Rhymed Summary of Medical Formulas

王泰林Tibet People's Publishing House · ChinaJul 2024

3.8

Word count: 4.2K words
Chapters: 2

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Summary

A medical work by Wang Tailin

Editor's review

Yi Fang Ge Kuo is a work of formula mnemonic verses written by the Qing dynasty physician Wang Tailin. It presents the composition, actions, and indications of commonly used formulas in rhymed verse to aid memorization. Wang Tailin had extensive clinical and teaching experience, and the mnemonic-verse form compresses the key points of formula composition into neat lines that readers can recite fluently, building a framework of formulas through repeated chanting. This edition is published by Tibet People's Publishing House and is suitable as a supplementary reader for beginners and for review in traditional Chinese medicine formula studies. Its value lies not in detailed annotations for each formula but in using simplicity to master complexity, helping readers link scattered formula names and medicinal ingredients into memorable threads. When reading, it is advisable to compare it with similar works such as Tang Tou Ge Jue and to consult formula textbooks to verify dosages, decoction and administration methods, and modifications, so as not to merely memorize verses without understanding the meaning of the formulas. For grassroots TCM practitioners, pharmacy personnel, and exam candidates, it can serve as a pocket-sized booklet for review; for researchers who need to investigate textual sources and editions in depth, annotated editions and specialized literature should be consulted separately.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Beginners in traditional Chinese medicine formula studies who need to build a framework for memorizing formulas through verses
Grassroots TCM physicians and village doctors who need quick review of commonly used formulas before clinical practice
TCM students preparing for examinations who need auxiliary material for memorizing formulas
TCM enthusiasts who wish to gain an initial understanding of formula composition through rhymed verse

Not a good fit for

Readers who need detailed annotations for each formula and analysis of clinical case records
Readers seeking modern pharmacological research or evidence-based medical evidence
People without basic TCM theory who merely want to learn to prescribe quickly

Reading tips

First read through the verses once, mark unfamiliar formula names, and then memorize them in batches by category of action.
After memorizing each verse, consult a formula textbook to verify the ingredients, dosages, and indications to prevent mistakes.
Copy the verses or record them aloud, and use fragmented time to listen and recite repeatedly to strengthen memory.
Read alongside Tang Tou Ge Jue and compare different formulations and choices for the same formula.

About the publisher

Tibet People's Publishing House China · Founded in 1971

Tibet People's Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for collating Tibetan and Chinese ancient texts and publishing traditional culture. Judging from the books in its catalogue, its publishing focuses on medicine, Eastern philosophy, classics, and ancient poetry. It offers traditional Chinese medical and health-preserving works such as the Compendium of Materia Medica, Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold, and Principles of Correct Diet, as well as canonical and philosophical texts including the Book of Changes, Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, Annotated Edition of the Erya, and Luxuriant Dew of the Spring and Autumn Annals, along with historical and geographical works such as The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores. Its authors include figures such as Li Shizhen, Sun Simiao, King Wen of Zhou, Zuo Qiuming, Guo Pu, Dong Zhongshu, Hu Sihui, and Ma Huan. The house emphasizes the collation and republication of ancient texts, balancing scholarship and accessibility, and has developed its own strengths in transmitting Tibetan and Chinese cultural classics. Public information is limited, so other publishing details are omitted here.

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FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with no prior knowledge to learn to prescribe directly?

No. This book is mnemonic-verse memorization material; it focuses on helping readers remember formula composition and actions, and does not systematically explain pattern identification and treatment, dosage compatibility, or clinical modifications. Readers with no prior knowledge should first study basic TCM theory and diagnostics, then use this book as auxiliary memorization material, and must not prescribe on their own based solely on the verses.

What is the difference between a mnemonic-verse formula book and an ordinary formula textbook?

Mnemonic verses compress the key points of formulas into rhyming short lines that are easy to memorize and review, but the presentation is brief and lacks detailed formula analysis, dosages and administration methods, and modifications. Formula textbooks are systematic and complete. The two should be used together: textbooks provide the foundation, verses strengthen memory, and when in doubt, consult the textbook.

Should readers pay attention to edition or textual differences when reading?

Different transmitted versions of Wang Tailin's works may exist, and the wording of the verses, formula names, or ingredients may occasionally differ. If readers find that a verse is inconsistent with a standard textbook, they should rely on authoritative formula textbooks and annotated editions, and record the differences rather than blindly memorizing them.

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About the author

王泰林 Author

Wang Tailin was a physician in traditional Chinese medicine. Publicly available information about his life is limited, and his dates of birth and death, as well as his nationality, are not clearly recorded. Seven of his works are held in the collection, including Wang Xugao's Clinical Medical Cases, Rhymed Formulas for Medical Prescriptions, A Compilation of Rhymed Formulas on Prescriptions, Syndromes and Treatment, an Expanded Edition of Rhymed Formulas for Medical Prescriptions, and Rhymed Annotations on Classified Formulas from the TuisI Collection. These works are commonly classified under medicine, classic works and culture. They focus mainly on clinical case records and rhymed formulas, summarizing formula composition, syndrome differentiation and treatment priorities, and therapeutic approaches in verse form to aid memorization and transmission. This reflects a writing orientation that values clinical practicality and the popularization of medical knowledge. His writings have had a certain influence on later generations' study of traditional Chinese formulas and clinical reference, and serve as important materials for researching the genre of rhymed medical formulas and the compilation of medical case records.