Collection of Life-Restoring Remedies

Chen JieJinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) · ChinaJul 2024

3.2

Word count: 39K words
Chapters: 6

Summary

Marvelous remedies have always come from immortal transmissions, as in the case of the Qianjin formulas and others, which are especially notable. I have long suffered from phlegm ailments, and later from cold pain in the left knee; for over twenty years, repeated treatments brought no cure. In the wushen year, I reverently established a planchette altar and sought treatment from Patriarch Ge Xianweng. The planchette revealed: this knee pain is caused by accumulated phlegm.

Editor's review

Compiled by Chen Jie, *Huisheng Ji* (Records of Restoring Life) is a formulary printed by Shanghai Jinzhang Book Company. In his preface, the author recounts that he had long suffered from phlegm ailments and later from cold pain in his left knee, which remained uncured despite twenty years of treatment. In the wushen year he set up a planchette altar and sought help from the immortal Patriarch Ge, who revealed through the planchette that the knee pain was caused by accumulated phlegm. This account explains both the book's origins and the immortal-revelation character of its prescriptions. The opening line, "Marvelous remedies have always come from immortal transmissions," citing the *Qianjin fang* as an example, shows that the compilation aimed to gather so-called immortal-transmitted effective formulas. For readers studying folk medical beliefs, planchette-prescription culture, and the transmission history of Chinese formulas, the book offers a concrete textual case; general readers can likewise learn about the diversity of illness explanation and treatment-seeking in traditional society. The planchette revelations should be kept distinct from medical knowledge, and the book valued as material for cultural history.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers in folklore and history studying folk medical culture and planchette prescriptions
Specialists interested in the origins of Chinese formulas and the history of medical book compilation
Readers curious about illness concepts and treatment-seeking in traditional society
Collectors of medical editions printed by Jinzhang Book Company

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking modern medical advice or self-medication guidance
General readers without Chinese medicine background who might mistake planchette prescriptions for reliable remedies
Readers expecting a systematic exposition of Chinese medical theory

Reading tips

Begin with the author's account of the book's origins to understand its planchette nature and editorial motive
Examine the formulas within the context of folk medical culture rather than using them directly
Compare with traditional formularies such as the *Qianjin fang* to observe the relationship between immortal-transmitted and classical formulas
Consult a professional physician for any specific condition or medication; do not use the book as a basis for self-treatment

About the publisher

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) China · Founded in 1901

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) was a private publishing and distribution house in Shanghai during the late Qing and early Republican periods, issuing traditional works by lithographic printing. Judging from the 1,194 titles in the collection, its publishing focused on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, historical reading, traditional Chinese medical texts, and canonical works, along with books on literary appreciation. Representative titles include the poetry and prose collections of Du Fu and Ouyang Xiu; historical works such as the Book of Han and Zizhi Tongjian; classical texts such as the Book of Documents and Mencius; and specialized and literary classics such as Treatise on Cold Damage and Li Sao. Its author resources cover major figures across the ages, including Du Fu, Ban Gu, Sima Guang, Zhang Zhongjing, Qu Yuan, Ouyang Xiu, and Tang Shenwei, reflecting the house's characteristic reliance on traditional scholarship and medical literature while serving general readers. Public information on its early history and operational details is limited, so no conjecture is offered here.

版权信息
序
卷上内症门
卷下外症门
卷下女科门
卷下小儿门

FAQ

How does the title *Huisheng Ji* relate to its content?

According to the book, the author Chen Jie, long afflicted by illness, set up a planchette altar and sought help from the immortal Patriarch Ge, who revealed the cause of his ailment; he then gathered such so-called immortal-transmitted remedies into a book. The title "Huisheng" (Restoring Life) presumably means "bringing the dying back to life," reflecting the compiler's expectation of efficacy, though the prescriptions' planchette origin calls for cautious treatment.

Why did Chen Jie compile this book?

The author recounts that he had long suffered from phlegm ailments and later from cold pain in his left knee, which remained uncured over twenty years. In the wushen year he set up a planchette altar and sought help from the immortal Patriarch Ge, who revealed that the knee pain was caused by accumulated phlegm. This experience led him to collect immortal-transmitted formulas, giving the book a clear background of personal illness and planchette prescriptions.

Can general readers use the prescriptions for self-treatment?

Not recommended. The prescriptions have a planchette-revelation origin, lack modern medical verification, and the book provides no systematic pattern differentiation or dosage safety information. General readers should treat it as material on folk medical culture, not as a medication guide; for illness, consult a professional physician promptly.

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About the author

Chen Jie Author · China · 1983

Chen Jie was born in Hangzhou in 1983. He holds a master's degree in Sino-Japanese exchange history from Zhejiang University and currently works in the research department of a museum in Hangzhou, where he is engaged in curation and writing on Japanese history and culture. Public information about him is limited, so little more can be confirmed about his personal background. His works and common categories nonetheless show interests spanning several fields: he has written on Japanese history and culture, including a trilogy on the history of Japan's Warring States period, the Meiji Restoration and the shogunate era, as well as works on postwar Japan and the world of the Shosoin, and has also touched on medicine, foreign literature, mystery and detective fiction, and social novels. His writing is known for its careful use of historical sources and cultural interpretation, aimed at general readers and seeking a balance between expertise and readability.