The Compendium of Materia Medica Documentary
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The Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) is a comprehensive work on ancient Chinese materia medica and is a monumental text in the field of pharmacology with global influence. This book consists of 52 volumes, documenting 1892 types of medicinal substances, categorized into 16 sections and 60 categories. The classification of medicinal substances in this work changed the previous three-tier classification system of upper, middle, and lower grades, categorizing them into mineral medicines, plant medicines, and animal medicines. Each medicinal substance is detailed with its name (identification), collection (description of origin), properties, indications, inventions, and accompanying prescriptions. The content of the Compendium of Materia Medica extensively covers fields such as medicine, pharmacology, biology, and mineralogy. It is not only a monumental pharmacological work in China but also an ancient encyclopedia. Readers can gain insights into the grandeur of ancient Chinese medical classics, as well as knowledge about disease prevention, daily health maintenance, and post-illness treatment. Opening this book can provide lifelong benefits.
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Author Biography
Li Shizhen (1518-1593) was a great pharmacologist of the Ming Dynasty, born into a family of medicine. Li Shizhen was exceptionally talented; he passed the xiucai examination at the age of 14 and abandoned the imperial examination at 22 to study medicine with his father. During the day, he practiced medicine with his father, and at night, he diligently studied texts such as the Inner Canon (Neijing), Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica (Shennong Bencao Jing), Discussion of Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases (Shanghan Zabing Lun), and Pulse Classic (Mai Jing). In his readings, he discovered many errors in previous works and resolved to compile a new materia medica. To complete this book, he dedicated his entire life to practical experience, traveling to Hubei, Henan, Hebei, and other regions to investigate and collect specimens over a period of more than 30 years, ultimately completing the Compendium of Materia Medica.
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