Le Huu Trac (1720-1791)

Le Huu Trac, whose pseudonym was Hai Thuong Lan Ong, was a native of Lieu Xa commune, Duong Hao district of Thuong Hong, Hai Duong (Currently Lieu Xa commune, Yen My district, Hung Yen province).

He was born on November 12nd, 1720, (He was the son of Doctor Le Huu Muu, the nephew of Minister of War Le Huu Kieu in the feudal society).

As the 7^th child of a family that had 6 doctors, his family name was "Chieu Bay". According to "Hai Duong phong vat chi", Le Huu Huan was his another name.

When he was young, he followed his father and came to Thang Long capital to improve knowledge and then he, together with his friends, established a poetry group in Ho Tay. With the open characteristic, he made friends with a lot of people and got the fondness of Trinh Lord. He was called "Smart Ly Do poet". At the age of 20, he put aside his literature career and focused on the military field. He participated in many battles with the hope of becoming a talented military officer. At that time, King Le had no real power. In the context of the war among Tay Son insurgent troops, Trinh Lord and King Le, he came back to his mother’s homeland in Thuong Phuc village, Huong Son district, Nghe An. During this time, aiming at lessening the misery of people in the society, he focused on medical research and established the traditional medical treatment. His talent and virtue was well known nation-wide.

On January 12^th, 1781 (In lunar year), Lan Ong was invited to Thang Long capital to treat for Trinh Can prince by Trinh Sam Lord. In this visit, he wrote "Thuong kinh ky su" (Chronicle of visit to the capital) describing the daily activities in the palace of Trinh Lord and King Le. Refusing all awards and offers of Trinh Lord for his talent, he came back to Huong Son on November 2^nd, 1782 to continue his passion of curing and treating diseases for people and devoted his life to serve people.

In addition to finding medical treatment methods, he was also interested in writing medical manual and teaching. The set of "Y tong tam linh" with 28 volumes and 66 manuals were written in nearly 40 years. This works inherited many medical achievements of previous generations, which was considered as the "Encyclopedia" for medical field in the 18^th century and unusual in the world at that time. In these medical manuals, he set up a treatment system including all treatment protocols and pharmacology-related issues of Vietnam traditional medicine.

Le Huu Trac was not only a knowledgeable and talented physician but also great poem and writer with advanced ideas and deep humanity.  After his death, he has been proclaimed as the"Y thanh cua Viet Nam" (Holy doctor of Vietnam) and worshipped in the same temple in Hanoi where Great Physician Tue Tinh is worshipped.