The Axillary Gate

Chen MengleiJul 2024

2.9

Word count: 8.6K words
Chapters: 14

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought has a long history and is highly original, inventive, and literary. Early forms of thought are 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, customs and local gazetteers—all are profound and extensive. This "Essence of Chinese Classics: 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 character and quietly absorb the classics.

Editor's review

Yemen is included in the "Essence of Chinese Classics: Original Texts" series and attributed to Chen Menglei. Its content continues the series' aim of "conserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture," gathering material on religious theology, classical Chinese medical texts, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, customs and local gazetteers into one volume. It focuses on preserving the original appearance rather than offering modern interpretation. Its reading value lies in "seeing the old"—letting readers see how traditional knowledge was classified, arranged, and presented, and appreciate how people in different fields thought and expressed themselves. The material spans a wide range, and entries do not necessarily form a strict logical chain; it is better treated as a reference work to browse than as something to read from beginning to end. For readers interested in the encyclopedic tradition, folk classification of knowledge, or modern publications on Chinese classical learning, this book offers a tangible sample. Note that its content includes feng shui and metaphysics; these should be viewed from the perspective of cultural history, not used as a practical guide.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the encyclopedic tradition and traditional classification of knowledge
Collectors who want to understand Republican-era publications on Chinese classical learning
Cultural researchers who need to consult traditional folklore and occult entries
Browsing readers who enjoy fragmentary reading and dipping in at random

Not a good fit for

Professional learners seeking systematic knowledge of Chinese medicine or military strategy
Pragmatists who treat feng shui and metaphysics as a basis for life decisions
Beginners who need modern annotation and vernacular guidance

Reading tips

Use it as a reference collection; jump around via the table of contents and index rather than forcing yourself to read from start to finish.
When reading entries on feng shui and metaphysics, understand them in the context of cultural history rather than copying them blindly.
Mark interesting entries as you go and review them periodically to form your own classified notes.
Compare with other titles in the same series to observe how the same category is handled differently across volumes.

版权信息
腋门
黄帝素问
灵枢经
千金方【唐孙思邈】
疮疡全书【金窦汉卿】
薛氏医案【明薛己】
古今医统【明徐春甫】
证治准绳【明王肯堂】
外科正宗【明陈实功】
方
单方
针灸
医案

FAQ

Is Yemen an original work by Chen Menglei?

The book is attributed to Chen Menglei and belongs to the "Essence of Chinese Classics: Original Texts" series. Its content is a compilation-style presentation of traditional thought and culture, focused on preserving the original appearance. Readers should treat it as one volume in the series, not as a monograph written solely by Chen Menglei.

Is the feng shui and metaphysics content credible?

This book is a compilation of traditional cultural material; feng shui and metaphysics entries are included as forms of traditional knowledge, reflecting ancient conceptions and classification. Read them from the perspective of cultural history and folklore, not as a practical guide or basis for decisions in real life.

Is it suitable as a textbook for learning Chinese medicine or military strategy?

No. Although it touches on classical Chinese medical texts and ancient military strategy, it is a compilation and reference presentation lacking systematic explanation and modern annotation. Those who want to study Chinese medicine or military strategy systematically should choose dedicated textbooks and annotated editions; this book is better as supplementary cultural reading.

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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.