任彦國의 가계와 생애

The Life and Clan of Im Eon-guk

Objectives : Im Eon-guk gained fame during the reign of King Myeongjong for his treatment of warts and authored the Chijong Bibang. This study investigated and analyzed his family background and life, which had been insufficiently researched in the past. Methods : This study investigated, translated, and analyzed the family background and life of Im Eon-guk, focusing on genealogies and related literature. Through this, I learned the following facts. Results : 1. Im Eon-guk belongs to the influential Pungcheon Im clan that resided in Jeongeup, Jeollado. His first son-in-law is Kim Gyeong-woo. 2. Im Eon-guk may have died around 1553. 3. Im Eon-guk was not appointed to positions limited to medical bureaucrats. Conclusions : In conclusion, Im Eon-guk, armed with Confucian values yet having possessed outstanding medical skills, could be seen as an ideal representation of a Confucian physician to rulers of his time. When the training system for physician-officials with Confucian scholarly knowledge in early Joseon hit its limits, efforts were made to seek changes by inviting Confucian physicians whose skills had already been proven from outside.