Examination of Medical Formulas

吴昆Qunyan Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

4.3

Word count: 162K words
Chapters: 8

Summary

Yi Fang Kao (Investigations of Medical Formulas) was written by Wu Kun of the Ming dynasty. In six volumes, the work is divided into 72 categories by disease pattern and selects more than 780 formulas. Each category first sets out the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease, then gathers formulas of the same kind, and for each formula gives detailed examination and analysis of its naming, composition, actions, meaning, indications, drug use, modifications, adaptations and shortcomings, and contraindications. It is a complete and systematic monograph on formula discussion that covers theory, method, formula, and materia medica. Moved by the abuses in the medical world of his time, where practitioners 'opened formulas blindly without understanding the purpose of the formula or the pattern it treats,' Wu gathered widely, cited extensively, removed the dross, kept the essence, moved from breadth to concision, and brought together the finest of past physicians together with his own exceptional learning and rich clinical experience. He selected more than 780 commonly used formulas for internal medicine, external medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, the five sense organs, and emotional disorders, and compiled them into Yi Fang Kao. The book includes classical formulas from Shang Han Lun and Jin Gui Yao Lue, effective formulas of famous physicians such as Liu Hejian, Li Dongyuan, Zhu Danxi, and Zhang Congzheng, as well as popular proven remedies. Wu comprehensively applied the method of formula discussion to analyze formulas, pioneering this genre and promoting the formation of a theoretical system of formulas; this had a profound influence on the later development of Chinese formula science. The book is therefore an important reference for accurately understanding and flexibly applying formulas and for improving clinical results, and is one of the classical Chinese medical texts that must be read by those engaged in Chinese medicine teaching and research, especially clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Editor's review

Yi Fang Kao is a monograph on formula discussion written by Wu Kun of the Ming dynasty. Arranged in 72 categories of disease patterns, it selects more than 780 formulas; each category first describes the etiology and pathogenesis, then lists formulas of the same kind, and examines each formula's naming, composition, actions, meaning, indications, modifications, and contraindications. Its greatest value lies in pioneering the genre of formula discussion, elevating formulas from records of experience to an analyzable and inferable body of knowledge, so that readers know not only what works but why. The book includes classical formulas, effective formulas of Jin-Yuan masters, and popular proven remedies, reflecting an editorial approach that moves from breadth to concision. For today's Chinese medicine readers, it is both a ladder to understanding the logic of formula composition and a model for training pattern-based formula selection. When reading, it is best to compare specific categories with common clinical patterns and appreciate the layers of formula analysis; with unfamiliar formulas, first grasp the main pattern and the roles of sovereign, minister, assistant, and courier, then return to Wu's examination, avoiding rote memorization. It is suitable as a bridge book between formula science and clinical practice for repeated study.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Clinical practitioners of Chinese medicine who wish to improve formula analysis and selection
Teachers and students at Chinese medicine colleges, as a companion to formula science and the study of various schools
Chinese medicine enthusiasts with some foundation who want to understand formula meaning systematically
Primary-care doctors who need to consult approaches to established formulas for common conditions

Not a good fit for

Complete beginners, who lack the terminology and pattern-differentiation foundation to absorb it
Those who only want quick access to folk remedies and do not wish to understand formula meaning
Readers accustomed to the modern pharmacological research paradigm who reject traditional formula discussion

Reading tips

Read the general categories first to grasp Wu's format and terminology for examining formulas
Compare each formula category with textbook formula science and note similarities and differences in composition and indications
Before reading each formula, ask yourself about the main pattern and the logic of composition, then check the examination for confirmation
Keep a notebook of modifications and contraindications for quick clinical reference

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
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卷一
卷二
卷三
卷四
卷五
卷六

FAQ

Can someone without a Chinese medicine background read Yi Fang Kao?

It is not very suitable as a direct introduction. The book uses many terms such as etiology and pathogenesis, sovereign-minister-assistant-courier, and modification and contraindication, and beginners may remember formula names without understanding their meaning. It is better to first master basic Chinese medicine theory and the framework of formula science, then return to this book; the gain will be much greater.

How is this book different from an ordinary formula science textbook?

Textbooks emphasize systematic listing and standardized expression, whereas Yi Fang Kao focuses on examining the meaning of each formula, analyzing indications, and discussing adaptations and shortcomings, with the author's clinical judgment and scholarly argument. It is more like an 'analytical reader' for formula science, suitable for training formula-selection thinking beyond the textbook.

Can the formulas in the book still be used directly today?

They can serve as a reference for understanding composition logic and pattern-based formula selection, but dosages and methods should not be copied directly. Measures, medicinal varieties, and clinical conditions differ between past and present; actual use should be decided by a qualified Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern differentiation, and the focus of reading should be on formula analysis and indication differentiation.

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About the author

吴昆 Author

Wu Kun was a physician in premodern China. Very little is known about his life: his nationality, dates of birth and death, and courtesy name are not clearly recorded, and publicly available sources are limited. What can be established from his surviving works is that he devoted himself to the study and writing of medicine, with a particular strength in formulary literature. Three of his works are held in this collection, all under the title Yifang Kao (Studies of Medical Formulas), which indicates that this book is his representative achievement and the main basis for understanding his scholarship. Yifang Kao focuses on examining and evaluating medical formulas, discussing their composition, the meaning of the prescriptions, and their clinical application, reflecting an approach that values the classics and stresses practical use. Works of this kind are significant in traditional medical literature as a bridge between earlier and later scholarship, making formulas easier for later students to study and offering useful material for research on Chinese medical formulas.