Chapter 

1 


ANCIENT CHINESE 
PHILOSOPHY AND HISTORY 

one
OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE 
MEDICINE 

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as one of the representative gems of traditional Chinese culture, has 
been practiced in China for thousands of years. TCM reflects the great wisdom and talent of the Chinese people. 
TCM is based on ancient Chinese philosophy and demonstrates an empathetic understanding of the world. 
Although modern medicine is very popular, it still has a significant impact on modern society. 

The diagnosis and treatment of modern medicine depends on cutting-edge technologies 
and advanced medical instruments. This acquired information is relatively accurate, detailed and 
comprehensive, making the diagnosis intuitive, vivid, and convincing. In contrast, the diagnosis in 
TCM is obscured due to the lack of detailed quantitative measurements, including observing, smelling, 
questioning, and touching the pulse. After observation, sensation, analysis, judgment, and reasoning, 
TCM practitioners make diagnostic conclusions, which seem incredible and mysterious. However, TCM 
practitioners provide an individualized diagnosis. What are the principles and theories used by TCM to 
diagnose and treat diseases? Some people believe that “TCM relies on consciousness to cure diseases.” As 
we advance in the development of ancient Chinese philosophy and medicine, it will become clear what the 
theoretical foundations are for TCM diagnostics and therapeutics. 

1.1　Ancient chinese philosophy 
Philosophy is the unity of methodology and systematic worldview, including natural, social and 
thinking knowledge, and shows the existence of social consciousness. Philosophy pursues the essence 
of the world and explores metaphysical forms such as universality and absoluteness. As the ancient 
philosophy goes: “My beliefs must sustain to the end and last a lifetime.” Both heaven and human beings 
should follow the same principle, which is harmony and unity between heaven and human beings. 
Principles of nature share the common theoretical framework in TCM. 

Philosophy claims the existence of social consciousness. Chinese philosophy was derived and inherited from 
ancient witchcraft, such as Jedi Tiantong. The belief system of destiny theology gradually faltered until it collapsed. In 
the early development stage of Chinese philosophy, there were several landmark theories: Shu Xing’s consideration 
of “Yin and Yang”and “good and bad”, Boyang Fu’s deliberation of “Earthquake”, Shi Bo’s deliberation of “Harmony”, 
and Shi Mo’s consultation of “Accompaniment”, which are the explanations of the emperors on natural or social 
phenomena. Here, the old-style witch becomes a new-style philosopher. The witch historians who made religious 
theological explanations abandoned divination (such as ghost and god) in favor of metaphysics. They tried to 
explain the world and diseases in a reasonable and philosophical way. Although Chinese philosophers have leisure 


中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine2中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine 中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine2中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine 
time, they are not “wise lovers” 
who pursue pure knowledge. They explain natural phenomena, but mainly focus 
on human affairs. The purpose of “reasoning and deciphering the destiny of heaven” represents an alternative 

interpretation to solve the world of thought after the conceptual collapse of the religious fate. 

Chinese philosopher’s “deciphering the destiny to understand human affairs” gave the community 

a distinctive character, who paid attention to specific opportunities that emerged. These opportunities 
shape people’s character and personality in China. “Those who change things have worries” is an 
understanding of the shamanic character in the philosophical works of the predecessors. Ancient Chinese 
have traditions of theoretical thinking, who study human relations and the transcendence basis for secular 
life. The changes of the past and of the present, as well as the families, are the central question of ancient 

philosophers about heaven and human beings. It is the conscious mission of ancient philosophers to ordain 

conscience for Heaven and Earth, secure life and fortune for the people, continue the lost teachings of past 

sages, and establish peace for all future generations. 

The development of ancient Chinese philosophy developed with the corresponding society in 

three stages. Philosophical theories have been applied and propagated in the entire social system from 
the slave society. The ancient philosophy evolved through the Yin Dynasty, the Western Zhou Dynasty, 

and the Spring and Autumn Periods. The first phase of ancient Chinese philosophy began with the 
eastward movement of Zhou’s chambers during the Warring States period. The Spring and Autumn 
Period philosophy was the second phase, while the third phase was the Warring States period as at when 
the theory of Confucius and Mencius was initiated. Ideological representatives continually erupt with a 

tendency of contention among hundreds of school thoughts. 
Zhuang Zi has a personal evaluation and in his book Zhuang Zi: Universe (《庄子·天下篇》). Materialist 

thoughts in the spring and autumn period are scattered in the Zuo tradition. For example, the five elements 
(《五行》) or “five materials”, “six Qi”, and “seven internal emotions” are essential matter of the universe 
and human beings. The governor of a country who has worked hard and has achieved success should be 
open-minded and listen to the opinion of the masses. People believe in human power, not divine power, 

but the light of materialism. 

The historical development of Chinese philosophy is driven by national misfortune. China meets with 
the bandit nations that are expanding and dividing the world in modern history. Defeating foreign invaders 

accelerates national self-confidence to an unprecedented level. In turbulent times, strengthening and saving 
the country has become a top priority. Chinese philosophers talked about China and the West in ancient and 

modern times, seeking self-improvement, creating new ways, introducing Western learning to connect China 

and the West, and forming a novel culture of neither China nor the West as a kind of cultural integration. The era 
of “national misfortune” has brought about major philosophical issues. The fortune philosophers responded to 
the major issues of the times and created energetic thought to transform society and philosophy. 

As long as Chinese philosophy is under rapid and vivid development, the number of schools, 
the prosperity of talents, the freedom of thought, and the 

openness of academics will reach their peaks. The rise and fall of 
Chinese philosophy have moved along with social changes and 

has created the personality and connotation of the national spirit. 

Therefore, when discussing how to inherit or develop Chinese 

medicine, the contemporary social and philosophical basis must 
first be understood. 

Ancient Chinese philosophy is charming but complicated, 
evolving with people’s understanding of nature and the pursuit 
of the spirit world. The theory of ‘Yin and Yang’ and the ‘five 
elements’ 
is the unified framework for explaining the law of natural 
development. They are the cosmology and methodology used by 

ancient Chinese philosophers to understand the world, and they 

play an important role in the development of TCM (Figure 1.1). 


Figure 1.1　Taiji Diagram (Black region 
represents Yin, white region represents 
Yang.) 


Chapter ANCIENT CHINESE PHILOSOPHY AND HISTORY OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE3Chapter 1 ANCIENT CHINESE PHILOSOPHY AND HISTORY OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE1.2　A brief history of tcM 
China has a recording history of over 4000 years as an ancient East Asian country. Chinese culture 
emerged and flourished in the ancient land of China. As a treasure of the Chinese nation, Chinese 
medicine develops together with Chinese culture. The development of TCM reflects the integration of 
traditional philosophy with medicine, which is based on the ancient people’s experience in fighting against 
diseases and providing care for future generations. Thousands of years of history and clinical practice have 
demonstrated the magic of Chinese medicine in disease prevention, treatment, and health preservation. 
TCM guards the Chinese nation with its unique charm as treasures of Chinese culture. 
Chinese medicine originated from the labor process of primitive society. The ancestors of the 
Chinese nation first settled down in the Yellow River basin, where Chinese medicine also emerged. In 
China, there are many legendary myths and stories about TCM, such as “Shen Nong tastes hundreds 
of herbs and encounters seventy poisons in one day”. These legends reflect the hardships of the ancient 
people who fought against nature and disease. The struggle spirit of the ancient Chinese people inspired 
the painstaking process of discovering drugs and accumulating theoretical knowledge. TCM has been 
gradually developed through long-term medical practice and eventually established as a new medical 
theoretical system. 
People first learn about botanicals during the agricultural society. With the continuous development 
of fishery, hunting methods, and the use of fire, ancient people had more ways to obtain food and other 
materials, such as meat, fish and crustaceans. In these agricultural productions, people have accumulated 
an understanding of animal and mineral medicines, which led to the further development of the TCM 
system. 
As early as the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties (approximately the end of the 22nd century BC-256 
BC), medicinal liquor and decoction appeared in China. The “Book of Songs” of the Western Zhou Dynasty 
(about 11th century BC—771 BC) is China’s earliest medical record book. The earliest TCM classics “Internal 
Classics” compiled the theories of “cold is hot and hot is cold”, “the five flavors”, and “the five internal 
organs suffer from pain and desire to replenish and reduce”, which lay the foundation for the basic theory 
of Chinese medicine. Decoction is one of the most common dosage forms of Chinese medicine, which was 
developed by Yi Yin, the prime minister of the Shang Dynasty. Unfortunately, Yi Yin’s work has been lost. 
From the discoveries of archaeologists based on the Oracle bone inscriptions during the Yin and Shang 
Dynasties, there are records of medical treatments and decoction prescriptions. 
The Zhou Dynasty has already used diagnostic methods, such as seeing, hearing, asking, and 
feeling the pulse. TCM practitioners began testing drugs, acupuncture and surgery. During the Spring 
and Autumn Period, all nations had medical development and medical remission. There are well-
known official doctors in history, for example, Bian Que during the Spring and Autumn Period and the 
Warring States Period. Bian Que is proficient in inspection and pulse feeling, and has left many wonderful 
legendary cases for future generations to learn and refer to. 
During the Qin and Han Dynasties, a book with systematic TCM theory such as Huangdi Nei Jing (《黄
帝内经》) was formed. This book is the earliest extant theoretical classic of Chinese medicine. This book 
records the discussion and dialogue between Huang Di and his teacher Qi Bo on the prevailing medical 
issues, involving the relationship between man and nature, physiology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment, 
and disease prevention. This book also introduces the basic principles of meridian acupoints, acupuncture 
and moxibustion techniques, and position selection, which establishes a theoretical system for the future 
development of Chinese medicine. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, a legendary TCM practitioner 
appeared in China. It is Zhang Zhongjing who was hailed as the “medical saint” by later generations. Wars 
3Chapter 1 ANCIENT CHINESE PHILOSOPHY AND HISTORY OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE1.2　A brief history of tcM 
China has a recording history of over 4000 years as an ancient East Asian country. Chinese culture 
emerged and flourished in the ancient land of China. As a treasure of the Chinese nation, Chinese 
medicine develops together with Chinese culture. The development of TCM reflects the integration of 
traditional philosophy with medicine, which is based on the ancient people’s experience in fighting against 
diseases and providing care for future generations. Thousands of years of history and clinical practice have 
demonstrated the magic of Chinese medicine in disease prevention, treatment, and health preservation. 
TCM guards the Chinese nation with its unique charm as treasures of Chinese culture. 
Chinese medicine originated from the labor process of primitive society. The ancestors of the 
Chinese nation first settled down in the Yellow River basin, where Chinese medicine also emerged. In 
China, there are many legendary myths and stories about TCM, such as “Shen Nong tastes hundreds 
of herbs and encounters seventy poisons in one day”. These legends reflect the hardships of the ancient 
people who fought against nature and disease. The struggle spirit of the ancient Chinese people inspired 
the painstaking process of discovering drugs and accumulating theoretical knowledge. TCM has been 
gradually developed through long-term medical practice and eventually established as a new medical 
theoretical system. 
People first learn about botanicals during the agricultural society. With the continuous development 
of fishery, hunting methods, and the use of fire, ancient people had more ways to obtain food and other 
materials, such as meat, fish and crustaceans. In these agricultural productions, people have accumulated 
an understanding of animal and mineral medicines, which led to the further development of the TCM 
system. 
As early as the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties (approximately the end of the 22nd century BC-256 
BC), medicinal liquor and decoction appeared in China. The “Book of Songs” of the Western Zhou Dynasty 
(about 11th century BC—771 BC) is China’s earliest medical record book. The earliest TCM classics “Internal 
Classics” compiled the theories of “cold is hot and hot is cold”, “the five flavors”, and “the five internal 
organs suffer from pain and desire to replenish and reduce”, which lay the foundation for the basic theory 
of Chinese medicine. Decoction is one of the most common dosage forms of Chinese medicine, which was 
developed by Yi Yin, the prime minister of the Shang Dynasty. Unfortunately, Yi Yin’s work has been lost. 
From the discoveries of archaeologists based on the Oracle bone inscriptions during the Yin and Shang 
Dynasties, there are records of medical treatments and decoction prescriptions. 
The Zhou Dynasty has already used diagnostic methods, such as seeing, hearing, asking, and 
feeling the pulse. TCM practitioners began testing drugs, acupuncture and surgery. During the Spring 
and Autumn Period, all nations had medical development and medical remission. There are well-
known official doctors in history, for example, Bian Que during the Spring and Autumn Period and the 
Warring States Period. Bian Que is proficient in inspection and pulse feeling, and has left many wonderful 
legendary cases for future generations to learn and refer to. 
During the Qin and Han Dynasties, a book with systematic TCM theory such as Huangdi Nei Jing (《黄
帝内经》) was formed. This book is the earliest extant theoretical classic of Chinese medicine. This book 
records the discussion and dialogue between Huang Di and his teacher Qi Bo on the prevailing medical 
issues, involving the relationship between man and nature, physiology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment, 
and disease prevention. This book also introduces the basic principles of meridian acupoints, acupuncture 
and moxibustion techniques, and position selection, which establishes a theoretical system for the future 
development of Chinese medicine. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, a legendary TCM practitioner 
appeared in China. It is Zhang Zhongjing who was hailed as the “medical saint” by later generations. Wars 

中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine4中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine 中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine4中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine 
and plagues raged across the country, and people lived a miserablelife. Many family members of Zhang 

Zhongjing died of diseases as a result of mistreatment. There were many preventable deaths in society 

due to the pandemic and limited therapeutics in his time. The book “Typhoid Fever and Miscellaneous 
Diseases” 
compiled by Zhang Zhongjing specifically discusses the principles of diagnosis and treatment 
of various miscellaneous diseases, laying a foundation for the development of clinical medicine in later 
generations, establishing the treatment principles of TCM syndrome differentiation, and the development 
of TCM formulas. 

Surgery during the Han Dynasty has reached a high level according to Records of the Three Kingdoms 
(《三国志》). Hua Tuo, a famous doctor, has begun to use the general anesthetic Ma Fei San (《麻沸散》) 
to perform various surgical operations. He also advocated sports therapy, guided and cured diseases, and 
created the famous Five-Animal Exercise (《五禽戏》). The influences of TCM are no longer confined to 
China, but have affected overseas at that time (Figure 1.2). 


Figure 1.2　Five-Animal Exercise 

From the WeiJin, Southern and Northern Dynasties (220 AD-589 AD) to the Sui, Tang, and Five 
Dynasties (581 AD-960 AD), pulse diagnosis has made remarkable achievements. So far, the surgical level 
of Chinese medicine is soaring, and a large number of documents and works have been transmitted. TCM 
surgery develops gradually from the fragmentary experience to the theoretical system. The Mai Jing of 
Wang Shuhe, a famous doctor of the Jin Dynasty, summarizes 24 kinds of pulse conditions. This book 
has a great influence on Chinese medicine and overseas. During this period, the specialization of various 
medical disciplines has matured. In addition, there are large-volume of prescriptions, such as Sun Simiao’s 
Thousand-Golden-Prescriptions (《千金要方》) and Wang Tao’s Waitai Mi Yao (《外台秘要》). 

During the Song, Jin and Yuan Dynasties, the TCM theory was further deepened. In the Song 

Dynasty, the rulers attached great importance to Chinese medicine education and established a special 

medical bureau to train people with medical backgrounds at that time. To a certain extent, it promoted the 

prosperity of TCM culture and became the highest institution for training TCM talents at that time. The 
Song Dynasty government specially established the “Corrective Medical Skills Bureau” to systematically 

summarize and organize important medical classics of the past. The system of Chinese medicine was 
further improved in the following ten years. Monographs on acupuncture and moxibustion include 

A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (《针灸甲乙经》); Baopuzi (《抱朴子》), and Posterior elbow 
Prescriptions (《肘后方》) are representative works of alchemy; Lei Gong Pao Zhi Lun (《雷公炮炙论》) in 
pharmacy; Liu Juanzi’s Remedies Bequeathed by Ghosts (《刘涓子鬼遗方》) in surgery and the cause of the 
disease. The Cranial fontanelle (《颅囟经》) is a pediatric monograph; Newly Revised Materia Medica (《新修
本草》) is the world’s first pharmacopoeia; ophthalmology monographs include Yinhai Jingwei ()

《银海精微》 


and so on. 

During the Jin and Yuan era, many distinctive medical schools appeared. The four most 
representatives are: Liu Wansu, who believes that the symptoms of typhoid fever (generally referred to as 
febrile diseases) are related to “heat”, and cold medicines are used for treatment as the school of cold and cool 


Chapter ANCIENT CHINESE PHILOSOPHY AND HISTORY OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE5Chapter 1 ANCIENT CHINESE PHILOSOPHY AND HISTORY OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE(《寒凉派》); Zhang Congzheng believes that the disease is caused by external evil invading the human 
body. The disease can be caused and eliminated. The treatment often uses sweating, vomiting, and other 
methods to combat the diseases. Li Dongyuan claimed: “due to internal injuries of the spleen and stomach, 
all diseases are born”, and the focus of treatment is to warm up the spleen and stomach. Since the spleen 
belongs to the “earth”in the theory of the five elements, it is called the Earth tonifying school (《补土派》) 
by later generations. Zhu Zhenxiang believes that “the Yang is always surplus, and the Yin is always 
insufficient”(the human body is often considered too Yang and insufficient). The treatment of diseases 
nourishes Yin and reduces Yang. 
The development of TCM theory stopped after the Ming and Qing Dynasties. From the Ming Dynasty 
(1368 AD-1644 AD), Western medicine propagates to China. A group of medical scientists advocated 
the “convergence of Chinese and Western medicine” and became the pioneers of contemporary Chinese 
and Western medicine. Li Shizhen, a medical scientist, completed the masterpiece Compendium of Materia 
Medica (《本草纲目》) about Chinese pharmacy in 27 years. The book contains 1892 kinds of medicines, 
making it the greatest integrated work in the history of Chinese Materia Medica. Since the end of the Qing 
Dynasty, China has suffered from the armed invasion of western powers, and its fate has also weakened. 
The influx of modern medicine (Western medicine) affects the development of Chinese medicine. Many 
people advocate the modernization of medicine, but TCM has been greatly challenged. People began to 
use the theory of the Western medical system to examine TCM, which is a debate about preservation and 
abolition. The same is true of Japanese Kampyo Medicine and Korean Medicine, both of which belong to 
the Chinese medical system. However, hasn’t the development of Chinese medicine stopped here? Wu 
Jutong created the Sanjiao (《三焦》) dialectical system to diagnose and treat the disease, which further 
enriched the diagnosis and treatment system of TCM syndrome differentiation, and formed a self-
contained theory in terms of etiology, pathogenesis, and dialectical diagnosis and treatment of TCM. 
Until today, the development of Chinese medicine has a history of thousands of years. The status of TCM 
and its role in modern clinics has recovered after the decline. Internationally, acupuncture arouses great interest 
in the medical community. Acupuncture can effectively relieve post-operative pain, nausea during pregnancy, 
nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, and toothache, with extremely low side effects. However, for 
chronic pain, back pain, and headache, the data is ambiguous or controversial. WHO agrees that the effectiveness 
of many acupunctures and some herbal medicines can be supported by scientific double-blind studies, but 
other traditional therapies need to be further studied, and the safety of these therapies cannot be ignored. On 
May 26, 2002, WHO published the Global Strategy for Traditional Medicine Research 2002-2005 and invited many 
countries to incorporate alternative medicine into their medical policies. On October 1, 2018, WHO included 
TCM for the first time in its globally influential medical program in Chapter 26 of the 11th edition of the Global 
Medical Compendium. This chapter mainly explains the classification system of traditional medicine, which will be 
implemented in the WHO member states after 2022. 
The original innovation and revolution of the basic theory of modern Chinese medicine began in the 
1990s. Three novel philosophical views of TCM exist: holistic view, syndrome differentiation view, and 
the newly excavated third philosophical view of TCM: similarity view-fractal theory. In this COVID19 
pandemic, Chinese medicine based on Zhang Zhongjing’s traditional prescription still plays an important 
role. The team of Academician Zhong Nanshan published a paper to propose the effect of Lianhua 
Qingwen Capsule in controlling the pandemic. Besides masks and disinfectants, Chinese medicine has 
become indispensable in this pandemic. 
1.3　top 10 fAMous chinese doctors in history 
Chinese culture has a long history, which is broad and profound. As one of China’s national 
5Chapter 1 ANCIENT CHINESE PHILOSOPHY AND HISTORY OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE(《寒凉派》); Zhang Congzheng believes that the disease is caused by external evil invading the human 
body. The disease can be caused and eliminated. The treatment often uses sweating, vomiting, and other 
methods to combat the diseases. Li Dongyuan claimed: “due to internal injuries of the spleen and stomach, 
all diseases are born”, and the focus of treatment is to warm up the spleen and stomach. Since the spleen 
belongs to the “earth”in the theory of the five elements, it is called the Earth tonifying school (《补土派》) 
by later generations. Zhu Zhenxiang believes that “the Yang is always surplus, and the Yin is always 
insufficient”(the human body is often considered too Yang and insufficient). The treatment of diseases 
nourishes Yin and reduces Yang. 
The development of TCM theory stopped after the Ming and Qing Dynasties. From the Ming Dynasty 
(1368 AD-1644 AD), Western medicine propagates to China. A group of medical scientists advocated 
the “convergence of Chinese and Western medicine” and became the pioneers of contemporary Chinese 
and Western medicine. Li Shizhen, a medical scientist, completed the masterpiece Compendium of Materia 
Medica (《本草纲目》) about Chinese pharmacy in 27 years. The book contains 1892 kinds of medicines, 
making it the greatest integrated work in the history of Chinese Materia Medica. Since the end of the Qing 
Dynasty, China has suffered from the armed invasion of western powers, and its fate has also weakened. 
The influx of modern medicine (Western medicine) affects the development of Chinese medicine. Many 
people advocate the modernization of medicine, but TCM has been greatly challenged. People began to 
use the theory of the Western medical system to examine TCM, which is a debate about preservation and 
abolition. The same is true of Japanese Kampyo Medicine and Korean Medicine, both of which belong to 
the Chinese medical system. However, hasn’t the development of Chinese medicine stopped here? Wu 
Jutong created the Sanjiao (《三焦》) dialectical system to diagnose and treat the disease, which further 
enriched the diagnosis and treatment system of TCM syndrome differentiation, and formed a self-
contained theory in terms of etiology, pathogenesis, and dialectical diagnosis and treatment of TCM. 
Until today, the development of Chinese medicine has a history of thousands of years. The status of TCM 
and its role in modern clinics has recovered after the decline. Internationally, acupuncture arouses great interest 
in the medical community. Acupuncture can effectively relieve post-operative pain, nausea during pregnancy, 
nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, and toothache, with extremely low side effects. However, for 
chronic pain, back pain, and headache, the data is ambiguous or controversial. WHO agrees that the effectiveness 
of many acupunctures and some herbal medicines can be supported by scientific double-blind studies, but 
other traditional therapies need to be further studied, and the safety of these therapies cannot be ignored. On 
May 26, 2002, WHO published the Global Strategy for Traditional Medicine Research 2002-2005 and invited many 
countries to incorporate alternative medicine into their medical policies. On October 1, 2018, WHO included 
TCM for the first time in its globally influential medical program in Chapter 26 of the 11th edition of the Global 
Medical Compendium. This chapter mainly explains the classification system of traditional medicine, which will be 
implemented in the WHO member states after 2022. 
The original innovation and revolution of the basic theory of modern Chinese medicine began in the 
1990s. Three novel philosophical views of TCM exist: holistic view, syndrome differentiation view, and 
the newly excavated third philosophical view of TCM: similarity view-fractal theory. In this COVID19 
pandemic, Chinese medicine based on Zhang Zhongjing’s traditional prescription still plays an important 
role. The team of Academician Zhong Nanshan published a paper to propose the effect of Lianhua 
Qingwen Capsule in controlling the pandemic. Besides masks and disinfectants, Chinese medicine has 
become indispensable in this pandemic. 
1.3　top 10 fAMous chinese doctors in history 
Chinese culture has a long history, which is broad and profound. As one of China’s national 

中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine6中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine 中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine6中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine 
quintessence, Chinese medicine is a representative of Chinese culture. TCM is the crystallization and 

embodiment of the wisdom of the Chinese nation. TCM plays an important role in the world medical 
system. In the context of the vigorous development of Chinese medicine, the Chinese nation has seen 

many famous doctors. Their emergence promoted the development of Chinese culture and TCM, leaving 

a wealth of visiting books and prescription treatments for 

future generations. There are countless famous Chinese 

medicine doctors, but here we list ten Chinese medicine 
doctors who have representative value. 

1.3.1　Fu Xi 
Fu Xi is the ancestor of mankind in Chinese 
mythology, who lived in the middle and late Paleolithic 
period as one of the originators of Chinese medicine. Fuxi 

created nine needles and tasted hundreds of medicines. 
For thousands of years, TCM practitioners have regarded 
him as the ancestor of medicine and acupuncture. Fu Xi’s 
contribution mainly lies in the theoretical basis of Chinese 
medicine (Figure 1.3). 

Through the changes of Yin and Yang, Fuxi deduces 

and combines these four images and the Bagua (八卦Figure 1.4) 
Qian (乾), Kan (坎), Gen (艮), Zhen (震), Xun (巽), Li (离), 
Kun (坤), Dui (兑) The Eight Diagrams are composed of 
Yin Yao and Yang Yao. There are eight hexagrams in the 
Bagua diagram, but each hexagram has three lines, and the disconnection and connection in each hexagram 
have a strange law. Applying the changing law of the three lines to graphics, it is generally considered that “--” 
is Yang and “--” 
is Yin. A system in which all things can be understood is formed through permutation and 
combination, and becomes the theoretical basis for later generations of Chinese medicine. Eight trigrams 

serve as a theoretical framework for explaining physiological, pathological and medical theories. Fu Xi’ 
eight trigrams divide the human body into five outer elements and five inner elements. The outer elements 
are the head as Qian, Kun as abdomen, Zhen as foot, Xun as stock, Kan as ear, Li as eye, Gen as hand, and 
Dui as mouth. For the inner five elements, Qian is the lung, Li is the heart, Xun is the gall, Zhen is the liver, 
Gen is the spleen, Kun is the stomach, and Kan is the kidney. The pathology of the five internal organs is 
due to its own imbalance of Yin and Yang, as well as the 
constraints on these five elements. Fu Xi’s philosophy of 
life is to understand all pathological changes that occur 
in the human body through a macroscopic, holistic and 

individualized view. 

Later, doctors used eight trigrams to classify the 

ears, hands, feet, and eyes into eight parts to explain the 

occurrence and treatment of diseases. When formulating 
a prescription for the clinical diagnosis and treatment 
of diseases in TCM, the first thing to do is to localize the 

disease. For example, patients with insomnia mostly suffer 

from liver and kidney Yin deficiency or heart-kidney 
incompatibility; the prescription should nourish the liver 

and kidneys and warm the heart. Patients with cough are 

mostly spleen and lung deficiency. TCM practitioners 

should take the pulse in the Kun position and switch 


Figure 1.3　Portrait of Fu Xi 


Figure 1.4　Schematic of Bagua 


positions to cultivate the earth to produce gold, so as to achieve the spleen and lung power. Patients 
with menstrual bladder pain on both sides of the spine could take the spine, because the water of the 
Kan hexagram corresponds to the Ren channel, ears, kidneys and bladder; if the pain is in the spine, then 
its stem position is taken. The Qian hexagram is golden, corresponding to the spine and the governing 

channel. The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic-Suwen-Golden Chamber True Statements (《黄帝内经·素问·金
匮真言论》) said: “Speaking of Yin and Yang in the viscera, the viscera is Yin, and the viscera is Yang. The 

five internal organs of liver, heart, spleen, lung and kidney are Yin. Gallbladder, stomach, large intestine, 
small intestine, bladder, three-burner, and six internal organs are all Yang, which describes the division of 

the Yin and Yang in the body’s viscera. The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic-Suwen-Qi Tongtian Theory (《黄帝
内经·素问·生气通天论》) propose that, the essential elements of Yin and Yang, “Spirit is the cure”, and 
the “Qi (《气》) ” in the human body distinguishes between Yin and Yang. 

Although Fu Xi’s contribution to ancient Chinese medicine did not leave a classic, the Yin and 
Yang, five elements, and eight trigrams theories established by Fu Xi guided the physiology, pathology, 
syndrome differentiation and medicinal practice of Chinese medicine. 

1.3.2　Bian Que 
Sima Qian said in the chapter of Historical Biography of Bian Que Cang Gong (《史记·扁鹊仓工传》, 
Figure 1.5): Women have neither beauty nor evil, they see jealousy in the palace; scholars are not good, 
and they see doubts when they enter the court. Therefore, 
Bian Que uses his tricks to see the trouble, and the Cang 
gong hides himself. Teng Weiyin, a Japanese physician, 
comments: “Bian Que is the ancient genius doctor.” 
Bian 
Que is one of the representative figures of ancient Chinese 
medicine. 

Bian Que, a citizen of Yue, was a famous doctor in 

the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period, 

who was born in Bohai County (Jizhou Town, Xiong 
County). Bian Que studied medicine when he was young, 

and learned a lot of forbidden prescriptions from Chang 

Sangjun as his teacher. Due to his excellent medical skills, 
he was rated as a genius doctor. He cured Zhao Jianzi’s 
five-day unawake disease. Zhao Jianzi rewarded him with 
the 40, 000 acres of Pengque mountain fields in Bianque. At the top of the mountain and above the Bianque 
Cave Mansion, there are natural stone magpies eager to fly and the magical stone figure of the world. Zhao 
people regarded Qin Yue people as auspicious magpies, and respectfully called them “Bian Que” or “Zhao 
Bian Que”. Therefore, people at that time borrowed the name of the genius doctor “Bian Que” from the 
Huangdi period in ancient mythology to call him, whose reputation spreads throughout the country. 

It is regrettable that Bian Que was killed by jealous people, which is a regret in history. His 
contributions to TCM remain invaluable to this day. Neiqiu is the birthplace and hometown of the Bian 
Que culture. The medical techniques of Huang’s medicine have been passed down from generation 
to generation in Bian Que Temple. Yan Bolu and his son rebuilt Bian Que’s diagnosis of diseases and 
followed the 4-pillar diagnosis formulated by Qian Que, such as looking at color, listening to sounds, 
writing shadows, and feeling pulses, who were good at observing superficial color for diagnosis and 
prognosis of diseases. Bian Que specializes in internal, external, female, harmonious, and incisional 
diagnosis. The five sense organs, acupuncture, massage, soup, hot ironing and other methods can be used 
to treat pediatric diseases. Qian Que is respected as the ancestor of medicine due to his contribution to 
TCM. 

Bian Que initiated pulse diagnosis to judge diseases and proposed the corresponding pulse diagnosis 
theory. Bian Que’s pulse-sensation diagnosis is very prominent at a higher level. In the early Qin Dynasty, 


Figure 1.5　Portrait of Bian Que 


中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine8中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine 中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine8中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine 
the pulse diagnosis of Chinese medicine was a three part nine waiting method. 

In terms of treatment, Bian Que uses comprehensive treatments, which is the main treatment 
method for Bian Que while practicing medicine. Bian Que is an all-rounder who treats all kinds of 
diseases concurrently and acts according to local needs. When he was in Handan, he heard that the local 
people were caring for women, so he focused on being a doctor to treat the diseases of women. Bian 
Que specializes in the treatment of deafness, vertigo, and limb pain in the elderly. When he arrived in 
Xianyang, he heard about the children’s diseases of the Qin people and began to treat such diseases, thus 
flexibly changing the scope of his treatment for different patients. Qin’s imperial physician told Li Xi that 

his medical skills were inferior to Bian Que, and the latter sent 
someone to assassinate Bian Que. 

People using dialysis and pulse diagnosis around the world 
follow Bian Que’s theory and practice. According to records, Bian 
Que is also good at surgery with drug anesthesia. Therefore, to 
a certain extent, Bian Que’s achievements lay the foundation for 
TCM diagnostics and have a great influence on the development of 
Chinese medicine. He spent his whole life carefully summarizing 
existing medical diagnosis and treatment experience, translating 
it into his medical practice, and contributing to the field of TCM 
in diagnosis, pathology, and treatment methods. He is the author 

of Internal Classics and External Classics. The TCM practitioners 

respect Bian Que as the patriarch of ancient Chinese medicine and 

founder of ancient medicine. 

1.3.3　Zhang Zhongjing 
Zhang Zhongjing is one of the most outstanding scientists in 

the long civilizational history of the Chinese nation. His doctrine 

nurtured several generations of famous doctors and made great 

contributions to the prosperity of the Chinese nation (Figure 1.6). 

Zhang Zhongjing was born in Nanyang County (now 
Zhangzhai Village, Rangdong Town, Dengzhou City, Henan Province) in the Eastern Han Dynasty as a 
later generation medical saint. Zhang Zhongjing lived in an extremely 
turbulent era in ancient Chinese history—the late Eastern Han Dynasty. 
Wars continued, epidemics swept the Central Plains, and the people 
became homeless. Countless people died in exile. Since the early years 
of Jian’an, in less than ten years, two-thirds of his extended family 

have died of epidemics, and seven out of ten have died of typhoid 

fever. Faced with the raging plague, Zhang Zhongjing felt very sad 

and resentful. In this regard, Zhang Zhongjing determined to study the 
diagnosis and treatment of typhoid fever and must subdue the plague of 

typhoid fever. After decades of hard work, he finally wrote an immortal 
book entitled Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases, which is a 
summary of medical theory since the Qin and Han Dynasties. It is one 
of the most influential classical medical works in the history of TCM and 
the first masterpiece of clinical therapy (Figure 1.7). 

Zhang Zhongjing proposed “differentiation and treatment” in 

his book, which absolutely dominated the development of Chinese 

medicine in later generations. In addition, Zhang Zhongjing is modest 

and prudent and advocates lifelong learning. His spirit affects future 
generations. In the book preface, he said: The one who is born to know 

Figure 1.6　Portrait of Zhang Zhongjing 


Figure 1.7　Treatise on Febrile and 
Miscellaneous Diseases 


goes, learns less, learns more, knows more, and then knows the second. Zhang Zhongjing commented 
that he was not a genius, and he could only gain knowledge by studying hard. His masterpiece Treatise 
on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases, which establishes the principles of syndrome differentiation and 
treatment, is the basic principle of TCM clinical practice, the soul of TCM, and a classic work for post-
scholars to study TCM. He has made important contributions to the development of TCM, whose 
medical philosophy and insights still affect today’s society. As early as 1997, WHO proposed that 
the best medical model of the 21st century is personalized medicine, which coincides with Zhang 

Zhongjing’s thought of “differentiation and treatment”. 

1.3.4　Hua Tuo 
Hua Tuo is one of the outstanding surgeons in the history of Chinese medicine. When it comes 
to Hua Tuo, the first thing most people think of is the description of Hua Tuo’s treatment of Guan 
Yu in Luo Guanzhong’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms. However, the description in this paragraph 
may be fabricated in The Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Xiangyang Fuzhi circulating widely 
among the people of Hubei. Although Guan Yu has a bone scraping to heal his injuries, Hua Tuo 
died a few years earlier than his surgery. Of course, it is undeniable that Hua Tuo’s medical skills are 
extraordinary (Figure 1.8). 

Hua Tuo (approximately 145 AD-208 AD) was a native 
of Qiao County in Peiguo and a famous medical scientist of 
the late Eastern Han Dynasty. When Hua Tuo was young, he 
modestly studied medical skills far away from his hometown. 
He did not seek to make a difference in his official career. His 
medical practice is not only limited to one area, but also spreads 
all over Anhui, Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, and other places. 
After decades of medical practice, Hua Tuo specializes in health 
preservation, prescriptions, acupuncture, and surgery. He is 
proficient in internal medicine, external medicine, gynecology, 
and pediatrics. He is an expert in clinical treatment, accurate 
diagnosis, simple methods, and fast curative effects known as the 
“genius doctor”. 

Hua Tuo plays a pioneering role in the development of 
Chinese medicine from the perspective of treating diseases such 
as fever, visceral diseases, mental illness, obesity, and parasitic 
diseases, as well as external diseases including pediatrics and 
gynecology such as trauma, intestinal carbuncle, tumor, fracture, 
needle error, breast cancer, Stillbirth, diarrhea in children, etc. Hua Tuo pioneered the invention of 
Ma Fei San (麻沸散), a drug used for general anesthesia as an anesthetic precedent in the world. Hua 
Tuo uses Ma Fei San to perform surgical operations, who is the initiator of surgery. The emergence of 
Western anesthetics was 1, 600 years later than that of Hua Tuo’s Ma Fei San. Hua Tuo is proficient in 
herb prescriptions, acupuncture, and moxibustion. Hua Tuo visited many doctors and discovered drugs 
with anesthetic effects. After many trials of formulations, he finally succeeded in creating an anesthetic. 
He prepared anesthetics and hot wine to make the patient unconscious. Then, he will open the abdominal 
cavity, cut the ulcer, wash the filth, suture it with mulberry thread, and then apply magic ointment. 
Patients will relieve from the pain in four to five days and recover in one month. Hua Tuo uses the tincture 
service “Ma Fei San” 
to perform abdominal surgery, which is unprecedented and rare in the history of the 
world of TCM. This invention enables TCM to form its own system in the direction of surgery. 

In addition, Hua Tuo pioneered the use of sports to diagnose and treat diseases in ancient Chinese 
medicine. Hua Tuo inherited and developed the predecessor’s prevention theory of “sages do not cure 
their own diseases, and they will cure the disease before the disease”, and arranged a set of aerobics that 


Figure 1.8　Portrait of Hua Tuo 


中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine10中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine 中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine10中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine 
mimic the postures of five kinds of animals such as apes, deer, bears, and tigers for the elderly and infirm. 
Wuqinxi (禽戏), as a brand-new concept, enables Chinese medicine to become part of TCM. What this 
medical master left us is a wealth of medical knowledge and spirit. Hua Tuo lived in the early period 
of the Three Kingdoms and the late Eastern Han Dynasty. At that time, the warlords were in a state of 
chaos, epidemics were prevalent, and the people’s lives were difficult and miserable. In order to alleviate 
the suffering of people’s livelihood, Hua Tuo focusses on medical research rather than fame or wealth. 
The Book of the Later Han Dynasty-Hua Tuo Biography commented that he was “skilled in both mathematics 
and sexual nurturing”, especially “good at prescriptions”. He compiled his rich medical experience into 
a medical book called The Qing Nang Jing, but unfortunately this work was not passed down. Hua Tuo 
critically inherited the academic achievements of his predecessors and created new theories based on 
previous experiences. In his time, the development of TCM was very brilliant, such as Bian Que’s analysis 
of physiology and pathology in the Spring and Autumn Period. Hua Tuo maintained the essence and 

removed the dross, thus improving the level of Chinese medicine. 

1.3.5　Huang Fumi 
Huang Fumi (Figure 1.9) whose name is Shi’an, was named as Jing when he was young, and Xuanyan 
Xian Sheng in his later years. Huang Fumi was a medical scientist in Wei Jin Dynasty. According to historical 
records, Huang Fumi was born in a famous family in the Eastern Han Dynasty. He was eager to play 
since he was a child and never studied to improve. For example, 
he made a shield with village children and a spear with sticks 
rather than studying. By the age of seventeen, he was already tall, 

but he didn’t understand history. Family traditions are gradually 
fading. Under the reprimand of his aunt, he decided to study 

hard. He made up his mind to compile a book on acupuncture and 
moxibustion. He studied three well-known ancient medical works, 

namely Su Wen (《素问》), Acupuncture Jing (“Lingshu”), and 
Ming tang Acupoint Acupuncture Treatment Essentials, and made a 

comprehensive comparison to delete the floating words. Except 
for its repetition, he also discussed its essence, combined with his 
own clinical experience, and eventually wrote a masterpiece as a 

standard for later generations of acupuncture The Yellow Emperor’s 
Three Acupuncture and Moxibustion Classics, also called Acupuncture 
and Moxibustion A and B Classics or A-B Classic. In the history of 

acupuncture and moxibustion, this book occupies a high academic 

position. Huang Fumi is known as the originator of acupuncture. 

People may wonder why Huang Fumi, who lives in the turbulent social life environment, does not 
strive for high-ranking officials and wealth and with extraordinary perseverance, writes and speaks, 
instead of an eternal scholar. Perhaps we can learn from his perspective of the universe. Like many 
scholars in ancient China, he did not systematically explore the origin and essence of nature, nor did 
he leave any special expositions and monographs. However, he caught a glimpse of his philosophical 
views from numerous works handed down. The description in his A and B Classic of the Five Zang Change 
shows that he agrees that the world is material, and everything develops and changes in the contradiction 
between Yin and Yang, which promotes the prosperity of everything. Withered by the social and historical 
evolution and progress, Yin and Yang are constantly transforming and restricting each other. Huang Fumi 
has established a correct outlook on the world and life, and uses a dialectic perspective to understand, 
analyze, and solve problems. Witnessing the sinister social turmoil and political vortex, he is not 
pessimistic about it. He believes that the change and replacement of dynasties indicate social progress, and 
these inevitable laws of historical development are irreversible. Corruption and darkness are reversed in 
social progress, and the sprays will eventually be washed away. Human activities must advance with the 


Figure 1.9　Portrait of Huang Fumi 


times and respect the inevitable laws of historical development. 

1.3.6　Sun Simiao 
Li Shimin commented: “he is the master of a hundred generations and respectable TCM doctor”. Sun 
Simiao is a native of Jingzhao Dongyuan (Sunjiayuan, Yao County, Shaanxi Province), who was born in 
the first year of Kaihuang in the Sui Dynasty and died in the first year of Tang Yongchun. He lived 102 or 
141 years old and he was a famous medical scientist and pharmacologist in the history of China and even 
the world. He was respected by the people as the “King of Medicine”. According to records, Sun Simiao 
was very talented since he was a child. When he was 7 years old, he knew more than a thousand words. By 
the time he was 20 years old, he became acquainted with the classics of hundreds of scholars. During the 
Northern Zhou Dynasty, Yang Jian was in charge of the government and called Sun Simiao a doctor of the 
country. Sun Simiao believes that government officials are sophisticated and restrictive. Hence, he devoted 
himself to medicine, herbs, and pharmacology. Later, he lived in seclusion in the Taibai Mountains. He 
earnestly studied ancient medical books. Dr. Sun is enthusiastic about treating diseases and accumulating 
clinical experience. Based on his experience and existing theoretical 
basis, Sun Simiao wrote the medical books Qianjin Yaofang and 
Qianjin Yifang (Figure 1.10). 

Sun Simiao has made many achievements and contributions 
to the development of TCM. He specialized in internal medicine, 
gynecology, pediatrics, surgery, and ENT. For the first time in TCM, 
he advocated that the treatment methods for women and children’s 
diseases should be set up separately, thereby first discussing 
gynecology and pediatrics. He attached great importance to maternal 
and child health care. He wrote three volumes of “Prescriptions 
for Women” 
and two volumes of “Prescriptions for Toddlers and 
Children”, which were placed at the top of “Prescriptions for a 
Thousand Golds”. Future generations of medical workers have 
shown great importance to the study of treatment techniques for 
gynecological and pediatric diseases. Sun Simiao advocated for 
self-health preservation and practice. He combined the health 
preservation of Confucianism, Taoism, and ancient Indian Buddhism with the theory of Chinese medicine, 
and put forward many practical health preservation methods. 

At the same time, Sun Simiao advocated the importance of medical ethics, regardless of “noble and lowly, 
rich and poor, young and old, resenting relatives and friends, and stupidity and wisdom”. Life is the most 
important thing and is more expensive than thousands of gold. He believes that doctors must relieve patients’ 
pain as their sole responsibility without private desires and demands, and treat patients with equality and 
supremacy. He is committed to saving lives, not seeking fame and fortune. He spent his entire life on realizing 
Taoist’s medical ethics, and he was the founder of Chinese medical ethics. In his famous work “A Thousand 
Gold Prescriptions”, the medical ethics of “grand doctors are sincere”is in an extremely important position. He is 
one of the representative figures of moral cultivation, moral cultivation, and virtue and art. 

It is worth mentioning that in ancient society, natural materials were used to treat diseases. Sun 
Simiao is one of the few Chinese medicine practitioners who do not advocate the use of animals as 
medicine. He said: “TCM practitioners risk their lives to help treat their own diseases since ancient times. 
Cheap animals save the lives of nobles and themselves and avoid harms.” Sun Simiao’s theory guides 
people’s daily lives, and maintains a balanced mindset. People should not blindly pursue fame and 
fortune, and eating should be temperate, which are precious experiences for future generations. 

1.3.7　Song Ci 
Song Ci is a well-known Chinese medicine doctor and the originator of forensic medicine in history, 


Figure 1.10　Portrait of Sun Simiao 


中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine12中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine 中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine12中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine 
who is known as one of the ten famous detectives in ancient China. Song Ci (1186-1249, Figure 1.11) was 
born in Jianyang (now Nanping, Fujian), and he was a famous forensic scientist in the Southern Song 
Dynasty. Song Ci pioneered the “forensic appraisal” 
in 1235 AD as a precedent of forensic medicine in the 

world, and is known as the “father of forensic medicine”. 

Song Ci served as a prison officer in Guangdong, Hunan and 

other places, concentrating on field inspections. The five-volume 
“Compilation of Injustices” 
is the first systematic and the earliest 

recognized forensic monograph in the world. He made significant 

contributions to the development of TCM and forensic medicine. 
Regarding the specific examination of the corpse, Song Ci’s 
materialism in forensic theory and practice promoted the diagnosis of 

death because, to a certain extent, it requires high technique. Forensic 

practitioners should have good ideological and moral character, and 

deep medical foundation with scientific knowledge and methods. 
Song Ci, who was born as a Confucian, has no knowledge of 

medicine and other related sciences. In order to make up for this 
shortcoming, he assiduously studied medical books and applied 

relevant knowledge of physiology, pathology, pharmacology, 
toxicology, and diagnostic methods to examine deaths and injuries. 
He carefully summarized his previous experience to prevent “Loss of 
Prison Situation” and “Mistaken Verification”. After many years of 
testing practice, he worked hard to develop diverse and scientific testing methods and spared no effort in 
this regard. Inheriting from the book The Collected Records of Washing Injustices that has been passed down 
to him, the variety, comprehensiveness, and accuracy of the inspection methods contained therein are 

unprecedented. He lived a simple life and paid attention to training the younger generation, which played 

an important role in the development of TCM. 

1.3.8　Ge Hong 
Due to the lack of scientific theoretical explanations in ancient TCM, some people think that Chinese 
medicine is a kind of superstition and should not exist in this era. Ge Hong, a well-known Chinese medicine 
expert, used practical experience to prove the error of this statement and the scientific principles of TCM. Ge 
Hong was called Zhichuan (Figure 1.12), self-named Bao Puzi, from Jurong, Danyang County, Jin (now Jurong 
County, Jiangsu). Ge Xuan’s nephew, the alchemist of the Three Kingdoms, is known as Xiaoxianweng (《小
仙翁》). He was a Taoist leader in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and was good at alchemy. He studied medicine, 
Taoism and Confucianism, and had profound thoughts and works. He has made great achievements 
in the internal and external development of Taoist theory. He made achievements in healing, medicine, 
music, literature, etc., and is the author of the book Baopuzi 
(《抱朴子》). 

Ge Hong’s life is extremely legendary. Besides his 
identity being a TCM scientist, he was also a Taoist scholar 
and alchemist. Ge Hong was born into the noble family 
of Jiangnan, and lost his father at the age of 13, leaving 
his family in poverty. He used his income from cutting 
firewood in exchange for pen and paper, copying books, 
and studying after work until late at night. The villagers 
called him a scholar of Baopu or “Baopuzi”. 

Ge Hong is the first scientist in China to observe and 
record tuberculosis. He described a disease called “Zhou 
Zhu” in “Elbow Reserve Emergency Recipe”, telling that 


Figure 1.11　Portrait of Song Ci 


Figure 1.12　Portrait of Ge Hong 


this disease can be contagious to each other and is constantly changing. People with this disease cannot 
tell where they feel uncomfortable, afraid of catching a cold, fever, tiredness and getting lost. Patients lose 
weight every day, and they will die after suffering for a long time. The disease Ge Hong described is what 
we now call tuberculosis. Ge Hong’s method is scientifically justified and contains budding immunological 
ideas. Ge Hong took preventive measures against rabies as a pioneer in immunology, which began from 
Pasteur in France, Europe. Pasteur used artificial methods to infect rabbits with rabies. Then he took out 

the brains of the sick rabbits and injected them to prevent and treat rabies. The principle is similar to that 

of Ge Hong. Pasteur’s working method is, of course, more scientific, but it is more than 1, 000 years later 
than Ge Hong. 

The main activities of Ge Hong’s life were engaged in alchemy and medicine. He was also a religious 
theorist who combined Confucianism with Taoism. Ge Hong dared to “suspect the ancients” and opposed 
“expensive and inferior to the present.” 
He emphasized innovation and believed that “even though there 
are many ancient books, they may not be perfect.” 
Ge Hong read a large number of medical books and 
paid attention to analysis and research. In his medical practice, he summarized his treatment experience 
and collected private medical experience. He completed the 100-volume book Yuhanfang (《御寒方》). Due 
to a large number of volumes and difficulty in carrying and retrieving, the abstracts of common clinical 
diseases, emergencies and their treatments are compiled into 3 volumes of “Rescue Peasants’ Prescriptions 
Behind the Elbow”, which makes it easy for doctors to carry and meet the needs of clinical emergency 
retrieval. This book is the first clinical aid manual in the history of Chinese medicine. 

1.3.9　Li Shizhen 
Li Shizhen (July 3, 1518-1593, Figure 1.13), whose name is Dongbi, became a native of Hushan in his 
later years and was born in Qizhou, Huangzhou Prefecture (now Qichun County, Hubei Province), and a 
famous medical scientist of the Ming Dynasty. Li Shizhen comes from a medical family. His grandfather 
was an herbalist, and his father, Li Yanwen, was a famous doctor. At that time, private doctors had low 
status and difficult lives. His father did not want Li Shizhen 
to study medicine. When Li Shizhen was 14 years old, he 
went with his father to the Huangzhou Mansion to take the 
exam and returned home as a talented scholar. However, he 
loved medicine since childhood, and was not keen on imperial 
examinations. After that, he went to Wuchang three times to 
take the exam and eventually decided to abandon Confucianism. 
At the age of 23, he studied medicine with his father, and his 
reputation in the medical field grew day by day. 

Li Shizhen’s academic thoughts and research methods are 
very distinctive. He has improved the ancient scientific methods 
and accumulated new research experience through his own 
practical experience. Li Shizhen uses methods of observation and 
experiment, comparison and classification, analysis and synthesis, 
critical inheritance, and historical textual research. He is the author of the Compendium of Materia Medica (《本
草纲目》), which has made a significant contribution to the development of Chinese pharmacology with a 
profound impact on the development of world medicine, botany, zoology, mineralogy, and chemistry. 

1.3.10　Qian Yi 
Some people believe that the classification of TCM is vague, and it is impossible to achieve an 
“individualized plan” for treating a single patient. The classification of TCM is detailed, and it is not 
inferior to Western medicine, which is demonstrated in the famous Chinese classic Siku Quanshu General 
Catalogue Summary (《四库全书总目提要》). The author of this book is a Chinese medicine practitioner 
regarded as “the best Pediatrician of this generation”. 


Figure 1.13　Portrait of Li Shizhen 


中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine14中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine 中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine14中药基础理论Traditional Chinese Medicine 
Qian Yi, whose name is Zhongyang (Figure 1.14), lived 
in Dongping of the Song Dynasty. He was born approximately 
between Renzong and Huizong in the Northern Song Dynasty 
(approximately 1032—1113 AD). He practiced pediatrics and cured 
the pediatric diseases of the imperial relatives. Qian Yi had an 
outstanding reputation with the title of Hanlin Doctor of Medicine. 
Qian Yi has accumulated rich clinical experience during his years of 
practicing medicine, thereby serving as Cheng at Taiyuan Hospital. 

In the Qian’s era, the development of TCM was practically 
completed. Qian Yi has made great contributions to the cause 
of Chinese medicine. Qian Yi studied TCM with Lv Jun since 

childhood, involving “Neijing”, “Treatise on Febrile Diseases”, “Shen 
Nong’s Materia Medica”, etc. He worked hard to discriminate the 
right and wrong in “Shen Nong’s Materia Medica”. He explained 
in detail the difference from “birth” to “search for names and 
appearances”, with the latter checking the cursive script and fitting 
them all together. He collects and studies ancient and contemporary 
pediatric materials. Before Qian Yi, there was very little information about the treatment of pediatric 
diseases. Bian Que is a pediatric doctor, and the Cranial Fontan Sutra (《颅方丹经》) written by Wei 
Xun in the Eastern Han Dynasty was unfortunately lost. There are records of pediatric diseases in Chao 

Yuanfang’s Theories on the Sources of Various Diseases and Sun Simiao’s Qian Jin Fang. At the beginning of 
the Song Dynasty, people entrusted an ancient wizard to write the second volume of “The Skull Fontan 
Sutra”, which talked about the pediatric pulse, disease diagnosis, treatment of epilepsy, malaria, fire pill 

(i.e. erysipelas), and other syndromes. Qian Yi repeatedly studied this book and used curative methods in 
the clinic, which has far-reaching enlightening significance. Qian Yi took advantage of the enlightenment 
of the theory of “Pure Yang in children” 
in the “Cranial Fontan Sutra”, combined with his personal clinical 
practice on the basis of syndrome differentiation and treatment summarized by Zhang Zhongjing, and 
explored a set of “five internal organs differentiation” method suitable for children. Qian Yi’s achievements 
have a great influence on TCM syndrome differentiation and prescriptions. He established the professional 
status of pediatrics as a milestone figure in the history of Chinese medicine. With a wonderful hand and a 
benevolent heart, the goal of the TCM doctor is to make young and old people healthy, demonstrating the 
broadness and benevolence of Chinese medicine. 
From the taste of herbs to the gradual improvement of prescriptions and medicines, the coagulation 
of TCM theory is the unremitting effort of our ancestors. TCM is established step by step by practitioners 

of Chinese medicine. Standing on the shoulders of giants, TCM will surely get a resurgence and further 
development integrated with modern science and technologies. 


Figure 1.14　Portrait of Qian Yi 


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