Established Prescriptions for Practical Use

吴仪洛Tibet People's Publishing House · ChinaJul 2024

4.2

Word count: 169K words
Chapters: 28

Summary

Compiled by the renowned Qing dynasty physician Wu Yiluo, Cheng Fang Qie Yong is another notable work of formulary commentary after the Ming dynasty's Yi Fang Kao and the Qing dynasty's Yi Fang Ji Jie.

Editor's review

Cheng Fang Qie Yong is a work of formulary commentary by the Qing physician Wu Yiluo. It follows the compiling tradition of the Ming dynasty's Yi Fang Kao and the Qing dynasty's Yi Fang Ji Jie, and holds a place in the documentary lineage of formula studies. With "practical use" as its guiding aim, the book balances formula selection with discussion, tracing the origins of formulas while analyzing their composition and indications. It suits readers who already have some grounding in Chinese medical formulas and wish to study further. It should not be treated as a quick-reference manual; rather, readers should follow the commentarial approach to understand the intent behind each formula and the logic of its modifications. Readers interested in Chinese medical literature and the history of formula studies may read it alongside Yi Fang Kao and Yi Fang Ji Jie to observe how works of different periods differ in selection and evaluation. This edition is the 2024 Tibet People's Publishing House version and may serve as primary material for studying traditional formulary commentary.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students of Chinese medicine needing supplementary reading in classic formulary commentary
Clinical practitioners of Chinese medicine wishing to study traditional formula composition
Enthusiasts of Chinese medical literature interested in the lineage of Qing formulary works
Researchers in literature and history seeking to understand ancient medical compilation formats

Not a good fit for

General readers without a foundation in Chinese medicine, for whom the book is difficult
Readers seeking modern pharmacology or evidence-based medical evidence
Practical users wishing to look up formulas quickly by disease name

Reading tips

Read the table of contents and editorial principles first to grasp the classification and compilation format, then study entry by entry
Read alongside Yi Fang Kao and Yi Fang Ji Jie to compare differences in formula selection and commentary
Take notes on key formulas, recording composition, indications, and lines of modification
Study in step with basic theories of Chinese medicine rather than memorizing formulas in isolation

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.

版权信息
序
卷首
卷首\方制总义
卷一上\治气门
卷一下\理血门
卷二上\补养门
卷二下\涩固门
卷三上\表散门
卷三下
卷四上
卷四下
卷五上
卷五下
卷六上
卷六下
卷七上
卷七下
卷八上
卷八下
卷九上
卷九下
卷十上
卷十下
卷十一上
卷十一下
卷十二上
卷十二下

FAQ

Is this book suitable for beginners in Chinese medicine to read directly?

Not really. As a work of formulary commentary, it discusses formula composition and the logic of indications, requiring basic knowledge of Chinese materia medica and formulas. Without that foundation, readers are advised to start with introductory textbook-style works on formulas before studying this book, which will make understanding smoother.

What is the relationship between this book and Yi Fang Ji Jie?

According to the source material, this book is another notable work of formulary commentary after the Ming dynasty's Yi Fang Kao and the Qing dynasty's Yi Fang Ji Jie. All three belong to the same documentary lineage of formulary commentary and may be read in comparison to observe differences in formula selection and evaluation.

Should other materials be used alongside this book?

It is advisable to read it in step with textbooks on basic theories of Chinese medicine, Chinese materia medica, and formulas, and to keep a copy of Yi Fang Ji Jie for comparison. When encountering formula names and terminology, consult reference works to help understand the context of the original discussion.

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About the author

吴仪洛 Author

Wu Yilu's life, birthplace, and other biographical details are sparsely documented in publicly available sources; his name is known to later generations chiefly through four extant medical works. Judging from these works, he devoted sustained effort to compiling and organizing materia medica and formula literature. His representative works include Bencao Beiyao (Essentials of Materia Medica), Bencao Congxin (A New Compilation of Materia Medica), and Chengfang Qieyong (Practical Applications of Established Formulas). The first two belong to the materia medica genre, focusing on the nature, flavor, and clinical uses of drugs; the latter is a formula book that selects commonly used prescriptions, classifies them, and provides explanations for easy consultation and application. These works are known for their practical selection of material and clear organization, making them suitable for beginners and practicing physicians, and they have exerted a certain influence on the popularization and transmission of knowledge about Chinese materia medica and formulas. Owing to a lack of historical records, his dates, teachers, and medical career cannot be verified, and this introduction summarizes his scholarly orientation only on the basis of the works in the collection and confirmable bibliographic information.