✵Prominent Ancient Herbalists mainly introduce traditional Chinese medicine herbalists who have done outstanding study and application on Traditional Chinese Medicine and were known widely since their epoch. This part gives introductions on [15] prominent traditional Chinese medicine herbalists, biography and legend, main books and academic thoughts, they are listed in the order of the epoch they lived, totally [39] kinds of Traditional Chinese Medicine Works from them are introduced.
Qí Bó, a famous physician in the reign period of Huangdi (year 2698~2589 B.C.).he was asked by the emperor to taste various kinds of herbs and to study medicine and pharmacy. The first and greatest medical work produced in China, the Huangdi Nei Jing, or Huangdi's Internal Classic, or Canon of Medicine-mainly consists of questions and answers between Huangdi and Qi Bo on health.
Huà Tuó
Huà Tuó: famous surgeon and master of all branches of medicine, also a famous Taoist Priest at end of Dong Han period and Three Kingdom period, also known as Hua Fu or Hua Yuan-Hua (year ?~203 A.D.), native to Pei Guo Qiao (today's Bo Town of Anhui province.). He was said to have performed many major operations including the abdominal section with herbal anesthesia and to be the first to recommend therapeutic gymnastic called Wu Qin Xi, or the Frolics of Five Animals. The book Zhong Zang Jing, or Treasured Classic was once ascribed to him.
Gé Hóng
Gé Hóng: famous physician and world-renowned alchemist (year 283~344 A.D.), was native to Dan Yang Ju Rong, also a famous Taoist Priest at Jin period, popularly known as Ge Zhichuan or Bao Pu Zi,author of the Bao Pu Zi, a treatise on alchemy, dietetics and magical practices, and the Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang, or A Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies, which includes many valuable descriptions and records of diseases. Ge Zhichuan is another name of Ge Hong, Bao Pu Zi is an alias of Ge Hong.
Táo Hóngjǐng
Táo Hóngjǐng, a famous Taoist who specialized in the study of herbs, also called Tao Tongming (year 456~536 A.D.), alias Tong Ming, native to Dan Yang Mo Ling. Also a famous Taoist Priest at Southern and Northern Dynasties period,who compiled the Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu (7 volumes),or Commentary on Sheng Nong's Herbal, one of the most valuable books on materia medica in China, describing 730 varieties of medical substances, including vegetables,animal and mineral medicine. Tao was also the author of the Yang Xing Yan Ming Lu (Books of Nature Cultivation and Life Extending)(2 volumes).
Sūn Sīmiǎo
Sūn Sīmiǎo: prominent physician of the Tang Dynasty, also a famous Taoist Priest at Tang period,the author of the Qian Jin Yao Fang (Invaluable Prescriptions) (652 A.D.), total 30 volumes, combined 5300 recipes and formulas, and the Qian Jin Yi Fang (Supplement to the Invaluable Prescriptions) (682 A.D.), which have been considered compilations of the medical achievements before the 7th century.
Wáng Bīng
Wáng Bīng, physician specializing in the art of healing and health preservation,who spent twelve years rearranging and revising the Su Wen, or Plain Questions, one of the two component parts of Huangdi's Internal Classic, into 24 volumes, with notes, commentaries and supplements.
Sūn Yīkuí
Sūn Yīkuí, also known as Sūn Wén Yuán or Sūn Dōng Sù (year 1520 or 1522-1619 A.D.), author of books Chi Shui Xuan Zhu (the Black Pearl of the Red River),Yi Zhi Xu Yu (the Supplement of the Treatment Fundamental Points) and Sun Wen Yuan Yi An (Case Records of Sun Wenyuan), collected by his sons, in which he advocates the combination of various schools and maintains that a doctor should be conversant with all the theories in order to master the whole art of healing.
Zhāng Jièbīn
Zhāng Jièbīn:Zhāng Jǐngyuè, alias Huì Qīng, name Jièbīn, alternative name Tōng Yī Zǐ, famous herbalist of Ming Dynasty. Especially versed in the Internal Classic, Ever compiled medical works known including Jing Yue Quan Shu (Jing Yue's Complete Works), Lei Jing (Systematic Compilation of the Internal Classic), Lei Jing Fu Yi, Lei Jing Tu Yi, Zhi Yi Lu.
Zhāng Zhòngjǐng.
Zhāng Zhòngjǐng: Zhongjing is the alias of Zhang Ji, herbalist Zhang Ji is one of the most influential physicians in the history of China (year 150~219 A.D.), a Legendary Generation Great Herbalist and Grand Master of Herbs both in history of China and the history of World. Herbalist Zhang Ji's great classic (Shang Han Za Bing Lun)is the first classic Medical Books which systemly represented and combined "Theory, Method, Recipes, Medine" completely.
Wáng Xī
Wáng Xī, talent herbalist, and according to some records he ever been a commissioner of the Imperial Academy of Medicine Jin Dynasty, also called Wáng Shūhé. Native to Gao Ping, Famous herbalist of late Han and West Jin. He was well versed in pulse-taking and was the author of the Mai Jing, or The Pulse Classic, the earliest comprehensive book on sphygmology now extant in China. He perfected and systemized the art of pulse-taking, yet emphasized the use of all the other methods of diagnosis as well. He rearranged Zhang Zhongjing's Treatise on Cold-induced and Miscellaneous Diseases, and thus contributed much to preserving the important classic of medicine. Wáng Shūhé was a famous herbalist and master of sphygmology in Ancient China.
Zhēn Quán
Zhēn Quán: physician in the Tang Dynasty,who was a leading expert at acupuncture and the author of the Zhen Fang, Needling Prescriptions, and the Ming Tang Ren Xing Tu,or Figures of the Human Body.
Páng ānshí
Páng ānshí: physician noted for several medical works, among which the most widely read was a detailed and comprehensive treatise on various kinds of fever under the title of Shang Han Zong Bing Lun, or General Discourse on Cold-induced Diseases.
Xǔ Shūwēi
Xǔ Shūwēi: leading physician of the Song Dynasty and a disciple of Zhang Zhongjing. He prepared graphic illustrations of 36 varieties of the pulse based on Zhang Zhongjing's work and propounded the theory of using medicine in relation to the intensity of the disease. Xu was the author of several medical works, among which the Lei Zheng Pu Ji Ben Shi Fang, or Classified Effective Prescriptions for Universal Relief(1132?) in 10 volumes has been one of his most widely read.
Lǐ Gǎo
Lǐ Gǎo: also known as Li Mingzhi, or Li Dongyuan (year 1180~1251 A.D.), a disciple of herbalist Zhāng Yuánsù, who held viewpoint that diseases,apart from external changes, were mainly caused by internal injury to the spleen and stomach(i.e. by intemperance in drinking and eating or overwork) and advocated cure by regulating the spleen and the stomach and nourishing the original Qi. He was considered to be the founder of the School for Strengthening the Spleen and Stomach.His masterpiece was the Pi Wei Lun, or Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach.Li Dongyuan, Li Mingzhi is other names of Li Gao.
Wáng Hǎogǔ
Wáng Hǎogǔ: distinguished physician in the 13th century, also known as Wang Jinzhi, or Wang Hai-Zang, whose chief contribution was the explanation of yin syndromes and the use of warming tonics in the later stage of cold-induced diseases. Five of his publications are extant, including the Tang Ye Ben Cao (the Materia Medica of Decoction).