Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac in the consciousness of Ha Tinh people

Although not his birthplace, Huong Son (Ha Tinh) is where the great physician Le Huu Trac spent the latter half of his life. His personality and medical ethics have been absorbed into the sacred soul of the mountains and rivers, remaining forever in the minds of the people of Hong Mountain - La River.

Statue of Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac located on Minh Tu hill (Son Trung commune, Huong Son)

These days, when the great physician Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac was just honored by UNESCO, the homeland of Huong Son seems to have become more vibrant in the joy of the people. In the stories around the tea table of neighbors in the old Tinh Diem countryside (now Quang Diem commune), everyone recalls the kindness and medical ethics of "Lazy old man Hai Thuong" for his homeland.

Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac (1724 -1791) was born in Van Xa village, Duong Hao district, Thuong Hong prefecture (now Lieu Xa commune, Yen My district, Hung Yen province). He was intelligent and born into a noble family, famous for his academic achievements. His father was the Third Class Doctor Le Huu Muu, who held the position of Minister of Public Works under King Le Du Tong. Since childhood, Le Huu Trac had studied hard to pursue his career in the imperial examinations. However, during the time of war and chaos, he changed his direction and joined the army. After a short time, Le Huu Trac realized that war only brought pain, so in 1746, when he was only 22 years old, when his eldest brother passed away, Le Huu Trac asked to resign from his position and returned to his mother's hometown in Tinh Diem village (Huong Son) to mourn his brother and take care of his old mother and grandchildren. Here, he began to study medicine and practiced medicine until he died.

Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac Church in his mother's hometown Quang Diem (Huong Son).

With his intelligence, rich nature and the love of his motherland Huong Son, Le Huu Trac quickly became a famous great physician throughout the region. With his talent and medical ethics, he not only saved many people from death but was also invited by Lord Trinh many times to the capital to treat himself and the crown prince...

During his 45 years of medical research, Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac left many valuable works for posterity such as: Hai Thuong Y Tong Tam Linh, Thuong Kinh Ky Su, Nu Cong Thang Lam...

In which, he collected and discovered over 300 traditional Vietnamese medicines, synthesizing 2,854 popular remedies for the people. The book Hai Thuong Y Tong Tam Linh, consisting of 28 volumes and 66 books, distilled the essence of traditional Vietnamese medicine, is considered a treasure of Vietnamese medicine. In particular, the 9 lessons on medical ethics for doctors who treat and save people in the Y Huan Cach Aphorisms that he left behind will forever be a torch to light the way for future generations to follow.

Medical artifacts of the famous physician Le Huu Trac at his shrine in Quang Diem commune.

Mr. Ho Van Khuong (84 years old, Bao Thuong village, Quang Diem commune) expressed: "Although when we were born, Mr. Le Huu Trac had passed away for more than 200 years, but in the stories of our ancestors and the elderly in the village, we always remember him with much love and respect.

Until now, I still remember many stories about Hai Thuong's medical ethics, such as the story of him saving a poor child with smallpox, the son of a fisherman on the Ngan Pho River. Or the story of him giving priority to visiting a poor family's house first instead of a noble family, when both were invited to treat the patient at the same time. Because he believed that all human lives are equal, even if the poor have no money but have more serious illnesses, need to be saved first... All of these stories always moved us, and we will always remember them in our hearts."

For Mr. Ho Van Khuong and his wife, Mrs. Le Thi Ly in Bao Thuong village (Quang Diem commune, Huong Son), stories about the great physician Le Huu Trac treating the poor are always touching every time they are mentioned.

One of the stories about the medical ethics of the Great Physician that moves people every time it is mentioned is the story of saving a child in a fishing village. The story goes that at that time, in the summer, smallpox was rampant, causing many deaths. A fishing village family had a 13-year-old daughter who fell ill but the symptoms were difficult to predict, leading to complications that were very difficult to treat. The family invited Mr. Le Huu Trac to treat their child, he accepted, but after a few times of giving medicine, the disease did not improve. The child's body was covered with boils that oozed pus and smelled very bad, he also felt helpless. However, trusting Mr. Hai Thuong, the father sold his fishing net to earn money to buy offerings, and insisted on inviting the doctor to save his child.

Feeling sorry for the poor, Mr. Hai Thuong refused the gifts and decided to devote all his energy to saving the child. He did not hesitate to stay close to the patient, monitor the progress, and care for the child in the hot, smelly cabin for 1 month and 4 days. Finally, the child was saved.

In the minds of the people of Huong Son in particular and the people of Ha Tinh in general, Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac is not only a great physician who loves his patients with all his heart, regardless of their status or status, but also a great personality, upright, noble, indifferent to fame and fortune, a noble teacher.

Not only the contemporary students who were taught by the Great Physician, but also the later generations followed the medical ethics of Hai Thuong to continuously contribute and achieve many achievements. Among them is Major General, People's Physician, Professor, Doctor Le Nam - former Director of Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital, who is also a son of Ha Tinh.

Major General, People's Physician, Professor, Dr. Le Nam - former Director of the National Burn Hospital.

Professor, Dr. Le Nam once shared: “Since childhood, I have always admired the virtue and talent of the great physician Le Huu Trac. Later, when I officially studied medicine, I considered him a great teacher in my career of treating and saving people. To achieve the results I have today, I always remember his teachings on 9 lessons of medical ethics and 8 words engraved in my heart, "Nhan - Minh - Duc - Tri - Luong - Thanh - Khiem - Can" (benevolence - wisdom - virtue - kindness - sincerity - modesty - diligence) in studying, researching, and practicing medicine to treat and save people".

During his career, Professor Le Nam has conducted many medical research projects that have been widely applied in the country and the world, and has won many prestigious awards and prizes. Among them, he was awarded the First Class Military Exploit Medal by the State, a certificate of merit from the Prime Minister, and many other medals and certificates of merit. In 2013, he was honored as a typical intellectual of Vietnam...

To repay his teacher, the founder of traditional medicine, in 2003, in his role as Director of the National Burn Hospital, Major General Le Nam mobilized and advised the Ministry of Health and Ha Tinh province to renovate and build the Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac relic site in Huong Son. The project was built and completed in 10 years.

Major General Le Nam (third from left) takes a souvenir photo at Le Huu Trac Relic Site, when the project was just completed. Photo courtesy of Minh Ly

Mr. Tran Anh Nam - Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Huong Son district said: "To preserve and promote the value of the cultural heritage left by Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac, in recent times, Huong Son district has made continuous efforts to protect and restore the relic site and at the same time coordinated to organize many propaganda activities to promote the life and career of the Great Physician on mass media, in schools...

Every year, the district organizes the Hai Thuong Lan Ong Festival with many meaningful programs and activities to honor the Great Physician. In the coming time, along with organizing the festival on the occasion of his 232nd death anniversary, we have also planned to coordinate with the Provincial People's Committee to organize a ceremony to honor the Great Physician Le Huu Trac being honored by UNESCO, commemorating the 300th anniversary of his birth (1724-2024)".

Women of Quang Diem commune take care of the herbal medicine garden in the garden of the Great Physician's church.

Like the Hai Thuong kite humming the flute on Minh Tu hill (Son Trung commune, Huong Son) - the eternal resting place of the Great Physician, although he has passed away, the talent, personality, and medical ethics of Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac still remain forever in the minds of the people of Ha Tinh in particular and the nation in general.

Angel

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nui-hong-song-la/hai-thuong-lan-ong-le-huu-trac-trong-tam-thuc-nguoi-ha-tinh/258149.htm