The history of medical society in ancient China has been conducted as an interdisciplinary field of medical science and history for a long time. However, since the first seminar on the history of Chinese Medical Society was held in Peking University on November 24, 2003, research on the ancient medical system has developed rapidly through various research methods such as the historical archives method and the fieldwork method. However, these studies are often limited to the constructionist theory found in the "sociology of health and illness," and it seems that there are still few studies on the ancient medical system from the perspective of law.
In the history of human civilization, the system of medical care is concerned with the health of people, and related to national security and stability. In China’s long history, the law on medical care was established in each period, especially in the Tang Dynasty. Based on the medical law of the previous generations, a relatively sound legal system of medical care was established.
The medical system of the Tang Dynasty was specified in Ishitsu-ryo and the Tang Code, including the function of the medical institution in the Tang Dynasty, medical students training system, the drug control system, free medical service system, punishment system for violation of medical law, and the female doctor selection system. It has influenced the medico-legal system in later generations in China and the establishment of medical law standards in Southeast Asian countries, such as ancient Japan. Therefore, the author wishes to examine medicare and social assistance status in the Tang Dynasty by considering each medical system prescribed in Ishitsu-ryo and the Tang Code from legal history.