The Origin of Medicine

石寿棠Qunyan Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

3.9

Word count: 94K words
Chapters: 29

Summary

Yiyuan (The Origins of Medicine), a work of medical treatises. Three volumes. By Shi Shoutang of the Qing dynasty. Published in 1861. It contains twenty medical treatises discussing physiological functions and pathological changes, exploring the origins of disease and methods of treating the root cause. Topics include the functions of the zang-fu organs, qi, blood, ying and wei; the essentials of diagnosis and treatment; and various patterns and treatments in cold damage, internal medicine, gynecology, and pediatrics. Extant editions include the original block-print edition, the Guangxu block-print edition, and the edition in Zhongguo Yixue Dacheng.

Editor's review

Yiyuan is a modest in size but substantial Qing dynasty work of medical treatises. In twenty essays, Shi Shoutang moves from the functions of the zang-fu organs, qi, blood, ying and wei to pathological changes, and then to specific patterns and treatments in cold damage, internal medicine, gynecology, and pediatrics; his central concern is "to explore the origins of disease." The title Yiyuan, "Origins of Medicine," captures the author's guiding question: not content with treating symptoms, he asks where illness comes from and where root treatment lies. The book is tightly structured, clearly argued, and relatively plain in language, making it a good sample for understanding how traditional medical treatises were written and how pattern differentiation works. Its value lies not in the number of formulas but in a way of thinking that links physiology, pathology, and pattern treatment into a single thread, which can still inspire readers of Chinese medicine today. It should be noted that the contents carry a distinct historical and scholarly background; readers should examine them alongside modern medical knowledge rather than copy them directly. Suited to readers with some foundation in Chinese medicine who enjoy understanding illness at the level of principle; reading slowly and reflectively suits it better than speed.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with a foundation in Chinese medicine who want to understand disease and pattern treatment at the level of principle
Chinese medicine students who need training in reading primary texts of the medical-treatise genre
Researchers and serious readers interested in Qing dynasty medical treatises and the scholarly currents of Chinese medicine
Clinicians seeking inspiration for pattern differentiation from the approach of treating the root cause

Not a good fit for

Readers with no foundation in Chinese medicine looking for a practical family health manual
Readers who prefer modern medical standards of diagnosis and treatment and do not accept traditional medical-treatise language
Practical-minded readers who only want to look up and copy formulas and are unwilling to read theoretical discussion

Reading tips

First read the table of contents to understand the arrangement of the twenty treatises, then read in batches following the order of physiology, pathology, and pattern treatment.
After each essay, summarize in your own words the "origin" question that essay addresses, to test whether you have truly understood it.
When reading the sections on cold damage, internal medicine, gynecology, and pediatrics, compare them with modern textbooks, noting conceptual differences rather than simply judging right or wrong.
The book is not long; reading one or two essays closely each day suits it, and after one full pass, return to connect the essays with one another.

About the publisher

Qunyan Publishing House China · Founded in 1989

Founded in 1989, Qunyan Publishing House has long been committed to publishing academic and educational books for mid- and high-level readers, and has built up a certain presence in Eastern philosophy, classical literature, and classic works. Representative titles available in the database include Records of the Grand Historian, Dream of the Red Chamber, Selections of Refined Literature, Complete Song Ci, Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, Record of Daily Knowledge, Taiping Huimin Hejiju Fang, and The Collected Works of Wang Yangming, covering common categories such as ancient poetry, medicine, and examinations. Its author resources include Sima Qian, Cao Xueqin, Xiao Tong, Li Shan, Pu Songling, and Gu Yanwu. The press also offers distinctive series such as the Biographical Series of the China Democratic League and the Historical Documents Series of the China Democratic League, and publishes research on historical documents, biographies, memoirs, and textbooks and academic works by League members. Public information is limited, and its overall publishing scale and complete catalogue require further verification.

版权信息
吴序
张序
自序
张序
卷上
人身一小天地论
阴阳互根论
五行生克论
阴阳治法大要论
枢机论
卫气行度一经星经天论
营气行度一经水行地论
百病提纲论
望病须察神气论
卷中
闻声须察阴阳论
问证求病论
切脉源流论
内伤大要论
湿气论
卷下
燥气论
论张仲景《伤寒论》
女科论
儿科论
用药大要论
医宜识字论
跋

FAQ

How is Yiyuan different from ordinary formula books?

It does not mainly collect formulas but discusses physiological functions, pathological changes, and methods of treating the root cause in the form of medical treatises, focusing on expounding medical principles and pattern-differentiation thinking. Those looking up specific formulas may find it insufficiently direct, while those seeking to understand the principles of disease will benefit more.

Can someone without classical Chinese read this Qing dynasty medical treatise?

It will be somewhat difficult. The text is in the style of Qing dynasty medical treatises, with dense terminology. An annotated or collated edition is recommended, read alongside a basic Chinese medicine textbook; if you have no classical Chinese and no foundation in Chinese medicine at all, it is better to start with modern popular works.

Can the pattern-treatment content in the book still be used directly today?

It should not be copied directly. The book reflects the understanding and experience of Qing dynasty physicians, and some concepts and treatments differ from the modern medical system. It can serve as a reference for understanding traditional pattern-differentiation thinking; in practice, it should be applied under professional guidance and in line with modern diagnostic and treatment standards.

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About the author

石寿棠 Author

Shi Shoutang is the author of the book Yi Yuan (The Origins of Medicine), and very little is known about his life from public sources: his nationality, dates of birth and death, and English name have not been clearly recorded. Only one of his works is currently held in the collection, classified under medicine. Judging from the title Yi Yuan and its medical category, the book appears to be a work on traditional medical theory; the character yuan in the title often carries the sense of tracing something to its source and expounding medical principles, suggesting that the author focused on exploring and systematizing the fundamentals of medicine. Because biographical details are lacking, it is difficult to describe his medical career or scholarly lineage in any detail, yet even this single surviving work shows that Shi Shoutang devoted serious attention to medical theory. His writing likely emphasizes the analysis of ideas and the tracing of concepts to their roots, making it suitable for readers interested in the basic theories of Chinese medicine. Further documentary research is needed to learn more about Shi Shoutang.