书城外语LivinginChina
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第71章 A Korean Doctor Sir Named “China” (2)

Though his major is traditional Chinese medicine, Jin Ho Jun isreluctant to practice what he has learned in hospitals. He has his ownplan, which is to establish a good foundation in college, and then topass a doctor’s certificate next year. Although this doctor’s certificateis not recognized in Korea, Jin Ho Jun is taking this examination quiteseriously. After all, in his opinion the family name of traditional Chinesemedicine is “China”。 He will be a trainee at the Chinese MedicineHospital in Kuanjie after the exam.

After eight years in China, Jin Ho Jun is quite used to life in aforeign country. “When I first came from Korea to China, I was notused to things there; however, it feels like I am a traveler when I goback to Korea now.” His roots in Beijing are so deep that he did notreturn to Korea even during the period when SARS spread and mostforeigners left Beijing.

Based on his experience, Jin Ho Jun often prescribes cures forhimself and his classmates. Many foreign students suffer from weaklungs and spleen, diarrhea, and poor eating habits. In such cases, JinHo Jun prescribes a herbal formula, getting the herbs in nearby stores,and the symptoms normally clear up after the patient takes his decoction.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Should Not Be Linked with Western MedicineJin Ho Jun is quite familiar with traditional Chinese medicineworks popular on the market, such as Thinking of Traditional ChineseMedicine written by Liu Lihong. He liked this book when he read it,212 because he felt that it follows the traditions of Chinese medicine.

“Traditional Chinese medicine should not be linked with Westernmedicine”, Jin Ho Jun said. In his opinion, Chinese medicine shouldnot be adulterated. “However, it is difficult to find a school which onlyteaches Chinese medicine. All schools for traditional Chinese medicineteach both Chinese medicine and Western medicine. I don’t thinkthis is right, however. In Korea, Korean traditional doctors are not allowed to diagnosepatients with the help of Western medical equipment, such as ultrasoundor hematological examinations; therefore Korean traditionaldoctors must undertake a thorough study of the human body. In hisopinion, the study of traditional Chinese medicine is a slow and painstakingprocess, and it is difficult to master the rudimentary knowledgewithin five years. The ideal way is to start out only studying Chinesemedicine, and then starting to learn Western medicine after masteringthe fundamentals. “If I were the Minister for the Ministry of Health, Iwould consider students’ opinions and would undertake reform basedon the particular case of each major.” Jin Ho Jun explained quite seriously.

However, he also acknowledges that there is a dilemma in that astudent wouldn’t be able to find a job if he only studied Chinese medicinealone.