Kudō Takeki, Director of Keijō Women's Hospital, and His Medical Service for Women and Buddhist Activities in Colonial Korea

Abstract

ABSTRACT:This paper examines the relationship between women's medical care and Buddhism through the activities of Kudō Takeki 工藤武城 (1878–?), director of Keijō Women's Hospital during the Japanese occupation of Korea, and how Kudō's projects functioned under Japanese "cultural rule" (Bunka seiji 文化政治) in colonial Korea. Kudō Takeki specialized in gynecology at the University of Würzburg, Germany. Along with some other influential figures in Korea, he sought to cure even spiritual problems of his patients through Buddhist propagation and literary activities. Through his activities, Kudō Takeki helped promote such initiatives on the part of the colonial rulers in their management of colonial Korea. His activities involved forging connections between medical service and Buddhism and between Buddhism and women. After the March First Movement of 1919, Governor-General Saitō turned his attention to women, who had become more receptive to Buddhism in Korea after centuries of domination under Confucianism in Chosŏn, as well as to medical science and service, the "benefits of civilization." In this respect, the "cultural rule" of the colonial state tried to exercise governance by reconciling medicine, Buddhism, and women into a regime that could effectively further its agenda. In this invisible framework, Kudō took it as his calling to improve the social status of Korean women and give them relief through his medical knowledge and practice.