Keywords: The great physician and Zen master Tue Tinh; The founding Farther of traditional Vietnamese medicine; The philosophy is “Vietnamese medicine treats Vietnamese people”; Nguyen Ba Tinh; The miraculous effects of traditional Vietnamese medicine; Hong Nghia Giac Tu Medical Book.
1. The life and career of the great physician and Zen master Tue Tinh
The life and career of the great physician and Zen master Tue Tinh are closely associated with Giam Pagoda in Hai Duong province (formerly). Tue Tinh was born in Nghia Phu village, Van Thai commune, Cam Giang district, Thuong Hong prefecture, Hai Duong province (now Hai Phong city). His real name was Nguyen Ba Tinh and his pen name was Trang Tu Vo Dat. It was founded around 1330 in a poor peasant family in Da Cam district, Hong Chau (present-day Hai Phong city), during the reign of King Tran Du Tong in the late 14th century. Orphaned at the age of 6 (years old), she was taken in by monks at Hai Trieu Pagoda (now Hai Phong city) and Giao Thuy Pagoda (Ninh Binh province) who raised and educated her. She was called Little Hue, but the monks and close Buddhist followers usually called his Hue Tinh and his Dharma name was Tue Tinh. The monk recognized that Tue Tinh possessed fundamental qualities such as intelligence, academic excellence, a dignified appearance, mastery of martial arts and compassionate eyes like those of the Buddha, therefore, he taught him literature and medicine at the pagoda so that he could treat the poor. In the year of Tan Mao (1351), Tue Tinh passed the Imperial Examination at the age of 22 (years old), earning the title of Hoang Giap, he was highly regarded by the court and appointed as the General of the Pacification of the West, leading an expedition against Champa. Later, he resigned from his official position and returned to his hometown to become a monk at Giam Pagoda, studying medicine and devoting himself to practicing medicine to heal the sick and save lives. He cultivated medicinal plants, collected folk remedies, trained Buddhist monks in medicine and focused on researching traditional medicine. As a Buddhist monk, Tue Tinh was deeply imbued with Buddhist scriptures, leading to great progress in his practice and exceptional skill in medicine. Through his research, Tue Tinh discovered many medicinal plants that were incorporated into traditional Vietnamese medicine, enhancing the value of Vietnamese medicinal plants. After more than 30 years of researching and treating illnesses with traditional Vietnamese medicine, he has contributed to the construction of 24 pagodas and established medical facilities within these pagodas. He also trained many monks and nuns in making medicine and treating illnesses, and taught the people common remedies so they could treat themselves. His remedies cured many serious illnesses. Recognizing his talent and virtue, six emperors of the Nguyen dynasty repeatedly bestowed imperial titles upon him. In particular, he was honored by King Khai Dinh and King Bao Dai as the “Saint of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine”. His exemplary medical ethics, profound patriotism and the philosophy of using Vietnamese medicine to treat Vietnamese people will forever be a guiding principle for the country’s medical field.
Being a skilled physician, in the year of Giap Ty (1384), Tue Tinh was sent by King Tran to be an envoy of the Ming dynasty in China. In China, he continued to practice medicine and became famous for his talent, successfully curing many serious illnesses for the Ming dynasty emperors and officials. His reputation spread throughout China at that time. He cured the Ming King (emperor)’s wife of postpartum illness, when Chinese doctors had given up on her. Admiring his great personality and outstanding medical talent, the Ming emperor and officials bestowed upon him the title of “Great Physician and Zen Master”, invited him to the Imperial Medical Academy, granted him the rank of Ninth-Grade Physician, and kept him in Jinling, forbidding him from returning home. Living abroad, he deeply missed his homeland, yet he maintained his medical ethics, practicing the Bodhisattva path of Buddhism to cure many incurable diseases for the Chinese people and he never forgot his duty as a son to contribute to the medical field of his country, practicing medicine for the local population while diligently writing books. Tue Tinh’s research topics are still preserved in China and have not been fully explored to this day. He passed away on February 15th (Lunar Calendar) in 1400 in Jiangnan, China.
In 1690, nearly 300 years later, Dr. Nguyen Danh Nho (Sam Hien 1638-1699), during the reign of King Le Huyen Tong, held the positions of Left Inspector and Censor, later promoted to Right Vice Minister, with the title of Nam, he was from Nghia Phu commune, Cam Giang district, the same hometown as Tue Tinh, as part of a Vietnamese delegation sent to establish friendly relations with the Qing dynasty, he visited Tue Tinh’s tomb and discovered an inscription on the back of the tombstone: “If anyone from that country comes here in the future, remember to bring my remains back to my hometown”. Dr. Nguyen Danh Nho was deeply moved by the heartfelt message of the great physician and requested the Qing emperor to allow Tue Tinh’s remains to be brought back to Vietnam, but his request was denied. He hired someone to copy Tue Tinh’s tombstone and bring it back to Vietnam, he then went to Kinh Mon and hired craftsmen to carve a new stone stele, which he transported back to Hai Duong province, the birthplace of the renowned physician and Zen master Tue Tinh. Deeply moved and cherished by the people, they collectively built a shrine and people from all walks of life came to worship, eventually developing it into a temple. The local people often refer to it as the Bia Temple in Van Thai, with the couplet: “The Imperial Scholar’s fame spreads throughout the North/The miraculous healer’s talent reigns supreme in the South”. In the former Hai Duong province, there are three places of worship dedicated to the renowned physician Tue Tinh: Xua Temple, Bia Temple and Giam Pagoda, all three are historical relics. At Giam Pagoda, the statue of the great physician and Zen master Tue Tinh sits in the Ancestral Hall with a square, virtuous face, a majestic demeanor and a relaxed posture, exuding the aura of a Vietnamese physician with great Bodhisattva virtues. Every year on the 13th day of the 2nd lunar month, Giam Pagoda holds a grand procession carrying the statue of the great physician and Zen master Tue Tinh.
Tue Tinh was a Vietnamese physician, famous in both Vietnam and China. He died in China without the chance to see his homeland one last time, but his heart remained devoted to his country. His soul is a Vietnamese soul. His talent is a Vietnamese talent. Tue Tinh was worshipped at the Thang Long Imperial Temple, and statues were erected in his honor, with streets named after him in many provinces, cities such as Hanoi, Hai Duong (formerly), Hue (Thua Thien Hue), Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City,… His character, his influence and the medical values he left behind for posterity need to be promoted and disseminated to a wider space. The renowned Vietnamese herbalist, the master Tue Tinh, Nguyen Ba Tinh, deserves to be recognized as a cultural figure and a great personality.
2. The contributions of Zen master Tue Tinh
For seven centuries, the immortal saying, “Southern medicine treats Vietnamese people” along with the precious remedies he left behind, continues to be inherited and developed in modern medicine. The philosophy of “Southern medicine treats Vietnamese people” meaning using plants and herbs from Vietnam to treat Vietnamese people, as exemplified by Zen Master Tue Tinh is not just a slogan but a system of scientific medical thought; it is a profound understanding of the relationship between humans and their environment, reflecting a sense of independence, self-reliance and self-improvement. In a context where Vietnamese medicine was heavily reliant on Chinese medicine, he pioneered research and demonstrated the effectiveness of local remedies. He believed that the climate, soil and living environment of the Vietnamese people created specific types of diseases that required the use of plants and herbs found in Vietnam for treatment. He made significant contributions to the collection, research and application of Vietnamese medicinal plants. He compiled medical works, including much information on medicinal plants, which helped preserve and develop this valuable resource. In his research of medicinal herbs, unwilling to be dependent on the arrangements of foreign books, he did not place metal, wood, water, fire and earth at the top, but instead placed herbs first and criticized the superstitious beliefs of those who only believed in spells and not in medicine. He effectively treated many dangerous and complex diseases such as: rheumatism, digestive and urinary diseases, physical weakness, respiratory diseases, gynecological diseases, pediatric diseases and some chronic diseases; from colds and malaria to incurable diseases such as: cancer, tuberculosis. For each disease, he listed many different methods of treatment such as acupuncture, acupuncture, compresses, massage, rubbing, diet, drinks, heating, steaming... Some of his famous remedies are still widely used today, such as cough remedies containing cinnamon, licorice and jujube; the formula for tonifying qi and blood includes ginseng, astragalus and angelica; the formula for detoxification includes honeysuckle, forsythia and scrophularia.
Combining the principles of Eastern medicine with folk experience, Tue Tinh built the foundation of Vietnamese traditional medicine based on the practical realities, diseases, climate, customs and traditions of the Vietnamese people, utilizing the abundant medicinal resources and traditional Vietnamese healing methods, along with a spirit of self-reliance and proactive disease prevention through health-promoting exercises and nourishing the body, mind and spirit, leads to better health, increased longevity and a happier and more fulfilling life. This not only gives poor people access to medicine but also lays the foundation for building an independent medical system with a national identity. He initiated a movement to cultivate medicinal plants in family gardens, temple, pagoda gardens and to collect and store herbs according to the seasons, proactively preventing diseases and utilizing natural herbs for timely treatment.
Tue Tinh held progressive views on hygiene and disease prevention methods, as well as clean living habits in villages. He personally organized medical facilities within the temple and in the villages, teaching people who came to the temple for examinations, prescriptions and to practice Buddhism. He transformed the pagodas into medical centers for the poor. He not only directly treated patients but also opened medical classes for monks and nuns, transforming pagodas into the first “clinics” and “medical schools” in Vietnam. This approach helps disseminate medical knowledge to the general public, contributing to sustainable public health improvement. Tue Tinh always reminded people to pay attention to the causes of illness and encouraged them to actively seek preventive measures. Tue Tinh emphasized the benefits of physical training and a moderate lifestyle. He summarized the lessons of health preservation in physical training and moderate living in 14 words: Preserving essence, nourishing energy, maintaining spirit/Purifying mind, controling desires, upholding truth, training body.
During his 30 years of activity in rural areas, Tue Tinh built 24 pagodas, transforming them into medical clinics. Not content with passive healing, the great physician and Zen master Tue Tinh discovered many proactive disease prevention measures, he recognized the relationship between psychological thought and pathology, saw the benefits of physical training and a moderate lifestyle and therefore advised people to live honestly and without sorrow, as this was the best way to prevent disease. Not only did the great physician and Zen master discover cures for human diseases, but he also collected and compiled remedies for livestock, contributing to laying the foundation for traditional veterinary medicine in Vietnam. Because of these immense contributions, the great physician and Zen master Tuệ Tĩnh is revered as “The Saint of Southern Vietnamese Medicine” - the saint of traditional Vietnamese medicine. Since then, generations of medical professionals have followed his aspirations, inheriting his legacy of thousands of medicinal recipes to research and use in treating illnesses for the people. Therefore, for generations, Tue Tinh has been recognized by the Vietnamese medical community and the people for his immense contribution to establishing an independent, self-reliant medical perspective that was closely aligned with the realities of Vietnam.
During his three decades of medical research and treatment using traditional Vietnamese medicine, the renowned physician and Zen master Tue Tinh also compiled many valuable books on medicine and pharmacology. Many of his works were written in Nom script (Vietnamese script), specifically in the poem on “Traditional Vietnamese Medicine” which discusses: The Rhubarb Decoction with added ingredients: The owner of the stomach is troubled and restless/Experiencing blood stasis in the upper body/Unable to swallow water, hence the following: or, the Bupleurum and Lily Decoction: For those recovering from illness or depression/For those suffering from heartbreak, delirium and restlessness/Lily decoction is not recommended for quick recovery; or, Tang Chong and ginger: Treats pain from spring, summer and autumn seasons/Three winter conflicts have lasted a long time/Abundant energy and strength, no worries/The illness returns in spring, causing no peace/Because in ancient times, the cold winter winds/Headaches and severe colds/Sweat is not dissolved and used,... These are simple, easy-to-understand guidelines for using certain herbal remedies such as rhubarb, bupleurum or ginger for specific ailments. In particular, he compiled traditional folk medicine in two valuable books specializing in Vietnamese medicine as: “The miraculous effects of traditional Vietnamese medicine” and “Hong Nghia Giac Y Thu”, showcasing scientific prowess and compassion are invaluable legacies left to generations of Vietnamese physicians.
The book “The miraculous effects of traditional Vietnamese medicine” (Miraculous Vietnamese Medicine) has 11 volumes, containing 580 domestic medicinal herbs and 3872 prescriptions to treat 182 diseases across 10 medical fields and 2 disciplines. The book also records 499 Vietnamese medicinal herbs in Chinese characters and 82 herbs with names in the vernacular language. The book not only records medicinal recipes but also describes the characteristics of medicinal herbs, methods of preparation and clinical applications. The book’s preface reads: “In order to benefit the people, one must seek out sacred medicine. The Book of Heaven has settled the Southern land, what difference does the local produce make to the Northern country?” means: “In order to save the people's lives, we must find a sacred medicine. The Book of Heaven has determined the destiny of the Southern country; its local products are no different from those of the Northern country”. The book was engraved in the 22nd year of the Canh Hung Thu (1761).
he book “Hong Nghia Giac Tu Y Thu” mentions 500 medicinal herbs and two poems on Vietnamese traditional medicine about 630 herbs, written in Nom script in the Tang Dynasty poetic style. The book summarizes the uses of various medicinal herbs, 13 modified prescriptions, includes sections on using medicine according to symptoms and sections on medical theory, diagnosis and pulse diagnosis, it focuses on simple, easily accessible medicinal herbs, reflecting his deep concern for public health. The use of Nom script and poetic forms made it easier for people to learn, memorize and apply medicinal recipes. The book was printed by the Imperial Medical Institute during the reign of King Le Du Tong in the 13th year of Vinh Thinh (1717) and reprinted in 1723 and 1725.
Up to now, the two books “Nam Duoc Than Hieu” and “Hong Nghia Giac Tu Y Thu” are valuable not only in the history of medicine but also in the history of literature. In addition, the great physician and Zen master Tue Tinh also authored several other books such as: Guide to Medicinal Properties, Thirteen Modified Prescriptions, Thirty-Seven Types of Typhoid Fever, Human Body Treatise,... however, it is no longer intact because foreign invaders occupied our country and destroyed many important documents. In 1972, the Medical Publishing House printed and released “Nam Duoc Than Hieu” (Miraculous Southern Vietnamese Medicine) in a set of 11 volumes, the first volume discussed the medicinal properties of 119 Vietnamese herbs, while the remaining 10 volumes each delved into a specific disease treatment. The book “Hong Nghia Giac Tu Y Thu” by Tue Tinh, also printed in 1978, consists of 9 parts and is nearly 400 pages thick. His works have become the foundation for many generations of physicians who followed, inheriting and developing his ideas, contributing to enriching and perfecting Vietnamese traditional medicine, including Hai Thuong Lan Ong, Le Huu Trac with his Linh Nam manuscript. Up to now, Tue Tinh’s healing methods and remedies are still widely applied and have proven highly effective in practice.
3. Conclusion
It can be said that Tue Tinh was not only a brilliant physician but also a virtuous master, always dedicated to the health and happiness of the people. His valuable remedies and experiences have saved hundreds of thousands of people, freeing them from the fear of illness. The the great physician and Zen master Tue Tinh was a pioneer in the research of traditional Vietnamese medicine, laying the foundation for Vietnamese traditional medicine. In particular, the documents and records he left behind for traditional medicine have been and continue to be utilized, making a significant contribution alongside modern medicine in combating many diseases and saving thousands of lives. Many hospitals, medical schools and research institutes bear his name as a tribute to the immense contributions of this outstanding physician. The thoughts and works of Tue Tinh not only have historical significance but also remain a guiding light for the cause of caring for and protecting the health of the people, affirming the identity and position of traditional medicine in our country. In recognition of these contributions and to commemorate and express gratitude for the medical ethics and merits he left behind for posterity, at the same time, inheriting and promoting the tradition of caring for and protecting the health of the people, every year, on the 14th, 15th, and 16th of February in the lunar calendar, at Giam Pagoda, The Ministry of Health and the People’s Committee of Hai Duong province (formerly) presided over the incense offering festival to commemorate the great physician and Zen master Tue Tinh - The founding father of Vietnamese Traditional Medicine, who made many contributions to the national medical profession./.
* (Thich Thanh Chien), Phu Loc Pagoda, Hai Phong city
References
1. Nguyen Ba Tinh (Tue Tinh), Nam Duoc Than Hieu (Miraculous Southern Medicine), Medical Publishing House, 1978.
2. Nguyen Ba Tinh (Tue Tinh), Hong Nghia Giac Tu Y Thu, Medical Publishing House, 1980.
3. Ministry of Health, Traditional Vietnamese Medicine, Medical Publishing House, 2010.
4. Le Van Huu, Dai Viet History Chronicle, Social Sciences Publishing House, 1993.
5. Nguyen Van Thac, History of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine, Medical Publishing House, 2015.
6. DH, known as the “founding Father” of traditional Vietnamese medicine and the pioneer of traditional medicine in Vietnam, https://suckhoedoisong.vn/nguoi-duoc-menh-danh-la-ong-to-thuoc-nam-va-mo-dau-cho-nen-y-duoc-co-truyen-cua-viet-nam-, dated October 25th, 2022.
7. Institute of Traditional Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, renowned physician Tue Tinh, https://www.vienydhdt.gov.vn/kien-thuc-yhct/danh-y/danh-y-tue-tinh.html, dated July 27th, 2014.
8. Tue Tinh Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, Great Physician and Zen Master Tue Tinh - The founding farther of traditional medicine of the nation, https://vienyduoctuetinh.vn/dai-danh-y-thien-su-tue-tinh-nguoi-khai-mo-nen-y-hoc-co-truyen-cua-dan-toc, dated November 18th, 2024.
9. Hoang Khoi, Tue Tinh - Three values of a great personality, https://nhandan.vn/tue-tinh-ba-gia-tri-cua-mot-nhan-cach-lon-post740612.html, dated February 27th, 2023.
10. Saigon College of Pharmacy, Zen Master Tue Tinh is known as the “founding father” of traditional Vietnamese medicine, marking the beginning of Vietnam’s traditional medical system, https://truongcaodangduocsaigon.vn/thien-su-tue-tinh-duoc-menh-danh-la-ong-to-thuoc-nam-mo-dau-cho-nen-y-duoc-co-truyen-cua-vn-d103.html, dated November 22th, 2022.
