This article is adapted from: The Cry in My Heart Although medical texts are said to be life-saving books, they are often lifeless, leaving readers with a sense of blandness and distaste. When faced with vibrant life, medical practitioners and literary figures are entirely different; the former must strip away all poetic elements, using a … Read more
Issue 19—The Historical Transmission of Materia Medica Literature (Part 3) (with audio) In the previous two issues of Exploring Traditional Culture, we delved into the historical transmission of materia medica literature before the Tang Dynasty and during the Song, Jin, and Yuan Dynasties. Click the links below to revisit ☟ Exploring Traditional Culture | Issue … Read more
On the afternoon of May 13, the fourth lecture in the series celebrating the 40th anniversary of the journal “Chinese Medicine Culture” was successfully held in Room 206 of the Standardized Building at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The theme of the lecture was “‘Bencao Gangmu’ and Japan – A Look at Japanese Materia … Read more
Follow Famous TCM Formulas to discuss Traditional Chinese Medicine together! A historical coincidence or mistake often leaves behind irreparable errors, untraceable truths, or perplexing enigmas for future generations… To Practice Medicine or to Be an Official? That Is the Question Those familiar with Traditional Chinese Medicine or Chinese history should know about the book “Compendium … Read more
Call Number: R281.3/48 Author Biography Li Shizhen (1518–1593), styled Dongbi, later self-named Binhushanren, was a great medical scientist of ancient China from Qizhou (now Qichun County, Huanggang City, Hubei Province) during the Ming Dynasty. He authored the renowned pharmacological work, Ben Cao Gang Mu (The Compendium of Materia Medica). Li Shizhen also studied pulse diagnosis … Read more
Li Shizhen was a great medical scientist and naturalist in Chinese history, dedicating his life to the epoch-making masterpiece – ‘Bencao Gangmu’ (Compendium of Materia Medica). This work has had a profound impact on the maintenance of the prosperity of the Chinese nation and the advancement and development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and other … Read more
This article examines and organizes the transmission and origins of the Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Starting from the original text of the Compendium, it employs bibliographic research methods to analyze the major editions throughout history, systematically discussing the versions of the Compendium during the Ming and Qing … Read more
The Classic of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Bencao Gangmu Book Introduction: Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) is a pharmacological work consisting of fifty-two volumes, authored by Li Shizhen during the Ming Dynasty and published in 1590. The book contains over 1.9 million words, documenting 1,892 medicinal substances, compiling 11,096 medical prescriptions, and featuring 1,160 exquisite … Read more
The Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) consists of fifty-two volumes. The author spent nearly thirty years compiling it, documenting 1,892 types of medicinal substances, accompanied by over 1,000 illustrations of herbs. It elaborates on the properties, indications, usage methods, origins, forms, collection, processing, and compatibility of these substances, and includes over 10,000 prescriptions. This … Read more
Review of the Complete Illustrated Edition of Compendium of Materia Medica Zheng Jinsheng Institute of History of Chinese Medicine, Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine The Complete Illustrated Edition of Compendium of Materia Medica (edited by Chen Shilin, People’s Health Publishing House, 2018) is a significant work in recent years regarding the study of medicinal … Read more