薛己Xuē Jǐ:introduction about his biography and legends,main books and academic thoughts.

TCM Knowledge:Prominent Ancient Herbalists ✵薛己(Xuē Jǐ):primarily he served as a herbalist of ulcers, later he became famous in internal medicine, and also mastered various departments including external, gynecology, and pediatrics, enjoyed fame at that time.He is the author of the gynecological works Nv Ke Cuo Yao(the Synopsis of Gynaecology).

薛己(Xuē Jǐ).

  
Brief Introduction
漢語名(Chinese Name): 薛己(Xuē Jǐ)Alias: 新甫(Xīn Fǔ)
Popular name: 薛己(Xuē Jǐ)English Name: Xue Ji, or Ji Xue(Given/Family).
Hometown: WujunDates: about 1487~1559 AD.
Main works: 《外科樞要》(Wai Ke Shu Yao),《女科撮要》(Nv Ke Cuo Yao),《癘瘍機要》(Li Yang Ji Yao),《正體類要》(Zheng Ti Lei Yao),《口齒類要》(Kou Chi Lei Yao).
Representative works: 《外科枢要》(Wai Ke Shu Yao),《女科撮要》(Nv Ke Cuo Yao).

Biography and legends:


 薛己Xuē Jǐ 薛己(Xuē Jǐ), his alias is 新甫(Xīn Fǔ), self-title is 立斋(Lì Zhāi), native to Wujun (today's Suzhou City), his family is well-known in medicine for generations, his father 薛铠(Xuē Kǎi) was also a famous herbalist at that time, his alias is 良武(Liáng Wǔ). He is good at pediatrics and surgery, miraculous effective results in the treatment of many diseases. Xue Ji inherited the family motto since childhood, studied medical skills finely, and primarily he served as a herbalist of ulcers. Later he became famous in internal medicine, and also mastered various departments including external, gynecology, and pediatrics, enjoyed fame at that time. In the first year of Zhengde (the year 1506 AD), he was appointed as an academician of the Imperial Academy of Medicine. In the ninth year of Zhengde(the year 1515 AD), he was promoted to be an imperial physician. The 14th year of Jiajing(the year 1536 AD), he was awarded to return to his hometown.

Main books and academic thoughts:


 Herbalist Xue Ji is extremely hard-working and has written many works. In addition to his self-authored Wai Ke Shu Yao, Nv Ke Cuo Yao, Li Yang Ji Yao, Zheng Ti Lei Yao, Kou Chi Lei Yao, Nei Ke Zhai Yao, there are also many revised books. He selected famous works and attached his own opinions. For example, famous books he ever revised and edited are Fu Ren Liang Fang Da Quan, Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue, Ming Yi Za Zhu, added up to dozens of kinds. Many of these revised books are supplemented by practical records, the methods and prescriptions are explained and noted with clinical verification. His academic thinking is most influenced by previous herbalists Zhang Yuanyuan, Li Gao, Qian Yi, etc. Xue Ji is good at the external department. At that time, Zhu Danxi's theory was prevalent, physicians paid more attention to coldness and coolness to eliminate fire, attack the vital Qi, which resulted in malpractices. In response to this situation, based on previous experience and his painstaking research, herbalist Xue Ji established his theory, it combined the spleen and stomach theory of Li Dongyuan, and the life-gate theory, water and fire theory of Wang Bing and Qian Yi, these are combined in one furnace, he emphasizes the syndrome differentiation of congenital and postnatal factors, advocates warm tonic therapy in prescriptions, has enlightened and inspired the emergence and formation of the Warm-recuperation school of later years.

 The book 《女科撮要》(Nv Ke Cuo Yao, or the Synopsis of Gynaecology), in five volumes, written by Xue Ji of the Ming Dynasty, the book was published in the Jiajin 27th year(the year 1548 AD). The first volume lists the syndromes and treatment of 15 gynecological diseases with prescriptions, such as irregular menstruation and unstoppable menstrual bleeding; the second volume introduces the syndromes, treatments, and prescriptions of 15 obstetric diseases, including preventing miscarriage, and miscarriage. Many of them are selected from quintessential expositions and standard prescriptions of obstetrics and gynecology books before the Ming Dynasty, elaborations and insightful views from Xue Ji himself are recorded too.

References:
  • 1.薛己Xuē Jǐ:introduction about his biography and legends,main books and academic thoughts.

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