Jaundice Gate

Chen MengleiJun 2024

2.5

Word count: 33K words
Chapters: 26

Summary

The stream of traditional Chinese thought runs deep and has a high degree of originality, inventiveness and literary quality. Its early forms are highly distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and gazetteers all offer profound and extensive content. This series, "Essence of Chinese Classics: Original Texts," preserves the appearance of the original books and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. Reading the literary essence left by the ancient sages cultivates character and subtly familiarizes readers with the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

Dan Men (The Gate of Jaundice) is included in the "Essence of Chinese Classics: Original Texts" series. Compiled from relevant material edited by Chen Menglei, it preserves the appearance of the original book and belongs to the body of traditional Chinese medical literature devoted specifically to the class of disorders known as "dan" (jaundice). Its value lies not in offering modern diagnostic or treatment protocols but in showing how earlier physicians understood, classified and differentiated the treatment of jaundice-type illnesses; it is therefore primary material for understanding the history of Chinese medical disease categories and the thinking of ancient physicians. Its entries and formula discussions bear clear marks of their era, and their terminology, dosages and theoretical framework must be understood within the context of traditional medicine. Readers will see both the care of Chinese medicine in observing symptoms and the distinctive logic of classical medical texts in classification and expression. It is suitable as a supplementary reader for the study of Chinese medical literature, collation of ancient texts or learning about traditional culture; it is best read alongside modern annotations and works on medical history rather than checked item by item in isolation through the lens of modern medicine.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Researchers of Chinese medical literature and medical history who need to examine ancient classification and treatment approaches to dan disorders
Teachers and students at Chinese medicine institutions, as supplementary material for reading original classical texts and training in terminology
Enthusiasts of traditional culture who wish to understand the original appearance and modes of expression of Chinese medical classics
Practitioners of ancient text collation and editing interested in collation practices that preserve the appearance of original books

Not a good fit for

General readers seeking modern diagnostic or treatment protocols for liver disease or clinical medication guidelines
Readers with no foundation in classical Chinese who want an easy, beginner-friendly introduction to Chinese medicine
Readers expecting systematic textbook-style explanation with item-by-item vernacular translation

Reading tips

First read the table of contents and the structure of the chapters to grasp the classification framework of "dan," then read item by item; avoid becoming bogged down in formula details from the start.
Keep a dictionary of Chinese medical terms at hand and check ancient disease names and dosages as needed to reduce misreading.
Read alongside current textbooks of Chinese internal medicine or works on medical history, note differences between ancient and modern understanding, and form your own reading notes.
Treat the formula content only as documentary information; do not try the formulas yourself, and consult a qualified physician for clinical questions.

版权信息
图书集成医部全录卷二百八十五疸门
黄帝素问阴阳应象大论
玉机真脏论
平人气象论
通评虚实论
灵枢经
疸脉证治
伤寒论【汉张机】黄疸
千金方【唐孙思邈】论证
疸病证治
论证
总论
图书集成医部全录卷二百八十六疸门
黄瘅
律三条
景岳全书【明张介宾】论证
论治
黄疸
方
五疸方
图书集成医部全录卷二百八十七疸门
单方
针灸
导引
医案

FAQ

Is this book suitable for someone with no foundation in Chinese medicine?

Not very. The book preserves the original appearance of the ancient text; its terminology is archaic and its format traditional, so readers without basic knowledge of Chinese medicine and the ability to read classical Chinese will find it hard to get into. If you are only curious about traditional culture, it is better to start with introductory Chinese medicine books that have annotations and vernacular guidance, then return to original texts of this kind.

Can the formulas in the book be used directly?

Not recommended. The formulas recorded in ancient texts reflect their historical background; dosages and preparation methods differ from those of today, and they lack modern clinical verification. This book is better used as material for studying literature and medical history. Any health problem should be discussed with a qualified physician, and you should not use the formulas on your own.

What reference books should I prepare for reading?

You may prepare a dictionary of Chinese medical terms, a dictionary of common characters in classical Chinese, and a textbook on Chinese medical history or Chinese internal medicine for reference. Checking ancient disease names, dosages and unusual formats as you go can significantly reduce misreading and make it easier to record differences between ancient and modern understanding.

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About the author

Chen Menglei Author · China · 1651–1741

Chen Menglei (1651–1741), courtesy names Zizhen and Shengzhai, later styled the Old Man of Songhe, was a Qing dynasty scholar from Houguan, Fujian. He passed the imperial examination in the ninth year of the Kangxi reign and was appointed to the Hanlin Academy as a compiler. After 1698, by imperial order, he tutored the third prince, Yinzhii, and took the opportunity to compile a vast classified encyclopedia, the Hui Bian, using the collection of the Xieyi Hall; the Kangxi Emperor later bestowed on it the title Gujin Tushu Jicheng. The library holds more than 410 of his works, mostly sections of the officialdom chapters of that encyclopedia, covering institutions such as the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the Imperial Observatory, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Rites, prefectural governors, the Transmission Office, and the Imperial Medical Academy. These works address ancient bureaucratic systems, ritual norms, and administrative practice. His compilations are distinguished by systematic classification and extensive citation, preserving a wealth of source materials for later generations; they are commonly categorized under culture and Eastern philosophy. As public information on his life is limited, this note confines itself to his known scholarly contributions.