The marriage of Chinese Imperial Medicine and China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences: privilege and benefits for the people
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
NEWS doi: 10.12032/TMR20191024141
The marriage of Chinese Imperial Medicine and China Academy of
Chinese Medical Sciences: privilege and benefits for the people
Editor Group of Traditional Medicine Research
Chinese and English contranstive vocabulary:
Jingsheng Zhai: The studio of esteemed excellence; Jianfu Gong: The palace of established happiness; Yuanming
Yuan: Old summer palace; Tai Yi Ling: Chief imperial physician; Shiji: the Grand Historian; Tai Yi Yuan: Imperial
medical academy; Tai Yi Shu: Imperial medical office; Tai Yi Ju: Imperial medical bureau; Taiyiju Fang: Formulary
of the imperial medical bureau; Taiping Huimin Hejiju Fang: Formulary to benefit the people from the
pharmaceutical bureau of the Taiping reign; Yuyaoyuan Fang: Formulary of the imperial pharmacy; Bencao
Gangmu: Compendium of materia medica; Wengtonghe Riji: Diaries of Wengtonghe; Yizong Jinjian: Golden mirror
of medicine.
On September 27, 2019, the Palace Museum and China the court of the Qing dynasty of China (1636
Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences held a signing C.E.-1912 C.E.) [1].
ceremony of strategic cooperation at Jingsheng Zhai Tai Yi Ling (Chief imperial physician) was recorded
(The studio of esteemed excellence) in the garden of in the Records of Shiji (the Grand Historian) (Figure 1a)
Jianfu Gong (The palace of established happiness) at [2, 3]. The famous doctor Bian Que died in 310 B.C.E,
the Palace Museum. who’s exact death details are unclear until now. But
This cooperation will focus on the vast collection of there is a thought that he was assassinated by Li Xi,
cultural relics on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) who was a chief imperial physician in the state of Qin,
in the Palace Museum and represents a joint venture and the reason of the murder was jealousy [3] .
into the scientific study of TCM cultural relics from The name of the Tai Yi Yuan (Imperial medical
Submit a manuscript: https://www.tmrjournals.com/tmr TMR | September 2020 | vol. 5 | no. 5 | 295
doi: 10.12032/TMR20191024141 NEWS
academy) originated from the Jin dynasty of China (Formulary of the imperial pharmacy) (Figure 1c) of
(1115 C.E.-1234 C.E.), and was inherited from the Tai the Jin dynasty as base text. It was finalized in 1267
Yi Shu (Imperial medical office) and Tai Yi Ju (Imperial C.E. and is an important material for studying the
medical bureau) of the Tang (618 C.E.-907 C.E.) and medical formulae of the courts of the Jin and Yuan
Song dynasties of China (960 C.E.-1279 C.E.). dynasties (1271 C.E.-1368 C.E.) [5].
Between 1078 C.E. and 1085 C.E. of the Song dynasty, Imperial medical academies were established in all
the imperial medical bureau collated and published its subsequent dynasties [2]. The Imperial medical
formula blueprints under the title Taiyiju Fang academy of the Ming dynasty of China (1368
(Formulary of the imperial medical bureau). After C.E.-1644 C.E.) was a central institution that managed
several rounds of revision and supplementation, the the diagnosis and pharmacy services of the court and
text was eventually finalized after final additions were nobility [6]. Li Shizhen, a famous medical scientist in
made between 1225 C.E. and 1227 C.E. as well as ancient China, was appointed an official at the imperial
1241 C.E. and 1252 C.E., becoming the current medical academy in Beijing at 27 years old. In 1549
popularized version known as Taiping Huimin Hejiju C.E., the 28th year of Jiajing emperor of the Ming
Fang (Formulary to benefit the people from the dyansty, Li Shizhen resigned from his position at the
pharmaceutical bureau of the Taiping reign) (Figure 1b) imperial medical academy at the age of 32 and
[4]. The medical classics named Yuyaoyuan Fang returned to Ganzhou city of China. He wrote the
(Formulary of the imperial pharmacy) of the Yuan medical classics named Bencao Gangmu
dynasty (1279 C.E.-1368 C.E.) was revised and edited (Compendium of materia medica) in his later years
by Xu Guozhen and others using Yuyaoyuan Fang (Figure 1d) [7].
a b c d
Figure 1 Ancient books
a: Records of Shiji (the Grand Historian), b: Taiping Huimin Hejiju Fang (Formulary to benefit the people from the
pharmaceutical bureau of the Taiping reign), c: Yuyaoyuan Fang (Formulary of the imperial pharmacy), d：Bencao
Gangmu (Compendium of materia medica).
Figure 2 Emperors during the Qing dynasty (1636 C.E.-1912 C.E.)
a: The Kangxi emperor (1654 C.E.-1722 C.E.), b: The Yongzheng emperor (1678 C.E.-1735 C.E.), c: The Qianlong
emperor (1711 C.E.-1799 C.E.), d ： The Jiaqing emperor (1760 C.E.-1820 C.E.), e: The Tongzhi emperor (1856
C.E.-1875 C.E.).
TMR | September 2020 | vol. 5 | no. 5 | 296 Submit a manuscript: https://www.tmrjournals.com/tmr
NEWS doi: 10.12032/TMR20191024141
During the Qing dynasty of China (1636 C.E.-1912 References
C.E.), the imperial medical academy was part of the
imperial household department of the central 1. People.cn [Internet]. The Palace Museum and the
bureaucracy. Gaozong emperor (also named Qianlong) China Academy of Chinese Medicial Sciences
(Figure 2c) of the Qing dynasty, lived until the ripe old signed a strategic cooperation agreement. [cited
age of 89 years at a time when the average age of the 2019 Octorber 20]. Available from:
population was only 33 years [8, 9]. In the early Qing http://culture.people.com.cn/n1/2019/0928/c1013-
dynasty, smallpox epidemics caused a large death toll. 31378022.html
The Kangxi emperor (Figure 2a) survived despite 2. Wikipedia [Internet]. Imperial Academy of
contracting smallpox, which left behind pitted scars. Medicine. [cited 2019 Octorber 20]. Available
The Yongzheng emperor (Figure 2b) pointed out in an from: https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/太醫院
imperial edict issued on April 8, 1725 C.E.: “It appears 3. Si MQ (Han dynasty). Records of the Grand
that those with limited sons in Manchuria and Historian. Beijing: Beijing union publishing
Mongolia are mostly cases of early death caused by house, 2016. (Chinese)
smallpox [10].” The Yongzheng emperor himself 4. Zhang J, Li HT. Research on the book of
suddenly developed symptoms on October 7, 1735 C.E. Prescriptions of the Bureau of Taiping People's
and died in the Yuanming Yuan (Old summer palace) Welfare Pharmacy. J Tradit Chin Med Lit, 2001:
the next day [11]. In 1820 C.E., the Jiaqing emperor 11-12. (Chinese)
(Figure 2d) suddenly became seriously ill while 5. Zhou YX. Research on the prescriptions of Royal
hunting at the Rehe palace and died on the same night Drug Museum. ShanXi J Tradit Chin Med, 2007,
[12]. The Tongzhi emperor (Figure 2e) died when he 23: 55-57. (Chinese)
was only 19 years old and was recorded in the ancient 6. Zhang CQ, Zhong LQ. Connection and
book entitled Wengtonghe Riji (Diaries of Wengtonghe) dissociation-on the relationship between the
as having a “red and dry face, and extremely dense imperial medicine and the politics of Ming and
smallpox” [13]. In reality, a large number of imperial Qing Dynasties. Chin Med Cult, 2015: 13-16.
physicians served the royal household in the Qing (Chinese)
imperial palace. Up to 391 imperial physicians were 7. Wang J, Mei QX. Li Shizhen and his
recorded in the book entitled A Study of Qing Medical "Compendium of Materia Medica" 500 Years of
Archives to have participated in the diagnosis and Memorabilia (I) (Ming Dynasty
treatment of the royal household in the Qing court [14]. 1518-1644)-Commemorating Li Shizhen's 500th
During the Qing dynasty, the team of imperial Birthday (1518-2018). Lishizhen Med Materia
physicians included Han medical officials, as well as Med Res, 2017: 3006-3008. (Chinese)
Manchurian, Mongolian, Lama, and Western doctors. 8. Wikipedia [Internet]. List of Chinese emperors'
The level of health care they provided was also the lives. [cited 2019 Octorber 20]. Available from:
most advanced in China at the time [15]. In 1742 C.E., https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%AD%E5
Qing officials compiled the medical claassics entitled %9B%BD%E7%9A%87%E5%B8%9D%E5%AF
Yizong Jinjian (Golden mirror of medicine), which %BF%E5%91%BD%E5%88%97%E8%A1%A8
later became the official textbook used by the imperial 9. Vip [Internet]. Average life expectancy and life
medical academy and private medical practitioners for expectancy of Chinese generations. [cited 2019
the study of medicine [16]. Octorber 20] Available from:
On September 28, 2019, The Lancet published an http://www.cqvip.com/qk/97584b/199605/100487
online article entitled “10 years of health-care reform 0865.html
in China: progress and gaps in Universal Health 10. Gao Y. Prevention and influence of smallpox in
Coverage.” The article pointed out that the government the Qing Dynasty. Mongolian university, 2005.
health care expenditure in China increased from USD (Chinese)
359 billion to USD 1.52 trillion from 2008 to 2017. In 11. Yong Zheng Chao Qi Ju Zhu Ce. Zhonghua Book
the last decade, China has made substantial progress in Company, 1993 (Chinese)
improving equal access to health care services and 12. Zhao EX (Qing dynasty). Qing Shi Gao. Beijing:
enhancing its financial protection, especially for Qing History Museum, 1927. (Chinese)
individuals of a low socioeconomic status [17]. 13. Wen TH (Qing dynasty). Wen Tong He Ri Ji.
Shanghai: Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing
Citation: Group·Chinese and Western Book Company,
Editor Group of Traditional Medicine Research. The 2012. (Chinese)
marriage of Chinese Imperial Medicine and China 14. Chen KJ. Qing medical case study, Beijing:
Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences: privilege and Traditional Chinese medicine ancient books
benefits for the people. Traditional Medicine Research publishing house, 2003. (Chinese)
2020, 5 (5): 295–298. 15. cnki.com.cn [Internet]. Research on the Imperial
Medical Group in the Period of Kangxi and
Submit a manuscript: https://www.tmrjournals.com/tmr TMR | September 2020 | vol. 5 | no. 5 | 297
doi: 10.12032/TMR20191024141 NEWS
Qianlong. [cited 2019 Octorber 20]. Available
from: http://cdmd.cnki.com.cn/Article/CDMD-10
212-1018069035.htm
16. Chen YH, Zheng XB, Zheng H. Golden Mirror of
Medicine and the compilation of Chinese
medicine textbooks. Educ Chin Med, 2001: 5-7.
(Chinese)
17. Yip W, Fu H, Chen AT, et al. 10 years of
health-care reform in China: progress and gaps in
Universal Health Coverage. The Lancet 2019, 394:
1192-1204.
TMR | September 2020 | vol. 5 | no. 5 | 298 Submit a manuscript: https://www.tmrjournals.com/tmr
You can also read
