Section on Pestilence

Chen MengleiJun 2024

3.4

Word count: 24K words
Chapters: 3

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought has a long history, marked by a high degree of originality, inventiveness, and literary quality. Early intellectual forms are highly distinctive: religious theology, classical Chinese medical texts, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and gazetteers—all are profound and extensive. This "Essentials 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 can cultivate their temperament and quietly absorb the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

This book is a classical Chinese medical text in the "Essentials of Classical Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series, attributed to Chen Menglei. The title Men of Pestilence points to specialized discussions of epidemic disease in traditional medicine. Its value lies in preserving the original text and presenting ancient physicians' classification of the causes, patterns, and treatment principles of pestilence; it is primary material for understanding traditional views of epidemic disease and the conventions of Chinese medical literature. It should be read in the context of classical medicine and history, not as a modern clinical guide. The terminology is dense, and the formula and pattern entries require some grounding in Chinese medicine; general readers interested in ancient medical thought and the history of epidemics may read it as a documentary source, attending to its classificatory logic and period understanding. Overall, it is better suited to reference and specialized research—for readers interested in Chinese medical texts, epidemic history, and premodern public health concepts—than to those seeking immediate practical remedies.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students of Chinese medicine and pharmacy studying classical medical texts and epidemic theory
Historians researching the history of epidemics and public health concepts in premodern times
Scholars of literature and history interested in traditional medical classification
Reference workers who need to consult primary Chinese medical sources on pestilence

Not a good fit for

General readers hoping for modern diagnostic or prescribing guidance
Beginners without a foundation in Chinese medicine who find formula and pattern terminology hard to follow
People who treat ancient medical books as immediate health guides

Reading tips

First learn the basic conventions of classical Chinese pestilence literature, then read by categories of cause, pattern, and treatment principle.
When encountering formulas and terminology, consult basic Chinese medicine reference works; do not apply them on your own.
Read alongside studies of epidemic history to distinguish historical understanding from modern medical conclusions.
When making topical excerpts, note the source of each entry for later verification against the original.

版权信息
古今图书集成医部全录卷二百九十九
古今图书集成医部全录卷三百

FAQ

Can this book be used directly to guide modern treatment?

No. It preserves the original text of an ancient medical work and belongs to traditional medical literature; its terminology, formulas and patterns, and framework of understanding differ from modern medicine. Its value lies in understanding ancient views of epidemics and the conventions of Chinese medical literature. It should not replace modern diagnosis and treatment, and readers should not use its contents to medicate themselves.

Can I read this book without a foundation in Chinese medicine?

You can, but it will be demanding. The book involves specialized terminology of causes, patterns, and formulas, which are easily misunderstood without a foundation in Chinese medicine. It is advisable to first acquire basic Chinese medical concepts, or to use it as reference material consulted as needed rather than reading it straight through.

What kind of content does this book represent within the series?

It is a classical Chinese medical text within the series, and the title Men of Pestilence points to specialized discussions of epidemic disease in traditional medicine. Unlike classics of Confucian or Daoist thought, it is oriented toward the classification and organization of medical literature and is suited to topical consultation and research on epidemic history.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

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.