Suggestions of Learning Ben Cao Gang Mu
Li Shizhen’s Ben Cao Gang Mu is a great achievement of herbalism for the past dynasties before the Ming Dynasty. It is unprecedentedly complete in its system, detailed in the content, comprehensive in the theory, accurate in herb investigation, high in academic achievement, profound in its influence on later generations and vivid and smooth in writing. Due to the above characteristics, it not only can best represent the achievement of herbalism in the Ming Dynasty, but also is second to none since the Ming and Qing Dynasties. All in all, it is so unique in the history of herbal medicine that it is considered as the soul of Chinese herbalism. Besides, it is a must as a classic of herbal medicine for teachers and researchers in the field in addition to its guiding role in the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine.
4.1Get Acquainted with Classics
4.1.1Choose an Authoritative Version
The errors in ancient Chinese medicine classics become even more complicated due to intentional manipulation in addition or deletion as well as unintentional fallacies in innumerable copies and re-engravings in the past hundreds or even thousands of years. That’s why an authoritative version of those classic books should be chosen. As for how to choose an authoritative version, it might depend on whether they are an existing version or already missing and how many of them are there in circulation. Several versions should be referenced at the same time in order to correct one another. Re-printed corrected classics based on reliable versions in recent years can also be very helpful.
4.1.2Read Them Thoroughly
It occurs to lots of readers that they just neglect the prefaces, postscripts, explanatory notes or contents because of the abstruse words in these parts. They include records of birth, death and living environment of the authors and background, main contents and framework of the book, which in fact are indispensable for a comprehensive understanding of the whole book. For example, whether the doctors were living in the times of peace and prosperity or the times of war and hunger, whether they were living in the northern or the southern part of China, whether they served the nobles or the civilians and whether they wrote the book in the early or late years of their lives. All the above factors have an impact on the main academic ideas and how they prescribed herbs. Therefore, it is not negligible to read these parts first. It is also important to know some knowledge of phonetic loan characters, variant forms, unstandardized forms or tabooed characters, for there are many such words in ancient Chinese medicine books that had been written hundreds or thousands of years ago. Otherwise, readers might misunderstand the meaning of the word or have no idea why the ancients changed the forms of those characters. Moreover, knowing grammatology will enable readers to better understand the development of Chinese medicine culture and related academic thoughts. For most undergraduates who are not good at ancient texts, some good books, such as Kang Xi Ci Dian (Kangxi Dictionary), Gu Han Yu Ci Dian (Ancient Chinese Dictionary), Zhong Yi Da Ci Dian (Chinese Medicine Dictionary) and Zhong Yi Ming Ci Shu Yu Xuan Shi (TCM Terminology Electives) are a must for reference. Reading and understanding the original only serves as the preliminary step.
After having a rough idea of the ancient classics of Chinese medicine, readers should also investigate their achievements in medicine, their academic thoughts and clinical experience. The second step is to make a conclusion through an analysis of the thoughts (including medical ethics), scholarship (theoretical insights) practicality (medical experience) in these books. Analyzing and summarizing the academic thoughts, prescriptions, medical records and other essences, and then making notes and totally understanding them are quite important. Generally speaking, famous doctors who wrote well-known books that can last a long time were experts in this field. The inheritance of academic genre and its characteristics, the innovation in physiology and pathology, the pathogenesis, the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, medical experience and the impact of those academic thoughts on future generations should be taken into account. Take the prescriptions or formulas used by the doctors for an example, are these ones inherited from ancients, already added and subtracted on the basis of predecessors or originally innovated on their own? These formulas can be classified in terms of diseases or organs. And the sources, adaptations, characteristics and the application in later generations should be analyzed in details, which will be of great benefit to guide us in how to use formulas. The medical records of different cases written by authors themselves or their disciples are for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Most of the cases were selected purposefully for diseases difficult to treat or innovations obtained from their clinical experience in the past years. Reading those books give readers a clue for how authors’ academic thoughts guide their clinical application and how they add or subtract some ingredients in prescriptions. For instance, readers can be inspired by each case in Ben Cao Gang Mu.
4.2Make Reference to Annotations if Necessary
(1)Ben Cao Gang Mu Xin Jiao Zhu Ben (Newly Annotated Compendium of Materia Medica) (Volume 1 and 2 of the fifth edition edited and compiled by Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty, annotated by Liu Hengru, Liu Shanyong and published by Huaxia Press)
Ben Cao Gang Mu Xin Jiao Zhu Ben (Newly Annotated Compendium of Materia Medica) were completed by the leading contemporary researchers Liu Hengru and his son Liu Shanyong in more than 25 years. Based on the only remaining two Jinling versions, the researchers referenced three Jiangxi versions, nine versions in the Ming and Qing dynasties and about 400 best current versions once cited by Li Shizhen. They carefully selected 15 versions of Zheng Lei Ben Cao (Classified Materia Medica) out of dozens of different versions. In addition to restoring what the Ben Cao Gang Mu was really like, they cautiously corrected some mistakes. This book is the most authoritative in authorship, the most widely-used in terms of versions, the most accurate in text and the most comprehensive in content.
(2)Jin Ling Ben Ben Cao Gang Mu Jiao Zhu (Newly Annotated Compendium of Materia Medica) (Volume 1 and 2 of Jinling Version edited and compiled by Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty, annotated by Wang Qingguo and published by China Traditional Chinese Medicine Press)
This book was based on the engraved Jinling version (this version was engraved according to Li Shizhen’s manuscript and believed to be best in line with the original text) published in 1593, a variety of ancient books and rare books in ancient and modern times and books of relevant scholars and centered on the pharmacology and its comprehensiveness.
(3)Ben Cao Gang Mu Jin Ling Ban Pai Yin Ben (Compendium of Materia Medica) (Volume 1–3 of the second edition of Typeset and Printed Version edited and compiled by Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty, annotated by Wang Yujie and published by People’s Medical Publishing House)
It was based on the earliest engraved version of the Ben Cao Gang Mu and other relevant literature. The book was novel in design and clear in structure. It only included the original text and did not add any notes. At the end of the book, there was a ready-to-use index of Chinese medicine herb names for readers.
(4)Jin Ling Ben Ben Cao Gang Mu Xin Jiao Zhu (Newly Revised Compendium of Materia Medica) (Volume 1 and 2 of Jinling Version edited and compiled by Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty, annotated by Qian Chaochen, Wen Changlu, Zhao Huaizhou, Wen Wubing and published by Shanghai Science and Technology Press)
A total of 2.7 million words and 10,821 notes were double checked with a reference of 61 kinds of ancient and modern books in more than five years.
(5)Ben Cao Gang Mu Jiao Dian Ben (Newly Revised Compendium of Materia Medica) (Volume 1 and 2 of the Second Edition edited and compiled by Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty and published by People’s Medical Publishing House)
As the first revised version of Ben Cao Gang Mu, this book had been welcomed and praised by readers since its publication in 1977. It had become the most influential version, widely used in academia and enjoyed a good reputation both at home and abroad. In addition to correction of some errors in the previous edition, the second addition added index to the body part at the end of the book at readers’ convenience.
(6)Ben Cao Gang Mu Tong Shi (Annotated Compendium of Materia Medica) (Edited by Chen Guiting, and published by Xueyuan Press)
Published in 1992, it was a representative masterpiece in compilation of Ben Cao Gang Mu in recent years. By using the latest research results and modern scientific theories, this book offered notes to the original piece by piece and paragraph by paragraph, examined and analyzed the sources, chemical composition, pharmacological effects and side effects of the herbs included in the book and introduced the progress in modern clinical applications.
Reference Books
(1)Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal)
Even during the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States Period, knowledge about clinical pharmacology accumulated rapidly with the development of clinical medicine. Therefore, in the Qin and Han Dynasties when the country was unified, the development of medicine itself also required a comprehensive and systematic summary of pharmacology. Then Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal) came to the world. Completed in the early years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the book was written by many medical scientists in the Qin and Han Dynasties upon the call of the government. Containing 365 kinds of herbs, the book divided herbs into three types, i.e., upper, middle and lower levels and systematically and comprehensively summarized the medical experience of doctors and civilians before the Qin and Han dynasties. As the earliest existing Chinese medicine classic in China, it has become a must-have reference book and a research object since the Wei and Jin Dynasty. This book included Zhong Yi Ba Da Jing Dian Quan Zhu:Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Eight Traditional Classics of Traditional Chinese Medicine:Shen Nong’s Herbal) (Published by Huaxia Publishing House in July, 1994), but it excluded some contents regarding celestial beings and Taoism.
(2)Ming Yi Bie Lu (Records of Famous Doctors in Medicine)
Tao Hongjing in the Liang Dynasty complied Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu (Commentary on Shen Nong’s Herbal) which added more than 300 kinds of herbs in addition to the ones already in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal). A total of 730 kinds of herbs and clinical effects were added by various famous doctors through the Han and Wei Dynasties. Many books, such as Wu Pu Ben Cao (Wu Pu’s Herbal) and Li Dang Zhi Yao Lu (Li Dangzhi Materia Medica) written by disciples of Huatuo, a very famous doctor in the Han and Jin Dynasties, were lost and then refound in the book. Tao Hongjing corrected it comprehensively and renamed it as Ming Yi Bie Lu (Records of Famous Doctors in Medicine). Having a wide and far-reaching impact on later generations, this book was among the classic works with its curative effect and rich thoughts, second only to Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal). A modern version was revised by Shang Zhijun and published by People’s Medical Publishing House in June 1996.
(3)Yao Xing Lun (Theory of Medicinal Properties)
It was written by a famous herbalist Tang Yiquan, who was once an official in the late Sui Dynasty and was already 120 years old when Emperor Taizong was in power in the Tang Dynasty. This book, very detailed in the combination of clinical practice and medicinal properties, principles of Jun, Chen, Zuo and Shi and taboos in prescriptions, guides clinical application and has a profound impact on herbalists and clinicians.
(4)Tang Xin Xiu Ben Cao (Newly Revised Materia Medica in the Tang Dynasty)
This book was edited by Su Jing, Li Ji and other editors in the Tang Dynasty. Due to prosperity of economy and culture in the Tang Dynasty, the appearance of many new herbs home and abroad and the incompleteness of Tao Hongjing’s Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu (Commentary on Shen Nong’s Herbal), Su Jing and other scholars were assigned by the government to revise it in two years. This book summarized and revamped the former herbal medicine books before the Tang Dynasty and illustrated herbs with pictures for the first time. As the first book on materia medica issued by the government in China or even in the world, it had a wide impact on the medical community at home and abroad. It has been circulated for nearly three hundred and sixty years. And then in the Northern Song Dynasty when Zhao Kuangyin was in power, the government revised it and renamed it as Kai Bao Ben Cao (Kaibao Materia Medica). This book was revised only on the basis of Kai Bao Ben Cao (Kaibao Materia Medica) because the Kaibao version replicated most parts of Xin Xiu Ben Cao (Newly Revised Materia Medica).
(5)Ben Cao Shi Yi (A Supplement to Materia Medica)
This book was compiled by Chen Zangqi in the Tang Dynasty. In view of the omissions and chaos in Tang Xin Xiu Ben Cao (the Newly Revised Materia Medica in Tang Dynasty), Chen collected the missing herbs and compiled them in a book named Shi Yi and he also carefully put herbs in order and called it Jie Fen. The book contained a total of 692 kinds of herbs that were neglected by Xin Xiu Ben Cao (Newly Revised Materia) and divided them into ten categories according to their different properties, which enriched the prescription and treatment methods and provided enlightenment for later generations so that Hai Yao Ben Cao (Hai Yao Materia Medica), Kai Bao Ben Cao (Kaibao Materia Medica) and Zheng Lei Ben Cao (Classified Materia Medica) of the Tang and Song Dynasties cited this book. This book was a leading one written by one scholar in the Tang Dynasty. Li Shizhen also spoke highly of this book. This book was revised by Shang Zhijun and published by Department of Scientific Research, Weinan Medical College in October 1983.
(6)Hai Yao Ben Cao (Hai Yao Materia Medica)
This book was written by Li Xun who lived in the Five Dynasties period in the late Tang Dynasty. As Tang Dynasty was a relatively prosperous in trade and cultural exchanges in the history, many herbs, most of which were perfumed plants, were introduced or transplanted from overseas. Li Wei was a descendant of Arab herb dealers who settled in China. They used to sell fragrant medicines. Therefore, Li Wei was familiar with scent and widely collected such medicine. He was good at literature, and that’s why he eventually completed Hai Yao Ben Cao (Hai Yao Materia Medica), which focused on the function and application of aromatic herbs. It is a famous local materia medica book in the Five Dynasties period in the late Tang Dynasty. It is unique in the history of herbal medicine.
(7)Ri Hua Zi Ben Cao (Rihuazi Materia Medica)
Confirmative evidence showed that this book was written in the late Tang and Five Dynasties. Some scholars believe that the author’s surname was Da and his first name was Ming. He liked to call him himself Rihuazi. But later scholars were more inclined to the idea the authorship of this book was unknown. The book had a total of 20 volumes with more than 600 kinds of herbs. It had new and detailed records of the properties of herbs and divided them into six types. This book summarized the achievements of herbs in the late Tang and Five Dynasties. With herbs being practical and effective, the book, as famous as Chen Zang’s Ben Cao Shi Yi (A Supplement to Materia Medica), laid a foundation for the later development of herbs in the Song Dynasty. This book was revised by Shang Zhijun and published by Department of Scientific Research, Weinan Medical College in October 1983.
(8)Kai Bao Ben Cao (Kaibao Materia Medica)
In 973, Emperor Taizu commanded Liu Han, Ma Zhi (Taoist) and other seven people to revise Materia Medica on the basis of Tang Xin Xiu Ben Cao (Newly Revised Materia Medica in Tang Dynasty) and Shu Ben Cao (Shu Materia Medica) with reference to Ben Cao Shi Yi (A Supplement to Materia Medica). The book was revised by Lu Duoxun and then re-revised by Li Ji before it went by Kai Bao Ben Cao (Kaibao Materia Medica). The system basically followed the Xin Xiu Ben Cao (Newly Revised Materia Medica) but there was an addition of 133 types of herbs (most of them were effective herbs commonly used by famous doctors at that time), making it total 983 kinds of herbs. Due to the invention and promotion of printing, this book was engraved instead, making it the first printed version in the herbal history.
(9)Ben Cao Tu Jing (Illustrated Classics of Materia Medica)
This book was compiled by Su Song in the Northern Song Dynasty. In the middle of the Northern Song Dynasty, the Song government asked all the counties to collect specimens and real objects of herbs and their functions. In 1061, Su Song and other scholars compiled the Ben Cao Tu Jing (Illustrated Classics of Materia Medica), which consisted 780 kinds of herbs with 933 pictures to help distinguish and use herbs. The book focused on the source and identification of herbs and properties of drugs, which provided reference for drawing, distinguishing and using herbs.
(10)Ben Cao Yan Yi
This book was written by Kou Zongshi, who believed that it’s the properties of herbs that doctors should depend on when they diagnosed while Tang Xin Xiu Ben Cao (Newly Revised Materia Medica in the Tang Dynasty), Kai Bao Ben Cao (Kaibao Materia Medica), Jia You Bu Zhu Ben Cao (Complete Annotated Materia Medica of the Jiayou Reign Period) and Tu Jing Ben Cao (Illustrated Materia Medica) were weak in that. Therefore, Kou examined all the above materia medica books carefully and supplemented and revised the properties of more than 470 kinds of herbs with his rich medical practice. This book had great impact on later generations and both Li Dongyu and Zhu Danxi strongly recommended this book. The book was selected from Ben Cao Yan Yi revised by Yan Zhenghua, Chang Zhangfu and Huang Youqun and published by People’s Medical Publishing House in March 1990.
(11)Zhen Zhu Nang
It is written by Zhang Yuansu. Both Zhang and Liu Hejian were the founders of the Yishui School in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties. Based on Su Wen (Plain Question), the book elaborated on the smell, yin and yang and other properties of 100 commonly used herbs. It had made outstanding contributions to the efficacy of herbs on viscera and the diagnosis and treatment of viscera diseases and had played a guiding role in Yishui School and clinical application. However, the original book were lost. The title Zhen Zhu Nang was first seen in the Tang Ye Ben Cao (Tang Ye Materia Medica) compiled by Wang Haogu in the Yuan Dynasty. Du Sijing in the Yuan Dynasty cited this book in Ji Sheng Ba Cui. A total of 113 herbs in the book made it more detailed than Tang Ye Ben Cao (Tang Ye Materia Medica).
(12)Yao Lei Fa Xiang (On Herbs) and Yong Yao Xin Fa (Experience in Prescription)
It was written by Li Gao (Dong Yuan). Jin and Yuan Dynasties were a milestone for the inheritance and development of Chinese medicine. As one of the founders, Li Dongyuan became a name living in history forever with his book Pi Wei Lun (On Spleen and Stomach) which focused on internal injury theory of the spleen and stomach. He was creative in prescriptions, which had a profound influence on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. His work, Yao Lei Fa Xiang (On Herbs) and Yong Yao Xin Fa (Experience in Prescription), were two of the must-read books for Chinese medicine learners. On the basis of the Yishui School’s theory of herbs, Yao Lei Fa Xiang (On Herbs) highlighted the parts and trends (viscera, meridians, triple energizers and limbs, etc.) of the herbs used on the human body in addition to the efficacy of herbs while Yong Yao Xin Fa (Experience in Prescription) focused on some of the mechanisms closely related to the clinical prescriptions. It was only cited by Tang Ye Ben Cao (Tang Ye Materia Medica). Quotations of Dongyuan of which were also included in this book. The book was selected from Yao Lei Fa Xiang (On Herbs) which was published in 1992 by Tianjin Science and Technology Press. Yong Yao Xin Fa (Experience in Prescription) was selected Jin Yuan Si Da Jia Yi Xue Quan Shu:Yao Lei Fa Xiang (Materia Medica Masterpieces:Tang Ye Materia Medica) which was published by Huaxia Publishing House in October 1998.
(13)Tang Ye Ben Cao (Tang Ye Materia Medica)
This book was written by Wang Haogu in the Yuan Dynasty. As he was the disciple of Zhang Yuansu and Li Dongyuan, the two masters of the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, this book was good in theory and practice. Including 242 kinds of herbs, the book inherited Zhang and Li’s doctrines, put forward new perspectives, and focused on the medicinal properties in responding to meridians, which contributed a lot to the development of Chinese medicine in that period.
(14)Ben Cao Fa Hui (A Collection of Materia Medica)
This book completed in the Ming Dynasty was edited by Xu Yanchun, one of the disciples of Zhu Danxi. Deeply influenced by the various schools in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, he compiled this book by borrowing from scholars like Zhang Jiegu, Li Dongyuan, Wang Haizang, Zhu Danxi and Cheng Wuji. Although it was similar to Tang Ye Ben Cao (Tang Ye Materia Medica) to some degree, this book had something Tang Ye Ben Cao (Tang Ye Materia Medica) didn’t have. As a reference for studying Chinese medicine in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, this book had a profound influence in the medical history in the early Ming Dynasty.
(15)Ben Cao Yan Yi Bu Yi (A Supplement to Ben Cao Yan Yi)
This book was written by Zhu Danxi in the Yuan Dynasty and supplemented by Fang Guangzeng. Being the first in inventing nourishing yin and reducing fire and initiator of Nourishing Yin School, Zhu Danxi was a famous medical scientist in the Yuan Dynasty and known as one of Four Great Medical Scientist together with Liu Hejian, Li Dongyuan and Zhang in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties. As a supplement to Ben Cao Yan Yi, this book mainly focused on medicinal properties and featured five elements of medicine. The book, as a representative work of Zhu Danxi, added 43 new types of herbs in addition to the original 153 ones. Basically, what Li Shizhen cited in Ben Cao Gang Mu was from this book, which offered inspiration for studying Zhu Danxi’s theory and medical thoughts.
(16)Ben Cao Meng Quan
This book was written by Chen Jiamo in the Ming Dynasty. The word of Meng Quan meant enlightening beginners, especially when the author added his own understanding of herbs in the book. Both Ben Cao Gang Mu and other books quoted it. The most striking feature of this book is that it divided herbs in terms of shape, color, property or taste and focused on principles of using herbs, thus being unique in the theory of medicine.
(17)Yao Jian (Reflection on Herbs)
Written by Du Wenxie in the Ming Dynasty, this book discussed in detail the toxicity, taste, yin, yang, ascending, descending, meridian tropism, processing, function and clinical application of 137 commonly-used herbs. As a short practical medicinal book, it elaborated on smell, yin and yang and the principles of compatibility among herbs based on his personal experience.
(18)Ben Cao Jing Shu (Annotation on Materia Medica)
Written by Miao Xiyong in the Ming Dynasty, this book was mainly an annotation of the essential herbs commonly used in the clinical practice included in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal). He discussed properties of medicine in terms of Elaboration, Primary Treatment and Simplified Mistakes. He disclosed many unique insights in clinical experience, which were of great significance to the development of Chinese medicine.
(19)Lei Gong Pao Zhi Yao Xing Jie (Elaboration on Properties of Herbs Processed by Master Thunder)
Written by Li Zhongzi in the Ming Dynasty and contained 332 kinds of herbs, this book elaborated on medicinal properties, primary treatment and main mechanism of meridian tropism. The theory of meridian tropism could be based on primary treatment, properties, visceral relationship and five elements. In addition, this book also had a more in-depth study on the relationship between taboos and properties of herbs, making it a unique and clinically significant book in Chinese medicine.
(20)Ben Cao Cheng Ya Ban Jie (Materia Medica in Halves)
This book was written by Lu Zhiyi in the Ming Dynasty. Ban Jie in Chinese means half. Based on his father Lu Fusuo’s Ben Cao Gang Mu Bo Yi (Discussions on Compendium of Materia Medica), the author compiled Ben Cao Cheng Ya (Materia Ben Cao Cheng Ya), which was divided into four parts, namely, Kao, Can, Yan and Duan. Later, the manuscript was lost because of war. Lu then rewrote half of the book by memory and renamed it Ben Cao Cheng Ya Ban Jie (Materia Medica in Halves). Containing 377 kinds of herbs, the book explained properties of medicine using Confucianism and Buddhism and elaborated on principles of prescriptions from names and ecology of herbs. Despite being superstitious to some degree, this book is a good reference to clinical practice with its own insights into medicine.
(21)Ben Cao Chong Yuan (Origin of Materia Medica)
This book was written by Zhang Zhicong in the Qing Dynasty, who put priority on the awareness of properties of medicine rather than what herbs for what diseases. He insisted formulas would be carried forward if it’s applied based on its properties and opposed to random use of formulas only on basis of the diseases themselves. He elaborated on properties, tastes and main treatment of formulas from the perspective of inheritance, which was a pioneering creation in explanation of medicinal properties.
(22)Ben Cao Xin Bian (New Edition of Materia Medica)
Written by Chen Shiduo in the Qing Dynasty, this book is famous for its perspective on properties of medicine. It explained the medicinal properties from the angle of medical treatment at which Chen was good. He wrote the book Wai Jing Wei Yan (External Canon of Reflections) and interpreted the medical theory Huang Di Nei Jing (Huangdi’s Internal Classic) from different angles, which were filled with new ideas. The repeatedly-mentioned extraordinarily talented people he came across in his works were most likely to be referred to as Fu Qingzhu and his son Fu Mei. If the above statement is conclusive, then the book can not only be a reference for studying Chen’s thoughts but also be beneficial to researchers on Fu Qingzhu.
(23)Ben Cao Bei Yao (Essentials of Materia Medica)
Complied by Wang Ang in the Qing Dynasty. He was good at Confucianism, medicine and pharmacology. As he believed that Ben Cao Gang Mu was complete but not concise, he edited this book, a shortened book on materia neduca based on Ben Cao Gang Mu and Ben Cao Jing Shu (Annotation on Materia Medica). More than 470 kinds of commonly used herbs were selected and divided into eight categories according to their properties. Tastes, functions, pharmacology, origin, processing and taboos were introduced, which was detailed, practical and widely used in clinical practice.
(24)Ben Cao Feng Yuan
Written by Zhang Yu in the Qing Dynasty, this book mainly focused on the theory of medicinal properties. Although slightly disorganized in structure, it was not confined to old sayings and innovative in clinical knowledge and theoretical thinking accumulated in years. Based on his reflections on Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal), he combined treatment methods of different schools in the book so that learners in later generations could learn what they want and be a good doctor. As an important piece of work in the early Qing Dynasty, this book had a great influence on Chinese medicine.
(25)Ben Jing Jing Jie (Interpretation of Classics of Materia Medica)
The book was actually written by Yao Qiu despite the fact that the author on the cover was Ye Gui. Each paragraph of description on one kind of herb consisted of large characters describing taste, toxicity and main treatment of it, small characters on processing and explaining inheritance, meridian tropism and compatibility of herbs and formulas centering on this kind of herb. Selections from Ben Cao Chong Yuan (Origin of Materia Medica), Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing Du (Reflections on The Shennong’s Materia Medica) and this book were jointly published by Guo Yucong as Ben Cao San Jia He Zhu (Joint Annotation to Three Masters of Materia Medica), which was a masterpiece in five element motions and six climatic changes and inherited dispositions.
(26)Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing Bai Zhong Lu (Selection of a Hundred Kinds of Herbs from Shen Nong’s Herbal Classics)
This book was written by Xu Dachun in the Qing Dynasty. With a total of 100 kinds of commonly used herbs from Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal), the book explained the author’s medicinal viewpoints on each kind of herb. Xu believed that medicinal properties were the basis for prescriptions. The premise of medicinal properties was Shape (including qi, taste, smell, sound and whether it’s light, heavy, long or short, etc.) and Qi (including seasonality, aging, hobbies, etc.). He asserted that the application of herbs should be based on its qi, taste, color, shape, nature, temperament or origin. Reasoning methods like analogy (most commonly used), general reasoning and experimental reasoning were adopted in this book. Due to the persuasiveness of the book and Xu’s greatness in clinical practice, this book is highly valued.
(27)De Pei Ben Cao
The book was written by Yan Xiting, Shi Daning and Hong Hong Qi’an. In clinical practices, the authors would repeatedly debate on treatment of diseases and trial of formulas. In reference to Ben Cao Gang Mu, this book recorded more than 640 kinds of herbs in 25 parts, discussed the relationship between herbs, such as mutual counteraction, mutual antagonism, mutual incompatibility and mutual enhancement and summarized the compatibility of herbs in the past. Including more than 40 kinds of herbs concerning the eight extra channels, it had a significant impact on clinicians and served as a supplement to the theory of meridian tropism.
(28)Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi (A Supplement to Compendium of Materia Medica)
Written by Zhao Xuemin in the Qing Dynasty, this book was a supplement to and examination of Ben Cao Gang Mu just as the name suggested. Most of over 920 types of herbs listed in the book were collected and used in such coastal areas as Jiangsu, Zhejiang or remote areas and ethnic minority areas. Each herb was explicitly detailed in terms of ecology, properties, meridian tropism, processing, and main treatment. It inherited and preserved a large number of folk herbs and experiences, not only having supplemented Ben Cao Gang Mu but also enriched herbal medicine.
(29)Ben Cao Qiu Zhen (Truth-seeking Materia Medica)
Written by Huang Gongxiu in the Qing Dynasty, this book best represented a perfect combination of theory and practice in the history of Chinese herbs. In terms of medicine, the author argued that it would not be good to prefer one to the other between contemporary and ancient medicine as long as both theory and herbs are for diseases. Just as the name of the book showed, it elaborated properties of herbs from the perspective of clinic practice. It took primary properties of herbs as the guiding principle of their function and principal treatment. As for the function of herbs, the author insisted the division of yin, yang, qi and blood instead of a vague and general name. And the author distinguished major and minor meridian tropism and advocated the overall view of smell and shape. In short, this book is highly respected.
(30)Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing Du (Reflections on The Shen Nong’s Herbal)
Written by Chen Xiuyuan in the Qing Dynasty, this book commented on commonly used herbs selected from Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing Zhu (Annotations to The Shen Nong’s Herbal) written by him. This book was also a model for following classics in the Qing Dynasty, because Chen Xiuyuan, as a master on typhoid diseases, advocated in following the steps of predecessors. The book studied medicinal properties from the angle of inheritance, image-number, meridian tropism and explained properties of herbs using the righteousness mentioned in Zhongjing Formula. Ben Cao Jing Jie (Interpretation of Classics of Materia Medica), Ben Cao Chong Yuan (Origin of Materia Medica) and this book were jointly published by Guo Yucong as Ben Cao San Jia He Zhu (Joint Annotation to Three Masters of Materia Medica), which was a masterpiece in five element motions and six climatic changes and inherited dispositions.
(31)Ben Jing Shu Zheng (Annotated Revision of The Shen Nong’s Herbal)
This book was written by Zou Shu in the Qing Dynasty. In contrast to Ben Cao Shu (Narration of Materia Medica) which quoted more from Dongyun, Danxi, Haizang and Jiagu instead of Sun Changsha and Sun Zhenren, this book mostly took Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Herbal) as a reference. Despite the weak reasoning and random comments on medicinal properties, this book didn’t deviate from practice. Instead, it combined the principles of Zhongjing and Sun Zhenren’s experience in prescriptions and integrated herbs with formulas and symptoms, highlighting its practicality.
(32)Ben Cao Fen Jing
Written by Yao Lan in the Qing Dynasty, this book was quite concise. Including a total of 804 kinds of herbs, it consisted an internal map of the meridians and a summary of different herbs in only one volume. It listed names and meridian tropism of herbs according to their nature. Based on the twelve meridians, extraordinary channels and mingmen (life gate), this book divided herbs into five types such as cold and heat herbs and so on together with properties, taste and main treatment indicated under the name of the herb.
(33)Ben Cao Si Bian Lu (Reflections on Materia Medica)
This book, written by Zhou Yan in the Qing Dynasty, discussed performances of herbs with a focus on the taste and the theory of meridian tropism. On the basis of essence of medicine stated in Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Febrile Diseases) and Jin Gui Yao Lve (Synopsis of the Golden Chamber) and annotations of famous scholars in the past, it elaborated medicinal properties in details. The author put forward his own viewpoints based on his clinical experience whenever doubt arose. It is a useful reference book in terms of formula and prescriptions.
(34)Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu (Records of Chinese Medicine with Reference to Western Medicine)
This book was written by Zhang Xichun in the times of Republic of China, who was one of the main representatives of the modern Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine School. In addition to a few points cited from predecessors, the book was mostly based on his own clinical experience. The reason he added western medicine was that he believed western medicine was somewhat similar to traditional Chinese medicine and tried to integrate Chinese and Western medicine together. As for the right medicine for a disease, he insisted on the combined use of Chinese medicine and western medicine in practice. Due to his innovative understanding of medicine, this book was a great one for learners of later generations.
4.3Practice Makes Perfect
To become a qualified Chinese medicine clinician, all students, whether an undergraduate, a master candidate or a doctoral candidate, must study Huang Di Nei Jing (Huangdi’s Internal Classic), Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Febrile Diseases), Jin Gui Yao Lve (Synopsis of the Golden Chamber) and Ben Cao Gang Mu when they enter the Chinese medicine universities. Nearly all the masters in Chinese medicine are not only familiar with provisions and prefaces in the classics but also good at clinical application.
Despite that the long-standing theory of TCM is hard to understand in terms of its philosophy in yin and yang, its world outlook, cosmology and methodology, famous masters make it easier to understand in respect to diseases that are difficult to treat for Western medicine with their easy-to-understand language. Only the classics of traditional Chinese medicine can help integrate Chinese medicine theory into modern clinical practice and then solve practical problems. Beginners learn to use known and ready-made formulas from other people’s experience first before they have their own. They will move to the second step when they have their own experience and apply formulas accordingly in different regions and different social and cultural backgrounds. After reading the classics again, they can understand the interaction between yin and yang, five movements, five internal organs, four properties, five tastes and seven emotions. They will move directly to the third step when they, like a general fighting a war on a battlefield, can analyze relevant provisions in a comprehensive way, appreciate the similarities and differences and reasons of the herb use and the treatment based on syndrome differentiation.
Li Shizhen’s inheritance from and criticism on traditional Chinese medicine is also an important part of Li Shizhen’s thoughts. Due to the limitations of historical conditions, Li Shizhen also made some mistakes in the book. For example, he mistook some highly toxic plants such as Poison Nut as a non-toxic herb. Li Shizhen had put many efforts into correcting previous mistakes, which makes Ben Cao Gang Mu valuable. Si Ku Quan Shu Zong Mu Ti Yao (Annotated Catalog of the Complete Imperial Library) considers it to be the unprecedented one in terms of Chinese herbs.