About the author

Wu Tong is an author about whom limited public information is currently available. Within our collection, only one work by this author is extant: Baoying Quanfang (Complete Formulas for Safeguarding Infants), classified under medicine. His courtesy name, place of origin, dates of birth and death, and biographical details are not recorded in the available sources, making it difficult to sketch a full picture of his life. Judging from the title, the book appears to be a formula collection on traditional Chinese pediatrics or infant and toddler health care: "baoying" indicates the aim of protecting and nurturing infants, while "quanfang" suggests a compilation of prescriptions, possibly covering the diagnosis, treatment, and care of common childhood illnesses. Works of this kind in premodern times were often assembled by practicing physicians from clinical experience; they tended to be practical, concise, and easy to consult for formulas. As the extant editions and transmission of the book still require further investigation, Wu Tong's place in medical history cannot be confidently assessed; this introduction can only offer a preliminary account of his surviving title, and further information awaits new sources.

Written (1)

Publishers

China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine