Dongeui Bogam

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Dongeui Bogam(동의보감, Thesaurus of Eastern Medicine) is famous medical book in Korea. It is written by Heo Jun (허준) in the 29th year of King Seonjo's reign(1596) as the King requested. It was completed in the 2nd year of King Kwanghaegun's reign(1610) and was published by Naeeuiwon(내의원,royal hospital). It consists of 25 volumes. It was started by Heo Jun with the request of the King but was stopped because of the 2nd Japanese invasion of Korea in 1597. After the war, the King once more ordered Heo Jun to complete the book and this time, the King allowed about 500 books kept in the national library to investigate. From then, Heo Jun kept writing the book, but before it was completed, the King died. It was completed in the 2nd year of the successor's reign. It was the fruit of 15 years of hard work. When compared with Hyangyak Jips ngbang (향약집성방), this book is more systematic, the basic theory is based on Naegyoung(내경), and medicine in china is widely accepted.

The book describes the herbs that can be found on the Korean Peninsula, as the herbal books from Mainland China "is showing different properties as local medicines, or cannot be found in local easily.".