Gong Juzhong: Biographical Introduction and Historical Accounts, Major Works and Academic Contributions
-
✵Gong Juzhong: a prominent herbalist who lived during the 16th–17th centuries, in the late Ming Dynasty. He mastered medical theory and practice with exceptional rigor and excelled in internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, and pediatrics. He is the author of the gynecological treatise Nv Ke Bai Xiao Quan Shu (The Efficacious Complete Book of Gynecology).
- Gong Juzhong
-
Brief Introduction hinese Name: 龔居中 (Gōng Jūzhōng) Alias: Ruxu Zi (如虛子, Rú Xūzǐ) Style Name: Ying Yuan (應圓, Yīng Yuán) English Name: Gong Juzhong (family name first) or Juzhong Gong (given name first) Hometown: Jinxi, Jiangxi Province Dates: Lived approximately during the 16th–17th centuries; died circa 1646 CE (exact birth and death dates unknown) Major Works: 《痰火點雪》(Tan Huo Dian Xue),《外科活人定本》(Wai Ke Huo Ren Ding Ben),《外科百效全書》(Wai Ke Bai Xiao Quan Shu),《幼科百效全書》(You Ke Bai Xiao Quan Shu),《女科百效全書》(Nv Ke Bai Xiao Quan Shu),《小儿痘疹医镜》(Xiao Er Dou Zhen Yi Jing),《福壽丹書》(Fu Shou Dan Shu) Representative Works: Tan Huo Dian Xue, Wai Ke Huo Ren Ding Ben Biographical Introduction and Historical Accounts
Gong Juzhong, style name 應圓 (Yīng Yuán) and alias 如虛子 (Rú Xūzǐ), was a native of Jinxi, Jiangxi Province. His exact birth and death dates remain unknown, but he lived during the 16th–17th centuries. According to textual evidence, he likely died around 1646 CE. A distinguished herbalist of the late Ming Dynasty, he cultivated profound expertise in medical theory and clinical practice, with particular proficiency in internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, and pediatrics.
Major Works and Academic Contributions
Gong Juzhong’s major works include Tan Huo Dian Xue (Snow Flakes on Phlegm-Fire, 4 volumes), also known as Hong Lu Dian Xue (Snow Flakes on the Red Furnace), completed in 1630 CE; it provides detailed discussions on the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Other key works are Wai Ke Huo Ren Ding Ben (4 volumes, 1630 CE), Wai Ke Bai Xiao Quan Shu (A Hundred-Efficacy Complete Book of Surgery) (4 volumes, 1630 CE), You Ke Bai Xiao Quan Shu, Nü Ke Bai Xiao Quan Shu, Xiao Er Dou Zhen Yi Jing, and Fu Shou Dan Shu, among others.
Nü Ke Bai Xiao Quan Shu (The Efficacious Complete Book of Gynecology) is a foundational Ming-dynasty gynecological treatise compiled by Gong Juzhong in 1630 CE (the third year of the Chongzhen reign). It comprises four volumes and systematically addresses gynecological syndromes and treatments—including menstruation, leukorrhea, pregnancy, and childbirth—in comprehensive detail. The work draws primarily upon Jiao Zhu Fu Ren Liang Fang (Collated and Annotated Excellent Prescriptions for Women’s Diseases) as its foundational source. The latter is Xue Ji’s collation and annotation of Jiao Zhu Fu Ren Liang Fang originally compiled by Chen Ziming, a Song-dynasty herbalist. Additional material is excerpted from authoritative texts such as Qian Jin Yao Fang (the Invaluable Prescriptions), Yin Chan Quan Shu, Nü Ke Zheng Zhi Zhun Shen (Standards for Diagnosis and Treatment in Gynecology), Yi Xue Zheng Chuan, Pu Ji Fang (Prescriptions for Universal Relief). The book is organized into six thematic categories: diseases, menstrual regulation, heir seeking (conception facilitation), fetal conditions, prenatal care (antenatal), and childbirth.
References:
-
- 1.Gong Juzhong: Biographical Introduction and Historical Accounts, Major Works and Academic Contributions
