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典薬 (てんやく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

典てん薬やく

て

ん

や

く

Meanings

1

noun

court physician

Historical term for a physician serving the imperial court in pre-modern Japan. Not used in modern medical contexts.

典てん薬やくは宮きゅう中ちゅうで天皇てんのうや貴き族ぞくの治ち療りょうにあたった。
The court physician treated the emperor and nobles within the palace.

Kanji

典code, ceremony, law
薬medicine, chemical, enamel

Similar words

侍じ医い
侍医 is a more general term for a physician serving a lord or shogun, while 典薬 specifically refers to the imperial court physician system.

Etymology

From Middle Chinese-derived elements 典 (rule, code) and 薬 (medicine), referring to the official in charge of medicines at the imperial court.