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Medicine

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A History of Chinese Science and Technology

Abstract

In ancient Chinese civilization, astronomy, arithmetic, agriculture, and medicine are the four disciplines with earlier development and rich content. Although some may hold the view that it is inappropriate to call them “sciences,” it is universally acknowledged that the “four disciplines” are irrefutably knowledge and skills with complete systems and the features of traditional Chinese culture.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The Commercial Press, Chinese Version, 1997.

  2. 2.

    China Social Sciences Press, 1995.

  3. 3.

    Liaoning Education Press, 2002.

  4. 4.

    Yu Longyu. A Comparison between Chinese Literature and Indian Literature [M]. Lujiang Press, 1996:80–81.

  5. 5.

    Fukunaga Katsumi, Buddhism Medical Recipe 2.

  6. 6.

    Chen Lin. Attempting Discussing Relations between Buddhism Drugs and Medicine. Li Liangsong and Liu Jianzhong. Treatise on Chinese Medicine [M]. Lujiang Press, 1996:80–81.

  7. 7.

    Compiled by Peking University South Asia Research Institute, Assembly of Middle-South Asia Historical Data in China’s Ancient Books and Records [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Classics Publishing House, 1994.

  8. 8.

    Geng Yinzeng. Assembly of Middle-South Asia Historical Data in China’s Ancient Books and Records may be called representative work in this aspect.

  9. 9.

    See details in Joseph Needham, Science and Civilization in China, Chinese translation Volume 1 [M]. Beijing: Science Press, Shanghai: Shanghai Classics Publishing House, 1990:254–259.

  10. 10.

    Keiji Yamada. Bird Crying in the Night [M]. Iwanami Shoten Publishing 1990:237.

  11. 11.

    History of Southern Dynasties, Biography of Tao Yinjing, the Punctuated Text of Zhonghua Publishing House, 1975, p. 1900.

  12. 12.

    Necromancer was renamed Taoist priest about at the turn of the two Han dynasties. “You have Stupa and I have Yellow Emperor and Laozi” is likely the incentive formed by religious rites of Taoism that caused theories of the Yellow Emperor and Laozi, originally a political philosophy theory, to turn to Huanglao Dao (a branch of Taoism) and Taoism. Besides, Lv Cheng, Tang Yongtong, etc., all gave an account of the influence of Buddhism on Taoism and metaphysics.

  13. 13.

    Notes Xijing recorded that Emperor Xuan of Han wore “a Shenduguobao Mirror,” “It’s rumored that evil spirits will reveal their true features in this mirror,” etc.

  14. 14.

    Ma Boying et al.: Sino-overseas Exchange History of Medical Culture [M]. Shanghai: Wenhui Press, 1993:146.

  15. 15.

    Ren Jiyu, Religion Dictionary [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House, 1981:296.

  16. 16.

    [Tang] Sun Simiao, Supplement to “Precious Prescriptions” Volume 1 [M]. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 1955. Photocopy Version 2.

  17. 17.

    Numbers in the brackets successively indicate volume, chapter, and section of this book.

  18. 18.

    See details in Yongdrol Tsongkha’s “Tibetan Medicine Annals from the 6th century BC to 10th century AD” [J]. China Tibetology, 1997:96–111.

  19. 19.

    Yongdrol Tsongkha. Famous Indian Veda Doctor JIvaka, [N]. QingHai Daily 1998-1-1 special editions.

  20. 20.

    It’s important to note that the meaning here in Huai Nan Zi is to explain the origin of food-identifying knowledge instead of medicine, i.e., the reason why Sheng Nong was called “nong (meaning agriculture in Chinese).” It is later gradually explained as “identifying drugs.”

  21. 21.

    Kong Jianmin. Chinese Medical History Outline [M]. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 1988:10.

  22. 22.

    Yu Shenchu. Brief History of Chinese Medicine [M]. Fuzhou: Fujian Science and Technology Press, 1983:6.

  23. 23.

    Beijing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Chinese Medical History [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Science and Technology Press, 1978:2.

  24. 24.

    See details in Frazer, J. G. The Golden Bough (Chinese Folk Literature and Art Publishing House, 1987 Chinese Translation) for specific analysis of witchcraft ideological law.

  25. 25.

    Keiji Yamada: Emergency of “Wu Lei Xiang Gan Zhi” and Its Way of Thinking. Jianshi. Ancient Philosophy and Science-technology Culture of East Asia [M]. Shenyang: Liaoning Education Press, 1996:126.

  26. 26.

    Liang Shuming. Outlines of Indian Philosophy (Version 3) [M]. Commercial Press, 1922.

  27. 27.

    Journal of Beijing Tianhuaguan The Treasury Book of Astronomy, see the third part of Four Series issued by Taiwan Commercial Press, with the book named Ming Yi Tian Wen Shu.

  28. 28.

    [Ming] translated by Haidaji. A postscript for 4-Volume Book of Astronomy, block-printed edition.

  29. 29.

    Ojas is an important concept which is not easy to understand. It is explained in Caraka-samhita translated and commented by Michio Yano as existing in the heart and of a colour slightly yellow, and people will die without it. Japanese translated it as “energy element.”

  30. 30.

    Written by Wen Shimai [German] and translated by Ma Boying. 5000-Year-Long History of World Medicine [M]. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 1985:128.

  31. 31.

    Book Four of Concise Encyclopedia Britannica [M]. Beijing: Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, 1986:455.

  32. 32.

    Lin Haicun. Gu Dao Xi Feng—New Discoveries of Archaeology for Chinese and Western Cultural Exchanges [M]. Beijing: Joint Publishing, 2000:184–190

  33. 33.

    [Jin] Zhang Congzheng Ru Men Shi Qin Volume 1 [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Science and Technology Press, 1959:31.

  34. 34.

    Ma Boying et al.: Sino-overseas Exchange History of Medical Culture [M]. Shanghai: Wenhui Press, 1993:153.

  35. 35.

    Qi Baoyu. “Five Wheels and Eight Regions.” Encyclopaedia Sinica · Chinese Traditional Medicine [M]. Beijing: Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, 1992:509. Before studying Indian ophthalmology, I adopted such a point of view in my Treatise.

  36. 36.

    Ma Boying. History of Chinese Medical Culture [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai People's Publishing House, 1994:78, 2.

  37. 37.

    Taoist Priest Baoguang et al.: Secretly-Handed-down Nagajunas Ophthalmology [M]. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 1958:78, 2.

  38. 38.

    Wen Yuan Ge Si Ku Quan Shu.

  39. 39.

    [Ming] Fu Renyu. Shen Shi Yao Han (Precious Book of Ophthalmology). Volume 1. “Gou Ge Zhen Lao Yi Jie Shen Lun” [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai People's Publishing House, 1959:29.

  40. 40.

    [Qing] Huang Tingjing. Mu Jing Da Cheng Book 1 of Volume1 “Gou Ge Zhen Lao”[M]. Beijing: TCM Ancient Books Publishing House, 1987:46.

  41. 41.

    Que Ming’s Yi Shou Yan Ke “Modification” says: “Famous doctors gathered for giving treatment, the disease was not cured; a Taoist was recruited to treat the eyes with drugs and the disease was cured in half a month (with the middle part omitted), the Taoist then granted this book and asked Zhenwu to make such drugs for treating patients, and numerous blind people far and near can see again.” (See Cao Bingzhang. Great Achievements of Chinese Medicine Volume 23, Shanghai Science and Technology Press, 1990).

  42. 42.

    Taoist Priest Baoguang et al: Secretly-Handed-down Nagajunas Ophthalmology [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 1958:78, 1.

  43. 43.

    [Qing] Huang Tingjing. Mu Jing Da Cheng (A complete book of ophthalmology) Volume1 “Gou Ge Zhen Lao Yi Jie Shen Lun (The View of Hooking Cutting, Acupuncturing and Cauterization Methods Should Be Used Careful)” [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai People's Publishing House, 1959:29.

  44. 44.

    The following introduction concerning Tibetan Medicine is all cited from Chinese Traditional Medicine Overview compiled by Chen Shikui, Cai Jingfeng [M]. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1997:108–112.

  45. 45.

    Su Nuo. Tibetan Medicine and Mongolian Medicine under Bodhi Tree [M]. Beijing: The Ethnic Publishing House, 2001:78.

  46. 46.

    Yan Shaodang. Research on Dissemination of Hanji (classics of the Han Dynasty) in Japan [M]. Nanjing: Jiangsu Classics Publishing House, 1992.

  47. 47.

    See Yan Xixiong’s Judging the Far-reaching Influence of Sino-Japan-Korea Exchanges from Various Historical Facts. Including Historical Trace of Japanese Culture by Wang Yong, Wang Baoping [M]. Hangzhou: Hangzhou University Press, 1991:1–12.

  48. 48.

    Zheng Pengnian. History of Japan Borrowing Chinese Culture [M]. Hang Zhou: Hangzhou University Press, 1999:58–59.

  49. 49.

    Mayanagi Makoto, Tomobe Kazuhiro. General Catalogue of Years in Which Chinese Medical Books Were Introduced (Edo Period)[J]. Japan Research Series 7, 1989:151–183.

  50. 50.

    In Edo Period, for taking strict precautions against introduction of books on Catholicism and own needs of trade business, ships entered into the port just needed to present the list detailing the carried books; therefore, they left “booklists obtained for many times” which are the so-called first-hand original documents. After sorted by Osamu ooba, they were included into Research Periodical Series for the Institute of Oriental and Occidental Studies, Kansai University (I) (1967, not for sale).

  51. 51.

    Fujikawa Yū. Japanese Medical History [M]:17.

  52. 52.

    Fujii, Naohisa. Medical Culture Chronology [M]. 14, 7.

  53. 53.

    Wu Yuechang et al. Brief History of Sino-Japanese Medical Exchange[J]. Fujian Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1982(1):44.

  54. 54.

    Hattori Toshirō. Study of Japanese Medicine of the Heian Period [M]. Tokyo: Yoshikawa Kōbunkan, 1955:129.

  55. 55.

    81 Chinese medical books were cited in Yi-shin-hou. However, the historical view considering a book a pure “imitation” by reason of that this book has no personal experience or opinion of Yasuyori has already behind the times. It is because from the contents selected by this book and its difference from compiling style of similar Chinese medical books (for example, “acupuncture and moxibustion” comes before internal medicine, external medicine, gynecology and pediatrics), and it can be seen that they are similar in one aspect but different in other aspects.

  56. 56.

    Comprehensive Books on Kampo medicine in Modern Times [M]. Tokyo: Masterpiece Publication, 1979–1984: Volume 13. “Commentary” written by OTSUKA Yasuo.

  57. 57.

    Yi Fang Xin Gu Bian. Volume 1, see Book 112, Comprehensive Books on Kampo medicine in Modern Times.

  58. 58.

    See Volume 1 of Traditional Japanese Medicine Abdominal palpation diagnosis Series, Osaka: オリエント Publishing House, 1994 “Commentary” of Kazuo Matsumoto carried on the frontispiece.

  59. 59.

    Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Introduction to Chinese Medicine [M]. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 1959:53.

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  1. Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Yuqun Liao

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  1. Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Yongxiang Lu

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Liao, Y. (2015). Medicine. In: Lu, Y. (eds) A History of Chinese Science and Technology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44166-4_1

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