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An Exemplar of Deep Kindness: Dr. Hur Jun
- Alex Chen
- Jun 20
- 11 min read
Last time, we looked at an exemplar of deep kindness named Zou Ying. Her deep kindness was reflected in her various actions, such as:
Taking (or at least sharing) the blame when her sister-in-law was criticized
Focusing on dissolving her mother's anger rather than judging her for having a bad temper
Advising her mother with the intention to help her, not to vent anger
Comforting others when they feel bad or guilt-stricken
Putting others' feelings first, even when her newborn baby died
Being willing to suffer trouble and mistreatment for the sake of others
Learning about others' role modeling helps us cultivate our own kindness. This time, we'll look at another exemplar: Dr. Hur Jun.
Dr. Hur Jun (1539–1615) (also known as Ho Chun 許浚) was renowned as a medical sage in Korea for his outstanding morality and contributions to the medical field. He wrote many medical books, with the most notable one being the Mirror of Eastern Medicine, which took him around 15 years to compile. This book was extremely important because most medical texts were from China, but Korea had a different landscape with different herbs, so Hur Jun wanted to compile a medical encylopedia suited for Korea's landscape. It was a much needed book at the time.
He endured a lot of adversity, mistreatment, and suffering in his life, but these things served as catalysts to help him elevate to higher levels. One key reason he could elevate was his deep kindness.
There is a Korean TV series titled "The Way of Medicine: The Epic Doctor Hur Jun", which details his life. Although the writing is partially fiction, it is still excellent learning material for our own cultivation. For this article, I'll share a story of his journey towards the medical exam and all the challenges he faced along the way, all of which reveals his deep kindness.
Once, Dr. Jun was on his way to take the imperial medical examination. Back then, transportation was not advanced like now. People had to travel by foot for days or weeks from their hometown to the site of the exams. Moreover, such exams only occurred once every few years, and people studied hard for many years to prepare. If they passed, they could gain wealth and prestige by becoming a doctor in the imperial court. Thus, the stakes were high.
Dr. Jun was traveling with a couple colleagues, Dr. Zhen and Dr. Yu, and they encountered a sick person. Hur Jun decided to delay his travels and treat this sick person. His colleagues decided to stay and help, and they spent a whole evening there, ultimately saving that person's life. However, since the patient was very poor, the patient couldn't provide any payment.
The next morning, the patient provided breakfast for the three of them. They were eating in a separate room. During the meal, Dr. Yu said, "We saved a person's life, and all they can give back is a meal? If all patients are like this, how can us doctors make a living?"
Dr. Zhen said, "Maybe it's none of my business, but I still have to say it. I understand that some patients are poor, but if they really tried, they could still find some money to provide as payment. If you, Dr. Jun, help treat others' illness without requesting any payment, then people will just take your kindness for granted. Such is human nature."
(Pause: If you were Dr. Jun, how would you respond?)
Dr. Jun said, "We should get going. We still have a long way to go to reach the exam site."
He could not bear listening to these doctors criticizing that poor sick patient. But he also didn't feel judgmental towards the doctors for their lack of consideration. He was equally considerate towards the poor patient and his colleagues. That's why he simply changed the topic.
When the three of them were about to leave that patient's house, they saw a crowd of people gathered outside. All of them had illnesses and pain and pleaded for the doctors to treat them.
The village elder tried to reason with the crowd, telling them,
"These doctors need to rush to Han Yang for their imperial medical exams. We cannot delay them!"
One of the crowd members said, "You already benefited from this doctor who gives free treatment. What right do you have to stop us from seeking his aid!"
Dr. Zhen said, "We still have 130 kilometers to travel. We must depart now if we want to make it on time. After we arrive at Han Yang, we still need to make preparations. We need to leave now."
(Pause: If you were Dr. Jun, how would you respond?)
Dr. Jun said to the crowd, "Everyone. I feel bad that you are all in a lot of pain and suffering. But as you know, I must rush towards Han Yang now. Please wait for me here. After I am finished in Han Yang, I promise to come back here as soon as possible and give all of you treatment. So please, let me depart."
The village elder said, "We understand that you must rush to Han Yang, and we don't want to delay you. But could you please stay just half a day to see some patients? I heard that you can diagnose illness and provide remedies that don't cost money. As long as you can tell us the remedies, we'll have nothing else to ask for. Since none of us have money, we cannot seek help from the hospital. Please Dr. Jun, help us poor people!"
(Pause: If you were Dr. Jun, how would you respond?)
Dr. Jun said, "Alright, I will stay for half a day longer."
Dr. Zhen said, "Are you crazy? You spent a whole lifetime studying and preparing for this exam. Why are you trying so hard to be a hero now? Do you not plan to attend the exam?"
Dr. Yu said, "He's right. If you don't leave now, you won't make it in time."
Dr. Jun said, "I've already decided to stay. Even if I stay here an extra half day, as long as I pick up my pace later, I should still be able to arrive in Han Yang one day before the exam."
Dr. Zhen said, "You do whatever you want then. I'm leaving now."
Dr. Yu decided to stay with Dr. Jun for half a day.
After half a day of treating patients, they were getting ready to go. But when the colleague left the house, he saw an even bigger crowd outside.
Dr. Yu asked, "What's going on? How come there are even more people than before?"
One person from the crowd said, "We don't know how the message spread, but ill people from villages all around have gathered here now."
Dr. Yu quickly went back into the house to tell Dr. Jun about the situation. Dr. Yu said, "We've stayed an extra half day here, yet somehow, the crowd is even bigger than before. We need to get going. Time is extremely precious. Let's go!"
So the two of them packed up their things and prepared to leave.
One of the crowd members said, "You're leaving already?"
Dr. Yu said, "What do you mean already? We agreed to stay an extra half day, and we've already stayed longer than our promise. We don't have any time left."
The crowd members said, "But these people have been waiting for treatment since morning!"
Another crowd member said, "The next person is supposed to be me. Could you at least see me before going?"
Another said, "My situation is also very serious. Could you at least see me before leaving?"
The village elder said, "Enough! We promised the doctors half a day. We cannot delay their medical examination."
The crowd still said, "Please, just a little longer!"
Dr. Yu said, "Let's hurry up and go. We're really running out of time."
(Pause: If you were Dr. Jun, how would you respond?)
Dr. Jun said to Dr. Yu, "You go first."
Dr. Yu said, "Are you not going to attend the medical examination then?"
Dr. Jun replied, "I will. Although I can't see all these patients, but there are some patients with very serious problems. I need to treat them. You go first."
Dr. Yu said, "Are you thinking straight? We still have 130 kilometers to go!"
Dr. Jun said, "That needs roughly a day. If I leave tonight, I should still be able to arrive in time."
Dr. Yu said, "Do you plan to arrive at Han Yang and immediately enter the examination? You won't have any time to settle down and review for the test! You'll be extremely tired too. How can you pass the test? Don't be so stubborn. Let's go!"
A crowd member said, "Us sick and poor people are helpless with our illnesses. But we heard Dr. Jun can treat us for free, so we came here with this hope. Although we know we're asking for a bit too much, but if you're going to stay behind to treat some people, can you stay longer and treat more of us?"
Dr. Yu said, "You guys are really too much! Although your situation deserves sympathy, but you should understand that we have prepared our whole lives for this medical exam!"
Dr. Jun said, "You go first. If they really need what little ability I have, I'll stay behind."
Dr. Yu said, "Dr. Jun. There's no more time. If we don't leave now, we won't make it in time!"
A crowd member said, "If you want to go, then you go! Don't cause trouble for us! As long as Dr. Jun stays, we'll be fine!"
Dr. Yu said, "You guys are outrageous! I stayed up all night yesterday and today treating patients, and now you're blaming me? Such ungrateful people! I care for my friend Dr. Jun. No matter how tiring, I didn't want to abandon him. But I don't want to deal with you unreasonable people anymore. I'm leaving."
(Pause: If you were Dr. Jun, how would you respond?)
Dr. Jun said, "They didn't mean it like that. They're just overly anxious, which is why they said such rude words. Please don't take it to heart. I will see you in Han Yang."
Dr. Yu then left.
Even in such a heated moment, Hur Jun was considerate towards both the crowd of ill patients and his colleague. He didn't judge the patients for their unreasonable requests, nor did he judge his colleague for getting impatient with the crowd.
Later at night, the village elder and some villagers prepared a meal for Dr. Jun. They also gave him a bit of money, saying, "The villagers are truly too poor. We could only gather together a few coins. We hope you will accept our sincerity and take the money."
(Pause: If you were Dr. Jun, how would you respond?)
Dr. Jun said, "I have enough money to get by. Please give this money to the sick so that they can seek medical treatment."
One of the villagers named Man Seok said, "If you're tired, please rest a bit. I'll lead you through a shortcut. It can save you at least 10 kilometers."
The next morning, Dr. Jun was setting off. The village elder said, "We'll never forget your kindness."
Dr. Jun replied, "I'm sorry I couldn't see all the patients before leaving. After my exam in Han Yang, I promise I'll come back. Please wait for me."
Dr. Jun then left with Man Seok leading the way. However, Man Seok did not take him on a shortcut. Instead, he led him to his house because he wanted Dr. Jun to save his mother. He said, "Please, treat my mother before you leave!"
(Pause: If you were Dr. Jun, how would you respond?)
Dr. Jun said, "How could you do this to me? I'm already out of time."
Man Seok knelt down and pleaded with him to treat his mother. Hur Jun still insisted that he had to go. Man Seok even threatened to kill Hur Jun and himself if he doesn't treat his mother.
Then the mother came out and asked, "Who's outside? Is it you, Man Seok?" The mother then started coughing blood and fell to the ground.
Dr. Jun then stayed behind to treat the mother and write a prescription for Man Seok, providing him with his own money to go buy the medicine.
Later, Man Seok said, "No one has ever cared about us poor people. You treat us with such sincerity. I even threatened to kill you. I'm worse than an animal!"
(Pause: If you were Dr. Jun, how would you respond?)
Dr. Jun said, "I can understand your feelings. You don't need to blame yourself."
Later, after instructing Man Seok how to use the medicine, he gave him some more money to buy some meat for his mom to aid in her recovery. When he was about to leave, Man Seok said to him, "Are you already out of time? It's all my fault. I'm so sorry."
Dr. Jun said, "It's alright. As long as I pick up my pace, I can still make it in time."
Man Seok said, "But you haven't slept for four days now!"
Dr. Jun said, "When I was young, my mother often told me, after death, you can sleep to your heart's content. So while you're alive, you need to cherish time. My most important exam is before me. A few days without sleep won't deter me."
Man Seok said, "Do you know how to ride a horse? If so, I can get you a horse."
Dr. Jun said, "Really? If you can get me a horse, I promise I'll return it after my exam."
Man Seok said, "You are my savior. Of course I can do this favor for you."
The next morning, the local police came with Man Seok and arrested Dr. Jun. It turns out Man Seok tried to steal a horse, and he said it's to help Dr. Jun. Thus, the police arrested both of them and took them to jail.
(Pause: If you were Dr. Jun, how would you respond?)
In jail, Dr. Jun told himself, "I must not regret my choices. I vowed to be a compassionate doctor who would take on the suffering of patients as my own suffering. I must not regret my choices."
Later, the villagers whom Dr. Jun helped all came over and pleaded for Dr. Jun to be released. The village elder explained to the District Chief how Dr. Jun stayed behind to treat patients, and that he would never try to steal a horse.
The District Chief then decided to let Dr. Jun go.
The village elder said to Dr. Jun, "When we heard the news, we all rushed over. We couldn't believe such a tragedy would happen to such a good person! If anyone's at fault, it's us who dragged you back. We were even planning to tear down the jail to get you out!"
Later, the District Chief treated Dr. Jun to a meal and lent him a horse. However, even with the horse, he did not arrive in time.
(Pause: If you were Dr. Jun, how would you feel?)
Despite being sad that he couldn't attend the exam this time, he still promptly went back to that village to treat all the patients as promised. Although Dr. Jun seems to have suffered losses, they are actually short-term losses that planted the seeds for much larger long-term gains.
His story spread, and his reputation soared. Despite this, he remained very humble and said he's nothing compared to his teacher. He continued to study and ranked first place at the next exam, and he went on to become an imperial doctor.
From Dr. Jun's example, we can see that deep kindness involves
Being considerate for all the people involved, never judging or blaming others
Consoling others when they feel bad
Not wanting to hear others being criticized behind their back
Being willing to take on trouble and hardship for the sake of others
These are all things we can reflect on and practice in our own lives, and we too can be a source of kindness and positive impact for others, just like Dr. Jun.
Weekly Wisdom #399
Dr. Hur Jun's compassion is inspiring. What impressed me most was how he stayed kind even when others were impatient or unreasonable. It's a great reminder that true kindness is shown most clearly when it's difficult. Block Blast