The Sancheong World Traditional Medicine Fair & Festival
Dongui Bogam Village in Sancheong-gun is surrounded by Mt. Jirisan, Mt. Jarakwangsan, and Mt. Palbongsan, a spot widely known to be highly spiritual and full of energy in Korea. Because of this, it was chosen as the perfect location for the World Traditional Medicine Fair and Festival.
If you’re interested in Korean holistic medicine and herbal remedies, like learning about traditional Korean culture, or just want a new place to visit with a festival at the same time, definitely check out this healing expo and the experiences you can have there.
If you’re interested in holistic and herbal medicine in Korea, don’t miss the Sancheong World Traditional Medicine Expo:
- What is so special about Sancheong-gun?
- The Energy of Dongui Bogam Village
- What is the Dongui Bogam?
- The Festivities To Look Forward To
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What is so special about Sancheong-gun?
The scenic landscape of Sancheong-gun is not just a beautiful natural landscape, but it’s a living, breathing pharmacy. The mountain range here is a treasure trove of healing and is home to over a thousand kinds of medicinal herbs that flourish naturally here.
Sancheong was considered a guardian of health for the royal Korean family and more than that, it is the birthplace of the Dongui Bogam, a beacon of traditional Korean medicine and wisdom of oriental medicine.
The Energy of Donguibogam Village
In 2005 Sancheong-gun became home to the Dongui Bogam Village (산청 동의보감촌), the first herbal medicine-themed park in Korea. Designed based on the five elements of the universe according to traditional Korean medicine, the village combines eco-friendliness and traditional Korean medicine content. It is definitely a special area to explore
Of special note are three energizing rocks called Seokgyeong, Gwigamseok, and Bokseokjeong, where visitors can add to their “Gi”. While visiting these rocks, rub your hands, your forehead and maybe even your whole body on the rock to soak up as much energy as you can. Trust me, you won’t be the only one. It’s quite a sight and quite an experience to partake in for some extra revitalization.
- Address: 45-6 Donguibogam-ro 555beon-gil, Geumseo-myeon, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do (경상남도 산청군 금서면 동의보감로555번길 45-6)
- Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm
- Days: Closed Mondays, New Year’s Day, Seollal, and Chuseok
- Website: donguibogam-village.sancheong.go.kr
What is the Dongui Bogam?
The Dongui Bogam (동의보감) is a treasure of traditional Korean wisdom, a comprehensive guide that provides centuries of information on Eastern medical knowledge. Compiled by the royal physician Heo Jun, it was first published during the Joseon period in Korea in 1613.
Think of it as a guidebook to health, spread across 25 volumes, covering everything from internal medicine to acupuncture. It’s like navigating the human body with an ancient map, where every organ, ailment, and remedy is interconnected, reflecting the harmony of nature itself.
In 2009, UNESCO recognized this masterpiece’s significance, placing it on the Memory of the World Programme. It’s a guide that sees health and nature as inseparable and illustrates the importance of balancing the body’s energies.
The Festivities To Look Forward To
The Sancheong World Traditional Medicine Festival was first established in 2013 to promote the exchange of information on natural practices and products to help enhance human health. This festival is also in commemoration of the publication of Dongui Bogam, the area’s namesake.
The themes change annually, when I visited it was “Traditional Medicine: Greater Treasure for the Future”, but they’re generally quite similar as they hope to promote traditional and herbal medicine going forward into the future and within our modern lives.
Of particular interest to visitors is the Vitality, or Gi, Experience Hall. Here guests can take part in meditations and Gi exercises as they follow an instructor. There are signs in both English and Korean provided for more information.
Also of interest is the Healing Town of Dongui Bongam. Visitors can get a personal analysis after filling out a survey and undergo different kinds of therapies based on the answers given. Therapies may include acupuncture, a medicinal herbal steam, or cupping. I got to try acupuncture for the first time and I must say, I really enjoyed it. Take the opportunity to partake if you can.
Along with the healing experiences available there are also pavilions devoted to herbal and natural medicines from around the world, cultural performances, a foot spa outside in the forest and a museum devoted to the original texts of the Dongui Bogam.
If that wasn’t enough the setting itself provides gorgeous views of mountain peaks, fields of flowers, deer and caves to explore. There is something for everyone at this expo and it provides an outstanding amount of information for those wishing to learn more about natural healing and remedies.
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