Origins of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Name: Origins of Traditional Chinese Medicine
ISBN: 9787514333572

Xiao DongfaModern Press · ChinaMay 2025

3.3

Word count: 76K words
Chapters: 29
ISBN: 9787514333572

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Summary

This book covers such topics as Shennong tasting a hundred herbs for the benefit of the people, Yi Yin proposing that medicine and food share the same origin and creating decoctions, and the divine physician Bian Que founding pulse diagnosis in Chinese medicine.

Editor's review

The Origins of Chinese Medicine is not a daunting theoretical monograph but an introductory general-reader book that guides modern people to inquire into the wellsprings of Chinese medicine. With his deep grounding in cultural research, the author Xiao Dongfa attempts to strip away the esoteric shell added by later ages and return to the plain worldview and view of life at the birth of Chinese medicine. The book's core value lies in its systematic tracing of the shared origins between the theoretical system of Chinese medicine (such as yin-yang and the five phases, zang-xiang and meridians) and ancient Chinese astronomy, geography, calendrics, philosophy, and even social ethics, revealing that Chinese medicine is not an isolated medical technique but a wisdom of life deeply rooted in the overall cognitive framework of Chinese civilization. For beginners, the book effectively dispels mystique and builds a "cultural map" for understanding why Chinese medicine thinks and speaks as it does. Its prose is plain and its exposition clear, avoiding an accumulation of overly technical terms, and it is highly readable. It should be noted, however, that the book focuses on tracing and interpreting origins at the historical and cultural level, with relatively limited discussion of specific diagnostic and treatment techniques and the application of formulas and medicinals; it is better read as a "prequel" for understanding the philosophical foundations and modes of thought of Chinese medicine. It is more like a key that helps readers open the door to a correct understanding of Chinese medicine than a portable clinical guide.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Introductory readers interested in Chinese medicine culture who wish to understand its philosophical foundations and modes of thought
Enthusiasts studying traditional Chinese culture and history who wish to explore the connections between medicine and civilization
General readers who find Chinese medicine theory esoteric and hard to understand and hope for clear background interpretation
Practitioners in the health and wellness industry who wish to deepen their cultural grounding to communicate better with clients

Not a good fit for

Clinical practitioners or patients seeking specific treatment plans, formula combinations, or acupuncture techniques
Readers expecting large amounts of modern medical experimental data to verify the scientific validity of Chinese medicine

Reading tips

It is recommended to read the whole book through first and grasp the main thread of the connections between Chinese medicine and ancient civilization, without getting bogged down in individual details.
When reading, combining basic knowledge of ancient Chinese history and philosophy will help with understanding.
After finishing the book, if interested in specific theories, one may choose modern interpretive editions of classics such as the Huangdi Neijing as extended reading.

About the publisher

Modern Press China · Founded in 1982

Founded in 1982, Modern Press is a Chinese publisher that serves general readers across a diverse range of subjects. Judging from its catalog, its publishing focuses on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, psychological research and application, popular science, and modern poetry, along with history, biography, and children's books. The Book of Songs, the illustrated vernacular edition of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, The Complete Poems of Dai Wangshu, and Buddhism in the Vegetable Roots reflect efforts to make traditional culture and poetry accessible; works by Carl Gustav Jung such as The Development of Personality and Understanding Your Psychological Type, together with titles from the Ivy International Education Alliance, show sustained attention to psychology and educational reading; and Stephen Hawking's works and the illustrated two-volume Brief History of Everything and A Brief History of Time indicate a commitment to popular science. Its authors include figures such as Qu Wanli, Xu Ke, Dai Wangshu, and Jung, and its publishing emphasizes retelling classics and accessible, illustrated presentation. Because public information is limited, this summary is based only on the titles in our catalog.

版权信息
序言
药食本草——中医起源
神农氏尝百草造福于民
伊尹提出医食同源创汤液
神医扁鹊创立中医脉象学
《山海经》积累丰富药物
病理探究——中医发展
张仲景著《伤寒杂病论》
《神农本草经》和《难经》
王叔和依脉理编撰《脉经》
神医华佗妙手回春疗百疾
董奉医德高尚杏林春满
皇甫谧著《针灸甲乙经》
葛洪撰写多部实用医著
马王堆汉墓收藏丰富医典
臻于完善——中医突破
巢元方编撰《诸病源候论》
苏敬等编撰《新修本草》
孙思邈著宝典《千金方》
宋代大力推动医学进步
钱乙与董汲推动儿科进步
金元医学四大家的争鸣
走向辉煌——中医成就
朱橚编纂多部济世医著
李时珍撰巨著《本草纲目》
吴又可著传染病专著
明清中医内外科积累丰富
叶天士桃李满园传授医术

FAQ

What is the background of the author Xiao Dongfa?

Xiao Dongfa is a professor at Peking University who has long taught and researched publishing studies, philology, and cultural history; he is not a professional Chinese medicine physician. His perspective is more that of a cultural historian, interpreting the origins and system-building of Chinese medicine from the angle of civilizational evolution.

What is the book's Douban rating?

According to checks, the book's rating on the Douban Reading platform is about 7.5 (ratings may change dynamically). Most reviews consider it, as an introductory reader on Chinese medicine culture, distinctive in perspective and clear in exposition, though possibly insufficient in depth for professional readers.

What is the difference between this book and the Huangdi Neijing?

The Huangdi Neijing is a foundational classic original of Chinese medicine theory and is profound in content. The Origins of Chinese Medicine is a modern scholar's cultural-background interpretation of why and how the theoretical system of Chinese medicine centered on the Neijing formed, aimed at helping modern people understand the logic of thought behind the classic; it can be seen as a "preparatory course" before reading the classic.

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About the author

Xiao Dongfa Author · China · 1949–2016

Xiao Dongfa (1949–2016), whose ancestral home was Tianjin and who was born in Shenyang, was a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, and director of its Institute of Modern Publishing. An important scholar in editing and publishing studies, he focused on the history of Chinese books, publishing history, and yearbook studies. He edited the History of Chinese Editing and Publishing and Chinese Libraries of Book Collecting, and led the National Social Science Fund key project A General History of Chinese Publishing, laying a solid foundation for the organization and narration of Chinese publishing history. Beyond academic writing, he attended to Peking University's institutional history and humanistic traditions, writing works such as Character: From the Imperial University to Old Peking University, Exemplars: Former Residences and Anecdotes of Peking University Notables, and Scenes: Yanyuan Landscapes and Cultural Heritage, which recount campus memories and personal stories with warmth. His works also touch on the four treasures of the study, garden architecture, and academic writing standards. Some 491 of his titles are held in the library, spanning language and culture, biography, and architecture, and combining scholarly rigor with accessible readability.