Section on Phlegm

Chen MengleiJun 2024

2.9

Word count: 62K words
Chapters: 30

Summary

Chinese traditional culture has a long intellectual history, marked by a high degree of originality, inventiveness, and literary quality. Early forms of thought are highly distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and metaphysical studies, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and geography—all are profound and extensive. This "Essence of Classical Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series preserves the appearance of the original books and focuses on conserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers cultivate their temperament and subtly absorb the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

Tanmen, attributed to Chen Menglei, is a text in the tradition of classical Chinese medicine and one volume of the "Essence of Classical Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series; it preserves the original text and focuses on conserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture. Its value lies in presenting ancient physicians' classification and diagnostic-treatment approaches to disorders related to "phlegm," making it primary material for understanding traditional phlegm-disease theory and the writing style of classical medical texts. Note that this is not a popular modern medical reader and does not offer treatment plans that can be directly copied. It is better suited as a source text for studying Chinese medical literature and checking references, for professional readers or traditional-culture enthusiasts seeking to understand the ancient medical knowledge system. In reading, grasp its historical context and distinguish ancient theoretical formulations from modern medical concepts; it should not replace standard diagnosis and treatment.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Professional readers studying classical Chinese medical texts and phlegm-disease theory
Personnel engaged in organizing or checking Chinese medical literature
Cultural readers interested in the traditional medical knowledge system

Not a good fit for

Patients or family members seeking modern medical treatment plans
Those who want plain-language popular science and quick mastery of health-preserving methods
Readers without a foundation in classical Chinese who are unwilling to look up terminology

Reading tips

First understand the edition and structure to confirm that it is an original classical text, not a modern textbook.
Use basic reference works on Chinese medical theory to compare terminology and avoid taking words too literally.
Excerpt entries on phlegm pattern classification and treatment by topic, making reference cards.
Distinguish historical medical context from modern clinical standards while reading; do not apply formulas or medicines on your own.

版权信息
痰门
黄帝素问
灵枢经
金匮要略【汉张机】
千金方【唐孙思邈】
活人书【宋朱肱】
济生方【宋严用和】
河间六书【金刘完素】
儒门事亲【元张从政】
丹溪心法【元朱震亨】
格致余论【元朱震亨】
平治荟粹【元朱震亨】
医学正传【明虞抟】
证治要诀【明戴思恭】
医学纲目【明楼英】
明医杂着【明王纶】
医学入门【明李梴】
医贯【明赵献可】
痰门
医门法律【清喻昌】
景岳全书【明张介宾】
石室秘箓【清陈土铎】
痰门
方
单方
针灸
导引
痰门
医案

FAQ

What is Tanmen about?

According to the materials, this book is an original text in the tradition of classical Chinese medicine, attributed to Chen Menglei, and concerns disorders related to "phlegm" in Chinese medicine. It preserves the original text and focuses on conserving traditional medical thought and culture, making it suitable as material for studying classical medical literature.

Can ordinary readers treat illnesses according to the methods in this book?

Not recommended. This is an original ancient medical text whose theoretical formulations and formulas have a specific historical context and cannot replace modern standard diagnosis and treatment. Ordinary readers may use it as a cultural reader to understand ancient medical views, but should still see a doctor when unwell.

What foundation is needed to read this book?

It is best to have basic reading ability in classical Chinese and some grounding in basic Chinese medical terminology. If one's foundation is weak, start with introductory Chinese medicine textbooks or use reference works to look up terms, then read selected entries rather than struggling through the whole book from the outset.

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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.