The Complete Medical Works of Chao Yuanfang

Wang XudongChina Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine · ChinaNov 2019

Rating 4.4
Word count
233K words
Chapters
142
ISBN
9787513250719

Tags

Medicine TCM ClassicsClinical ReferenceMedical LiteratureDaoyin Health PreservationEtiology and SymptomsPathologySyndrome StudyDisease OriginsDocument ArrangementSui Dynasty Medicine

Summary

The Treatise on the Origins and Symptoms of Diseases (Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun) was completed in the sixth year of the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty (610 CE). In fifty volumes and sixty-seven sections, it records 1,739 disease patterns across internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, and the five sense organs, discussing the causes, pathology, and symptoms of each. Some entries also include preventive and therapeutic methods such as health preservation and daoyin exercises. Clear in structure and rich in content, it is the earliest systematic and comprehensive monograph on etiology, pathology, and symptomatology in Chinese history, of great value as a scientific and historical record and as practical clinical guidance. Since the Song Dynasty it has been ranked alongside the Basic Questions (Suwen) and the Classic of Difficult Issues (Nanjing) as one of the "Seven Classics" and served as a core subject in physicians' examinations. Successive dynasties have regarded it as a classic of Chinese medicine, using it directly to guide medical practice and research, and it is also highly valued in Japan, Korea, and other Southeast Asian countries.

Editor's review

This book centers on the Treatise on the Origins and Symptoms of Diseases by Chao Yuanfang of the Sui Dynasty, compiled and studied by Wang Xudong and published by China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Completed in 610 CE in fifty volumes and sixty-seven sections, the work records 1,739 disease patterns across internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, and the five sense organs, systematically discussing causes, pathology, and symptoms, with some entries covering preventive and therapeutic methods such as health preservation and daoyin. It is the earliest extant Chinese monograph on etiology, pathology, and symptomatology with relatively systematic and comprehensive content. Since the Song Dynasty it has been ranked with the Basic Questions and the Classic of Difficult Issues as one of the "Seven Classics" and has long served as a classic for medical education and clinical reference. The value of this edition lies in turning a voluminous work written in archaic language into a searchable, studyable compiled text, helping readers grasp its scholarly context and historical significance. Readers may focus both on how it describes disease patterns and on the ancient preventive thinking reflected in its daoyin and health-preservation content. It is suitable as a desk reference for researchers in Chinese medical literature and medical history and for clinicians, and for advanced readers interested in classics of Chinese medicine who wish to study it systematically, but it is not intended as a popular introduction.

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Reading tips

  1. Read the preface and editorial notes first to understand the base text, collation principles, and overall structure before turning to the main text.
  2. Read selectively by section, consulting the disease patterns in the specialties you care about rather than reading straight through.
  3. Keep foundational classics such as the Basic Questions and the Classic of Difficult Issues at hand to aid understanding of terminology and scholarly origins.
  4. Take notes on daoyin and health-preservation content and compare it with later literature to appreciate its sources and development.

About the publisher

China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine China · Founded in 1989

China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine focuses on publishing books in traditional Chinese medicine, covering Chinese medical classics, clinical medicine, acupuncture and tuina, materia medica and formulae, and medical history and literature; its catalogue includes 3,277 titles. Representative books include Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue, Shang Han Lun, Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu, Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, Yi Zong Jin Jian, and Guo Aichun's Annotated Huangdi Neijing Suwen (Second Edition). These works involve writings by historical physicians such as Qian Yi, Zhang Zhongjing, Wang Shuhe, and Zhang Xichun, as well as documentary studies compiled by contemporary authors including Zhao Xin, Zhen Xueyan, Zhang Yongtai, and Wang Xiangang. In terms of publishing characteristics, the press emphasizes collation and annotation of original Chinese medical classics and the systematic presentation of famous physicians' works, balancing the transmission of ancient editions with reference for clinical application. Public information is limited, and no other publishing fields are covered here.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 秦汉壮阔，晋隋风流，医随国运典籍成
  3. 诸病源候论
  4. 内容提要
  5. 整理说明
  6. 巢氏诸病源候总论序
  7. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之一
  8. 风病诸候上 凡二十九论
  9. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之二
  10. 风病诸候下 凡三十论
  11. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之三
  12. 虚劳病诸候上 凡三十九论
  13. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之四
  14. 虚劳病诸候下 凡三十六论
  15. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之五
  16. 腰背病诸候 凡十论
  17. 消渴病诸候 凡八论
  18. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之六
  19. 解散病诸候 凡二十六论
  20. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之七
  21. 伤寒病诸候上 凡三十三论
  22. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之八
  23. 伤寒病诸候下 凡四十四论
  24. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之九
  25. 时气病诸候 凡四十三论
  26. 热病诸候 凡二十八论
  27. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之十
  28. 温病诸候 凡三十四论
  29. 疫疠病诸候 凡三论
  30. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之十一
  31. 疟病诸候 凡十四论
  32. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之十二
  33. 黄病诸候 凡二十八论
  34. 冷热病诸候 凡七论
  35. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之十三
  36. 气病诸候 凡二十五论
  37. 脚气病诸候 凡八论
  38. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之十四
  39. 咳嗽病诸候 凡十五论
  40. 淋病诸候 凡八论
  41. 小便病诸候 凡八论
  42. 大便病诸候 凡五论
  43. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之十五
  44. 五脏六腑病诸候 凡十三论
  45. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之十六
  46. 心痛病诸候 凡五论
  47. 腹痛病诸候 凡四论
  48. 心腹痛病诸候 凡七论
  49. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之十七
  50. 痢病诸候 凡四十论
  51. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之十八
  52. 湿病诸候 凡三论
  53. 九虫病诸候 凡五论
  54. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之十九
  55. 积聚病诸候 凡六论
  56. 癥瘕病诸候 凡十八论
  57. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之二十
  58. 疝病诸候 凡十一论
  59. 痰饮病诸候 凡十六论
  60. 癖病诸候 凡十一论
  61. 痞噎病诸候 凡八论
  62. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之二十一
  63. 脾胃病诸候 凡五论
  64. 呕哕病诸候凡六论
  65. 宿食不消病诸候 凡四论
  66. 水肿病诸候 凡二十二论
  67. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之二十二
  68. 霍乱病诸候 凡二十四论
  69. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之二十三
  70. 中恶病诸候 凡十四论
  71. 尸病诸候 凡十二论
  72. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之二十四
  73. 注病诸候 凡三十四论
  74. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之二十五
  75. 蛊毒病诸候上 凡九论
  76. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之二十六
  77. 蛊毒病诸候下 凡二十七论
  78. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之二十七
  79. 血病诸候 凡九论
  80. 毛发病诸候下 凡十三论
  81. 面体病诸候 凡五论
  82. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之二十八
  83. 目病诸候 凡三十八论
  84. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之二十九
  85. 鼻病诸候 凡十一论
  86. 耳病诸候 凡九论
  87. 牙齿病诸候 凡二十一论
  88. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之三十
  89. 唇口病诸候 凡十七论
  90. 咽喉心胸病诸候 凡十一论
  91. 四肢病诸候 凡十四论
  92. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之三十一
  93. 瘿瘤等病诸候 凡一十五论
  94. 丹毒病诸候 凡一十三论
  95. 肿病诸候 凡一十七论
  96. 丁疮病诸候 凡一十三论
  97. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之三十二
  98. 痈疽病诸候上 凡一十六论
  99. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之三十三
  100. 痈疽病诸候下 凡二十九论
  101. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之三十四
  102. 瘘病诸候 凡三十五论
  103. 痔病诸候 凡六论
  104. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之三十五
  105. 疮病诸候 凡六十五论
  106. 伤疮病诸候 凡四论
  107. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之三十六
  108. 兽毒病诸候 凡四论
  109. 蛇毒病诸候 凡五论
  110. 杂毒病诸候 凡十四论
  111. 金疮病诸候 凡二十三论
  112. 腕伤病诸候 凡九论
  113. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之三十七
  114. 妇人杂病诸候 凡三十二论
  115. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之三十八
  116. 妇人杂病诸候二 凡一十九论
  117. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之三十九
  118. 妇人杂病诸候三 凡四十论
  119. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之四十
  120. 妇人杂病诸候四 凡五十论
  121. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之四十一
  122. 妇人妊娠病诸候上 凡二十论
  123. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之四十二
  124. 妇人妊娠病诸候下 凡四十一论
  125. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之四十三
  126. 妇人将产病诸候 凡三论
  127. 妇人难产病诸候 凡七论
  128. 妇人产后病诸候上 凡三十论
  129. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之四十四
  130. 妇人产后病诸候下 凡四十一论
  131. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之四十五
  132. 小儿杂病诸候一 凡二十九论
  133. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之四十六
  134. 小儿杂病诸候二 凡三十四论
  135. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之四十七
  136. 小儿杂病诸候三 凡四十五论
  137. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之四十八
  138. 小儿杂病诸候四 凡四十六论
  139. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之四十九
  140. 小儿杂病诸候五 凡五十论
  141. 重刊巢氏诸病源候总论卷之五十
  142. 小儿杂病诸候六 凡五十一论

FAQ

Is this book simply the original text of the Treatise on the Origins and Symptoms of Diseases? This book takes Chao Yuanfang's Treatise on the Origins and Symptoms of Diseases as its core content, compiled and studied by Wang Xudong, and is a compiled edition in the nature of a complete medical work. Readers can use the compiler's arrangement and notes to understand the original structure, but the main text remains classical medical discourse in literary Chinese, requiring some grounding in classical Chinese and Chinese medicine; it should not be expected to be a plain-language popular reader.
Can someone without classical Chinese read this book? It will be quite demanding. The original text is in literary Chinese with dense terminology and concise descriptions of disease patterns. Readers should first have basic theory in Chinese medicine and the ability to read classical Chinese, or use annotated editions and reference works alongside it. If you are merely interested in Chinese health preservation, start with popular science books and return to this classic once you have built up your foundations.
Do I have to read all 1,700-plus disease patterns? No. With fifty volumes and sixty-seven sections, the content is vast, and reading it all is time-consuming and not necessarily necessary. A more practical approach is to first understand the book's structure and scholarly standing, then read selectively by specialty or disease pattern according to your research direction or clinical interests, using it as a reference work and classic companion; this is more effective.
Does this book still have reference value for clinical practice today? It has reference value, but it should be viewed correctly. The book systematically records ancient understanding of disease causes, pathology, and symptoms and is an important document for studying the origins of Chinese medical scholarship; physicians of successive dynasties used it directly to guide practice and research. Today it should be read chiefly to understand its scholarly approach and historical significance; specific diagnosis and treatment must still follow modern standards and clinical realities, and ancient formulas should not be copied directly.

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About the author

Wang Xudong Author · Chinese · 1954

Wang Xudong, born in October 1954 in He County, Anhui Province, is a professor and doctoral supervisor at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, a national academic leader in the history and literature of Chinese medicine, an expert in health preservation and rehabilitation, a former member of the 10th to 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and currently a professor at the Institute of Science, Technology and Humanities of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He is the author of more than one hundred works, including Chinese Medicine Health Preservation and Rehabilitation and A Guide to Chinese Medical Culture; 11 of his works are held in this library. His writing spans medicine, industrial technology and education, ranging from editions of classical medical texts such as The Complete Medical Works of Chao Yuanfang and The Lady Physician Tan Yunxian and Analyses of Her Medical Cases, to practical technical titles on mechanical drawing, cooperative control of multiple UAVs and automotive English, as well as popular readings on music therapy and oral health care, combining professional rigor with accessibility to general readers.