying traditional medicine to modern medicine; and translating and adapting Hai Thuong Lan Ong's works into multiple languages to introduce and promote the achievements of Vietnamese medicine to the world.

On November 21, 2023, at its 42nd Plenary Session, the UNESCO Council officially adopted a Resolution listing 53 cultural figures, including the renowned physician Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac. UNESCO's adoption of the Resolution, coinciding with the 300th anniversary of Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac's birth, affirms the international community's high regard for Vietnam's cultural and medical values and for this distinguished figure.