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Classic Chinese Texts
Branches of Chinese Medicine
History and Dissemination of Chinese Medicine
Bibliography

Classic Chinese Texts
Huang Di Nei Jing (Huang Ti Nei Ching)
The oldest text discussing Chinese Medicine is the Huang Di Nei Jing, translated as the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic. This was the first work to describe the theories and clinical experience of TCM. According to legend this is the work of the “Yellow Emperor,” from about 4000 years ago. In this classic the “Yellow Emperor” gives his chief physician, Qi Bo, a series of questions regarding health and wellbeing, including the theory and practice of medicine. Therefore, this book reads as a dialogue. However, it is known that this classic was compiled later by several authors. The compilation of this work is dated between the 2nd Century B.C. and the 7th Century A.D. Earlier dating of this classic is more mythological than factual. The authors are unknown. However, the definitive edition was compiled in the Tang Dynasty by the physician, Wang Bing. This is the basis for all subsequent work and translation; the complete name is Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen Ling Shu. The Su Wen portion translates as ‘Simple Questions,’ and the second part, Ling Shu, is known as the ‘Spiritual Pivot.’ The Su Wen portion contains theory, medical concepts, and treatments based in blood-letting where as the Ling Shu contains more of the information about the practice of acupuncture and moxibustion. The Nei Jing contains what can be considered a blueprint for the practice of Chinese Medicine. It contains the theoretical elements and the interrelationship of these elements, as well as basic terminology. This text contains a strategy for learning and following the ancient medical wisdom as well.

This classic book is the most important book in Chinese Medicine as it lays the foundational theories. It is additionally a major book in Daoist theory and lifestyle. This book introduces the concept of internal causes of disease such as; diet, lifestyle, emotions, age, environment, and hereditary. Previously, the concept of disease was focused to external causes and more shamanistic in nature. This classic contained a great deal of information beyond medicine as well. It covered concepts of agriculture, the making of clothes, government and societal functions. This classic covered concepts involving all aspects of daily living.

Mai Jing (Mo Ching)
The Mai Jing was written by Wang Shu-he; it is the first classic written about pulse diagnosis. It describes the use of acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine. Its main focus is the usefulness in taking the pulse for diagnosis. This is the first classic to specifically deal with this important form of diagnosis. While previous classics discussed the theory of pulse taking, none did so with such detail. This is a foundational piece for the theory. It established and described twenty-four different pulses.

In Chinese Medicine the pulse is felt at both wrists and at three different positions; cun, guan, and chi. The practitioner places his or her first three fingers on the thumb side of the wrist starting at the point just proximal to the start of the hand, this is the cun position. This allows the practitioner to feel all three positions; each under one finger. The middle finger is over the guan position, and the third covers the chi position. Additionally, the practitioner will feel the pulse superficially, with slight pressure and with firmer pressure. Each of these positions and depths indicates different organ systems as well as the level at which a pathogen is located.

Nan Jing
The full name of the Nan Jing is Huang Di Bashiyi Nan Jing, and is The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Eighty-one Difficult Issues. It is so called because it consists of eighty-one issues that needed clarification from the Nei Jing. This book is attributed to Bian Que and is very important in the development of acupuncture because it was the first book to discuss only acupuncture. It was the first to systematically develop the theory of systematic correspondence. What made it an indispensable work is that it developed a comprehensive concept of basic medical theory, internal medicine, and acupuncture treatment. The contributions of this text include the concept of Qi circulation, the practice of radial pulse diagnosis, and abdominal diagnosis

Shang Han Lun
The Shang Han Lun is a treatise on Cold Damage. The origin of this classic is more certain. The author is Zhang Zhong Jing living in the Eastern Han period from 25-220 C.E. This particular work has had a profound impact on the development of medicine in China. During the Song Dynasty this book was reexamined and revised. At this time it was split into two parts. One of these was called, “Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet” and the other, “Treatise on Damage from Cold.” To this day, this is the organization of the material. This work established defining principles for the diagnosis and treatment of disease based in the differentiation of patterns of disease. Importantly, it presented hundreds of herbal formulas and described their uses. Another important contribution of the Shang Han Lun is to describe the progression of disease; Zhang Zhong Jing’s thinking is still utilized today. The progression of disease utilized and refined is the six stages theory; whereby disease can progress through the levels from Tai Yang to Shao Yin.

Ben Cao Kang Mu (Pen T’sao Kang Mu)
Some time prior to the Second Century C.E. the Shen-nong Ben Cao Jing, Pharmacopoeia Classic of the Divine Husbandman, was written. This is an herbal classic that describes 365 medicinals. These formulae are divided into three categories; the upper, middle, and lower. The upper formulas are of the highest form and are supposed to bring longevity, whereas the lower formulas are for treating disease. This work is attributed to the legendary Shen Nong, who is said to have tasted ‘the hundred herbs.’ He is said to have introduced agriculture and animal husbandry; thus giving him the name of “Divine Husbandman.”

In 659 C.E. the Xin-xiu Ben Cao, Newly Revised Pharmacopoeia, was written by Li Ji. This book is lost with the exception of a few fragments contained in Tang Shen-wei’s pharmacopoeia written in the Song dynasty. This version was the National Pharmacopoeia of its time and contained 844 entries that dealt with type and flavor, area of origin, and the use of the herbals. Tang Shen-wei’s version served as the foundation for later versions. His text contained 1558 medicines that included information such as preparation and meridians entered. Additionally, it contained 3000 prescriptions. This later text is called; Jing-shi Zheng-lei Bei-ji Ben Cao and translates as, Historical and Precise Pharmacopoeial Index Arranged According to Pattern Group. This is the major materia medica of the Song dynasty.

During the Ming dynasty, 1578 C.E, the Ben Cao Gang Mu was written by Li Shi-zhen. This is The Great Pharmacopoeia. Li Shi-zhen is considered the most celebrated herbalist of China. This version describes 1892 formulae including information about its nature, flavor, use, region, preparation, shape, and method of cultivation. Additionally, it contains over 1000 illustrations and prescriptions. Portions of this classic work have been translated into more than 60 languages.

The tradition of revising the materia medica continues to this day. In 1977 the Zhong yao da ci dian, Jiangsu College of New Medicine’s Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Substances, was written. Most recently, in 2002, the Chinese Materia Medica was published. This is known as Zhong Hua Ben Cao.