조선전기 의녀제의 성립과 의녀의 활동

The Establishment of Female Doctor(uinyeo) System and their Activity in the Early days of Joseon

조선의 의녀제는 태종 6년에 자신의 치부를 남자 의원에게 보이기 싫어하는 여성들의 심리를 잘 이해하는 제생원지사 허도의 의료인에서의 소명에서 시작되었다. 세종대에는 외방의 부녀자들에게까지 의료 혜택을 받을 수 있도록 확대 설시되었고, 성종대에는 ‘의녀 권과조’ 및 엄격한 의녀 교육제도 체제가 마련되어 의녀제가 정착될 수 있었다. 또 의료인으로서의 기능을 수행해 나갔으나, 연산군 이후 기녀와 함께 공적 · 사적 주연에 참석하게 되면서, 사회적인 의녀의 지위가 격하되었음은 물론 의료인으로서의 기능도 저하되어 의녀의 임무도 충실히 하지 못하였다. 연산군대부터 의녀의 사회적 활동은 다양성을 띄면서, 사치스런 혼수품을 적발하는 일, 여기(女妓) 및 공사천 양녀(良女)에게 글을 가르치는 일, 여자 죄인을 검거하는 일, 궁인의 제문을 읽 어주는 일, 밤에 햇불을 드는 일, 간섬(看審), 사약 운반 등을 하기도 하였고, 그 외에 부녀자들을 대변하거나 탐문 · 조사해야 할 일이 발생했을 때는 의녀가 동원되었다. 이렇듯 의녀가 의료 활동쁜만 아니라 의료인의 기술을 요하는 일들과는 거리가 먼 다양한 일들을 할 수 있었던 이유는 무엇일까. 이것은 다음 세 가지 때문이라 하겠다. 첫째, 의녀는 국가 소유의 관비 출신이기 때문에 어디든 국가에서 지정하는 장소로 보낼 수 있었다. 둘째, 어려운 의술을 익히게 하기 위하여 글을 가르쳤고 의료 활동이라는 사회활동을 한 경험이 있어 다른 관비들에 비해 영리하기 때문에 어떤 일이든 시킬 수 있었다. 셋째, 의녀들은 어떤일을 시켜도 의녀직을 그만둘 수 없는 관비의 처지였다. 그렇지만 관비 출신이라고 하더라도 의녀는 부녀자들의 질병을 치료할 수 있논 기술을 가진 사람들이 었기 때문에 국가에서 주는 포상도 받을 수 있었고, 미곡(米穀) . 봉족(奉足) 등의 경제상의 이익을 얻을 수 있었다. 또 궁 안에서 지체 높은 비빈들을 대할 수 있는 양인(良人)에 준하는 사회적 지위를 유지할 수도 있었고, 궁녀와는 달리 다양한 사회 활동을 할 수 있었으며, 결혼도 할 수 있는 존재쨌다. 예나 지금이나 인간의 생명과 질병을 치료하는 의술은 소중한 기술이다. 학교교육을 받을 권한이 제한되었던 시기에 일부 여성들이 글을 가르치는 교육자로서의 역할을 하였다는 점, 전문적인 지식을 가진 의관들로부터 전문교육을 받는 대상이 되었다는 점, 그리고 우리나라 최초로 단지 간호나 산파의 역할에만 머문 것이 아니라 진맥, 침구, 명약, 조산 등의 다양한 역할을 하는 여성 전문 의료인으로 양성되었다는 점 등은 의녀제가 의료사 및 여성사의 양면에서 큰 의미를 가진다고 할 수 있다.

Female doctor system first appeared in the early Joseon Dynasty when the vanous religions and ideologies coexisted. And by researching it, we could also review the lives of governmental maidservants, the lowest class in those days. I would research the background of the establishment of it rather in a different aspect than it was commonly studied from the perspective of Confucianist culture of distinction between genders. Moreover I would examine its establishing process and changes of it to see how the female doctor system was ·settled and deteriorated accordingly by dividing the periods into three stages, from Taejong era to Jungjong era. Even though their medical system followed that of the Koryeo Dynasty, young people of respectable family also worked for medical business and they considered the medical science as very important subj1~ct in the early Joseon Dynasty. So the kings of the Joseon Dynasty enlarged the medical facilities and encouraged the education of medicine as a part of the policy for people since King Taejo. From this background, the system of female doctors was made by Heo Do, who understood women s psychology that they dislike to show their private parts to others, when he was called as a doctor of the provincial governor of the Jesaengwon in Taejong 6 year. Therefore it is wrong to say that the female doctor system appeared in the background where the females were not allowed to consult with male doctors by law of avoidance of the opposite gender. Above all I will examine vruious ideologies and religions in the early Joseon Dynasty to support this fact and found out that various cultures coexisted including Buddhism, Taoism, and Shamanism as well as Confucianism. In addition, the custom of prohibiting free contact between genders and replenishment of Sohak were not settled despite of the encouraging policy of the government in those days. The system of female doctors to take care of female patients began in Taejong era at first and was expanded for the ones far away from the capital and also the condition on selection and education for female doctors were prepared in Sejong era. In Sejo era, even the condition of punishment and recommendation were made to reinforce the education for them On this foundation, rule for female doctors was prepared in Seongjong 9 year, so the system of female doctors could be settled with the rigid system of education and their function was implemented well. However they had to participate in public and private feasts as Gisaeng since Yeonsangun era. Since then, their function as medical workers was deteriorated and their duty couldn t be fulfilled while their social status degraded. Since Y eonsangun ear, their social work became diversified, taking the role to disclose luxurious marriage expenses, to teach writing for official female gisaeng, public and private humble female, and the daughters of noble family, to arrest female sinners, to read a funeral oration for the court ladies, and to take a torchlight at night. However they were banned from participating in the feast and were ordered to be punished if participated in Jungjong era. While it was not difficult to keep that rule, the discipline was broken in Y eonsangun era and they were forced to participate in the private feast of officials and had to be called as the medical Gisaeng with other Gisaeng. They also implemented various works in Jungjong era. What would be the reason of implementing various works to them far away from their original function as medical workers. Firstly, as they were originally governmental maidservant owned by the nation, they could be sent everywhere once the government designates. Secondly, as they had an experience of social jobs as medical workers with required ability of reading for the hard medical techniques, they were smart enough to do everything that was taken to them Thirdly, as governmental maidservants, they could not quit their works even if they wished