Lǐ Dōngyuán:introduction about his biography and legend,main books and academic thoughts.
✵李杲 (Lǐ Gǎo):also called Lǐ Míngzhī, or Li Dōngyuán, a disciple of herbalist 張元素 (Zhāng Yuánsù), who held the viewpoint that diseases, apart from exogenous affections, were mainly caused by endogenous injury to the spleen and stomach and advocated treatment by regulating the spleen and the stomach and nourishing the Yuan Qi (the acquired Qi). He was admitted as the founder of the School for Strengthening the Spleen and Stomach. His masterpiece is the book Pi Wei Lun (the Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach).
李東垣 (Lǐ Dōngyuán).
Brief Introduction
漢語名 (Chinese Name):
李杲 (Lǐ Gǎo)
Alias:
明之 (Míng Zhī)
Popular name:
東垣老人 (Dōng Yuán Lǎo Rén)
English Name:
Li DongYuan, or DongYuan Li (Given/Sur Name)
Hometown:
Zhu Li of Zhen Ding
Dates:
about 1180-1251 A.D.
Main works:
Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (the thesis differentiation between endogenous hurt and exogenous affection) in 3 volumes, Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in 3 volumes, Yong Yao Xiang Fa (Rules for the Use of Herbs) in 1 volume, Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in 3 volumes, Yi Xue Fa Ming (Inventions of Medicine) in 1 volume, Huo Fa Ji Yao, Dong Yuan Shi Xiao Fang (Effective Prescriptions verified by Dong Yuan) in 9 volumes,etc.
Representative works:
Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (the thesis differentiation between endogenous hurt and exogenous affection), Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in 3 volumes, Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in 3 volumes, Dong Yuan Shi Xiao Fang (Effective Prescriptions verified by Dong Yuan), in 9 volumes, etc.
Biography and legends:
李杲 (Lǐ Gǎo): also called Lǐ Míngzhī, or Li Dōngyuán (the year 1180 or 1182~1251 A.D.), a disciple of herbalist 張元素 (Zhāng Yuánsù), who held the viewpoint that diseases, apart from exogenous affections, were mainly caused by endogenous injury to the spleen and stomach and advocated treatment by regulating the spleen and the stomach and nourishing the Yuan Qi (the acquired Qi). He was admitted as the founder of the School for Strengthening the Spleen and Stomach. His masterpiece is the book Pi Wei Lun (the Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach).
Lǐ Gǎo's alias is 明之 (Míng Zhī), he was native to Zhu Li of Zhen Ding, for Zhen Ding area was known as Dong Yuan Kingdom at early years of the Han Dynasty, so he self-titled 東垣老人 (Dōng Yuán Lǎo Rén) in his late years, later folks called him 李東垣 (Lǐ Dōng Yuán), ancestor of the school of invigorating the earth, astronomically wealthy, 李杲 (Lǐ Gǎo) followed herbalist 張元素 (Zhāng Yuánsù) and took him as master, a famous herbalist of the School of Yi Shui, a creator of the TCM theory of spleen and stomach, and proposed importance of the spleen and stomach, his major works survived till today are known include Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (the thesis differentiation between endogenous hurt and exogenous affection), Pi Wei Lun (the Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach), Yong Yao Xiang Fa (the methods and principles of prescription applications), Yi Xue Fa Ming (Inventions of Medicine), Lan Shi Mi Cang (the Secret Book of Orchid Chamber), Huo Fa Ji Yao, etc.
李杲 (Lǐ Gǎo) ever followed famous Hanlin Academician Confucian 王若虛 (Wáng Ruòxū), 馮叔獻 (Féng Shūxiàn) to study with confucian classics in his young age, had a large circle of friends, his friends are all personages with virtues, but he did not be friending with playboys or those not a good-for-nothing from a wealthy family, he was known as a famous Confucian scholar at 22 years age, in his young age, Li did not hold a will to save people, his study with medicine in young age was only for self health maintenance, but later his mother caught a serious disease when he was 20 years old, consulted local physicians, gave different diagnosis and treatment method, taken various herbal recipes, but the disease never relieved, and his mother passed away, for not knowing treatment but only Confucianism, Li had to see the passing away of his parent and felt very sorrow for he did not know treatment, so he sweared to take a good herbalist as his teacher when met him, at that time there are two famous herbalists in the area, one is herbalist 刘完素 (liú wánsù, about 1120-1200 A.D.) who lived at Hejian, and he is very old and sick, another is herbalist 张元素 (Zhāng Yuánsù) who lived at Yishui, he was known well for he ever treated the cold-induced disease of herbalist Liu Wansu, when scholar Li heard herbalist Zhang Yuansu then went to Yishui 400 miles a way from his hometown and took him as teacher with “gold and silks”, he spent many years hard learning, Li learned a lot from herbalist Zhang Yuansu and basically mastered with the academic thoughts and diagnosis treatment techniques, so said farewell with his teacher herbalist Zhang and returned to hometown to help folks, all the patients treated by him, although a lot of them are suffering from difficulty miscellaneous disease, but treatment got positive effects. From his youth, 李杲 (Lǐ Gǎo) formed a character of honesty and kept a promise, treated folks with manners and politeness, was cautious with friendship, never teased others, cared about his reputation and integrity, and also bore with molesting from prostitutes lady.
Main books and academic thoughts:
In his 30s, 李杲 (Lǐ Gǎo)'s father got him arranged as an official in the court of Jin with his relationship, devoted money and bought an official position at Ji Yuan (located in today's Henan province), but he did not serve as a physician or herbalist, he only offered help to requests from relatives and friends in a circle for the urgent cases. During this period, there was a kind of epidemic disease named "Da Tou Tian Xing" (massive head scourge, an epidemic disease characterized by swelling and redness of the face) spread here and there, its symptoms represented as red swollen on the face and head, and the throat was in obstruction. Many physicians in that epoch looked up ancient herbal classics and never found descriptions of this kind of disease. They normally use a purgative prescription for treatment but cannot get a positive effect, patients suffer from diarrhea again and again, then die one by one. Although these conditions continued, physicians did not tell its fault of treatment, and relatives of patients had no objection to this. But herbalist Li Dongyuan considered the patients may die unjustly, so he started to study this kind of disease repeatedly, from the symptoms to the pathogenesis, finally detected and found the pathogenesis, and also found a prescription. Once patients took the recipes, positive results were achieved. Then he engraved this prescription on a wood board and hung it at the place where crowds gathered, and those patients who took these prescriptions all got recovered. The folks there misunderstood that the recipe was given by some immortals, so engraved it on a stone tablet. Sooner or later, to avoid the coming of war and chaos, herbalist Li Dongyuan had to immigrate to Bian Liang city. During the period he spent staying in the city Bian Liang, he treated many official patients, the result was very good, so he got known widely. Once he returned from the Middle Earth, he lived in the area of Dong Ping and Liao Cheng, practice medicine as a career for 6 years. In the year 1244 A.D., Li Dongyuan returned to his hometown ZhenDing when he was 64 years old, many years' life of moving around during the war epoch, his physical condition turned weak, except for clinical practice and saving people. He put the clinical experience of many years into writing and creating the theory in which disorder of the spleen and stomach caused by internal hurt is the main content, and later finished his book Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (the Differentiation of Endogenous and Exogenous injury). In his late years, around 70 years old, herbalist Li Dongyuan compiled his later works Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in 3 volumes, Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in 3 volumes, and some parts of his theses and records from practice. Before his passing away, herbalist Li Dongyuan left his manuscripts and academic writings to his disciple 羅天益 (Luó Tiānyì) and told him that "these books are for your handling now, not for Li Mingzhi, or Luo Qianfu, but for folks and later generations, take care and not let them get buried, publish and let them get applications." Later his disciple 羅天益 (Luó Tiānyì) edited and compiled, published his books Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in 3 volumes, Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in 3 volumes, he also used the book Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) as the basis, supplemented it with DongYuan's academic articles and records, compiled this literature as the book Dong Yuan Shi Xiao Fang (Effective Prescriptions verified by Dong Yuan). Dongyuan's books that survived till today are Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (the thesis differentiation between endogenous hurt and exogenous affection), Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in 3 volumes, Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in 3 volumes, Mai Jue Zhi Zhang (Countings of the Pulse Knacks), Huo Fa Ji Yao, Yi Xue Fa Ming (the Inventive Elaborations on the Medical Science) in 1 volume. There are several other ancient books ever attributed authorship to him, include Dong Yuan Mai Jue (Pulse Formula of Dong Yuan), Shi Wu Ben Cao (Food Tonic Materia Medica), Zhen Zhu Nang Zhi Zhang Bu Yi Yao Xing Fu (the Supplement Herb Properties handbook in Verse of the Pearl Bag), but the authorship is doubtful. There is also a lost bookShang Han Hui Yao (the Essentials of the Cold-induced diseases) also ever attributed its authorship to him. His major works, whose authorship has been confirmed, are briefly introduced:
The book Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (the thesis differentiation between endogenous hurt and exogenous affection) was compiled since the year 1231 A.D. and finally finished in the year 1247 A.D., total in 3 volumes, in TCM theory, he proposed the importance of the spleen and stomach viscera among all the Zang and Fu viscera; In diagnosis, he proposed the differences between the endogenous hurt and the exogenous affection, correct physicians of the epoch who mistakenly identified the endogenous hurt as exogenous affection; In treatment methods and prescriptions, he created the therapeutic method "sweet and warm tonic to eliminate great heat", and prescriptions include buzhong yiqi decoction, pointed out the special effects of the three methods (perspiration, emesis, purgative) in the treatment of endogenous hurt, proposed principles "prescriptions for four seasons", and "prescriptions of time", etc.
The book Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in 3 volumes, gave a systematic exploration of endogenous hurt from the spleen and stomach viscera. It was compiled after the book Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (the thesis differentiation between endogenous hurt and exogenous affection), and finished at around the year 1249 A.D., its theory is based on the ancient book Nei Jing (the Inner Cannon), and also quoted thesis and discussions from ancient herbalists Zhang Zhongjing, Sun Simiao, Qian Yi, 63 prescriptions are listed, followed by four articles under the title "Pi Wei Jiang Li Fa", "She Yang", "Yuan Yu", "Xing Yan Jian(sayings from reflections)", etc. The first volume is composed of seven articles, systematically explain the physiological functions of the spleen and stomach, the exterior and interior relationship of the spleen and stomach viscera, the pathological developments and transmission of deficiency and excess, quoted relevant original discussions from Nei Jing (the Inner Canon), attached with related viewpoints from himself; the second volume covered twelve articles, explained the treatment principles and treatment methods for various syndromes developed from the endogenous hurt of the spleen and stomach viscera, summarized the pathological relationship between the spleen stomach viscera and other four Zang-viscera, and four major treatment methods; the third volume explains the residual questions not discussed, the relationship between the stomach and five Zang-viscera and the nine orifices, the relationship between the spleen stomach viscera and the Yin Yang in the sky and land. The book is a symbol of the establishment of the spleen and stomach theory; it gave further interpretations on the related theory from the ancient book Nei Jing (the Inner Canon); it also made some supplements to the syndrome differentiation and treatment of endogenous and miscellaneous syndromes from herbalist Zhang Zhongjing.
The book Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in 3 volumes, it gave proof of Dongyuan's main theory from practical records, the books name came from the sentence "Cang Zhu Ling Lan Zhi Shi(hide it in the orchid chamber room)" recorded in the ancient book Nei Jing·Suwen (the Inner Cannon·the Plain Questions), it was compiled ever since the year 1249 A.D. till his death, the book was compiled and edited then published 25 years later by his disciple 羅天益 (Luó Tiānyì), its main content is about the specific applications of the spleen and stomach theory in the practice of various clinical departments. It collected over 280 prescriptions, and most of them were set up by herbalist Li Dongyuan himself.
The book Dong Yuan Shi Xiao Fang (Effective Prescriptions verified by Dong Yuan), in 9 volumes, its main contents are the same as the book Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber), with supplemented prescriptions and effective records, the contents of prescriptions reflect thoughts of Dongyuan, the effective records are representative, proved the theory of herbalist Li Dongyuan and the correctness of the prescriptions, its writings and forms of literature are stricter than the book Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber).
Herbalist Li Dongyuan proposed how his specific viewpoint about the treatment values of the spleen pertaining to earth at the middle energizer, and inherited viewpoint about spleen-stomach from his master herbalist 張元素 (Zhāng Yuánsù), some of his patients are those officials who eat a lot of greasy and surfeit flavor which may hurt the spleen and stomach easily, some of his patients are suffering folks eating disorder and suffering from hunger, anxiety, sorrow in the war epoch, easily hurt the spleen and stomach too, so he holds a viewpoint that new social reality need a new analysis based on characteristics of patients instead of references to ancient recipes, all these conditions became the starting point and drive for him to create the spleen and stomach theory, his spleen stomach theory is similar to related theory recorded in ancient classics Nei Jing (the Inner Canon of Huangdi), “the stomach Qi supports life, dying without stomach Qi”, the shares between them is an emphasis on the functions of the stomach Qi. Also, herbalist Li Dongyuan classified internal diseases into 2 big classes, exogeneous affections, and endogenous injuries. This difference has strong implications for diagnosis and treatment. For endogenous injury, he holds the viewpoint that the endogenous hurt of the spleen and stomach is most common, and there are three reasons. Herbalist Li Dongyuan proposed different methods should be applied in the treatment of excess syndromes, also he extremely emphasized on the treatment principle of syndrome differentiation, and proposed to treat deficiency syndrome with tonification method, and treat excess syndrome with purgative methods, which make his theory complete and consistent with the relevant viewpoint "supplement the middle energizer, and tonify" of herbalist 張子和 (Zhāng Zǐhé), the theory of herbalist Li Dongyuan was inherited and developed by his disciples 王好古 (Wáng Hǎogǔ) and 羅天益 (Luó Tiānyì), herbalist 王好古 (Wáng Hǎogǔ) absorbed the pharmaceutics theory of herbalist Li Dongyuan, took its clinical applications seriously, on the other side he was enlightened with his endogenous hurt and the spleen-stomach pathogenesis theory, established the Yin Syndrome theory, herbalist 羅天益 (Luó Tiānyì) might inherit the spleen-stomach theory in completeness from Li Dongyuan, enriched this theory on the classification and the outline of the spleen and stomach endogenous hurt, and related clinical application experience. His academic thoughts generated a big influence on later herbalists, especially for the warm-recuperation school.
Herbalist Li Dongyuan holds specific viewpoints on women's disease and had a rich experience, most parts were recorded in his book Lan Shi Mi Cang (the Secret Book of Orchid Chamber). His major and important achievement in gynecology is establishing the therapy mode of women's disease with a method based on pathogenesis, including ①.the sinking of Qi due to deficiency of the spleen, ②.Yin-fire attack the earth, ③.dampness invasion of the lower energizer; He also gave detailed discussions about the main pathogenesis, the various causes or pathogenic reasons that lead to different kinds of women's disease due to different pathogens.
For the morbid leucorrhea, herbalist Li Dongyuan proposed it is mainly related to Qi deficiency of spleen and stomach and Yin-fire, the clinical symptoms represented in the forms of dampness invasion of the lower energizer and lasting for a long period. He also gave explaination on the main pathogenesis that caused the dampness invasion of the lower energizer. Those morbid leucorrhea cases herbalist Li treated with, for the cause of Qi-dropping for a long period, Yin-fire developed to the cold syndrome, so the cases of morbid leucorrhea mostly developed to the syndrome of deficiency, deficiency-cold, or exhaustion. He gave a detailed explaination of the pathogenesis of various types of leucorrhea: ①.The syndrome leucorrhea of deficiency; ②.the syndrome leucorrhea of deficiency-cold; ③.the syndrome leucorrhea of exhaustion; ④.The syndrome of uterine bleeding and morbid leucorrhea.
In the practice of women's disease, herbalist Li Dongyuan proposed to elevating Yang and discharging fire, has his own specific characteristics of herbs and recipes applications that have never been reached by previous generations of herbalists, and he disclosed those truths the predecessors never proposed. He established treatment theory on: ①.amenorrhea of women, whose pathogenesis is from fire burning and blood exhaustion; ②.the amenorrhea caused by long weakness or deficiency of the spleen and stomach, physical weakness, the collapse of Qi and blood; ③.the amenorrhea caused by the deficiency of the spleen and stomach for a long period, deficiency of Qi and blood, collapsing of the Middle Qi, hyperactivity, and fire of the uterine collateral.
In general, the theory of herbalist Li Dongyuan mostly came from the ancient books Nei Jing (the Inner Canon) as its source, absorbed the theory of Zhang Zhongjing, the theory of Qian Yi, theory and experience of Wang Shuhe and Sun Simiao, enlightened by the theory of his master Zhang Yuansu, and was affected by the theory of herbalist Liu Wansu. The spleen and stomach theories of herbalist Li Dongyuan were well known.
On February 25th, the year 1251 A.D., herbalist Li Dongyuan passed away, then he was buried at his hometown Huang Lin County, and his tomb was reserved and stand at the west corner of the A Dang village, A Dang township, Huang Lin county, a stone tablet stand in front of the tomb, the engraved markings read that: “master the skills and classics of Qibo and Huangdi, revive the dead, famous herbalist who shares morality to native people, fame spread from south to north, east to west.” to memorize and praise his achievements.
The School of He Jian and the School of Yi Shui were regarded as two big academic schools inherited traditions and established new grounds for the later generations in the TCM history, herbalist Li Dongyuan was respected as the tower of strength of the Yi Shui School, he learned from herbalist 張元素 (Zhāng Yuánsù) but had more influence on later generations, later herbalist 朱丹溪 (Zhū Dānxī) was the third generation disciples of the He Jian School, some of his academic thought also come from the enlightment of Li Dongyuan, ever since the Ming Dynasty, later famous herbalists include 薛立齋 (Xuē Lìzhāi), 張景嶽 (Zhāng Jǐngyuè), 李中梓 (Lǐ Zhōngzǐ), 葉天士 (Yè Tiānshì), etc., all showed respect for the academic thoughts of herbalist 李杲 (Lǐ Gǎo) and developed some of his academic thoughts, other herbalist 龔廷賢 (Gōng Tíngxián), 龔居中 (Gōng Jūzhōng), 張誌聰 (Zhāng Zhìcōng), etc., were affected by the academic thoughts of Li Dongyuan too. Although the inheritors all know clearly that putting undue emphasis on spleen-stomach may be biased, his academic theory was still respected as a milestone in the history of TCM, and herbalist Li Dongyuan was recorded in TCM history as a great herbalist.
References:
1.Lǐ Dōngyuán:introduction about his biography and legend,main books and academic thoughts.
✵李杲 (Lǐ Gǎo):also called Lǐ Míngzhī, or Li Dōngyuán, a disciple of herbalist 張元素 (Zhāng Yuánsù), who held the viewpoint that diseases, apart from exogenous affections, were mainly caused by endogenous injury to the spleen and stomach and advocated treatment by regulating the spleen and the stomach and nourishing the Yuan Qi (the acquired Qi). He was admitted as the founder of the School for Strengthening the Spleen and Stomach. His masterpiece is the book Pi Wei Lun (the Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach).
李杲 (Lǐ Gǎo): also called Lǐ Míngzhī, or Li Dōngyuán (the year 1180 or 1182~1251 A.D.), a disciple of herbalist 張元素 (Zhāng Yuánsù), who held the viewpoint that diseases, apart from exogenous affections, were mainly caused by endogenous injury to the spleen and stomach and advocated treatment by regulating the spleen and the stomach and nourishing the Yuan Qi (the acquired Qi). He was admitted as the founder of the School for Strengthening the Spleen and Stomach. His masterpiece is the book Pi Wei Lun (the Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach).
李杲 (Lǐ Gǎo) ever followed famous Hanlin Academician Confucian 王若虛 (Wáng Ruòxū), 馮叔獻 (Féng Shūxiàn) to study with confucian classics in his young age, had a large circle of friends, his friends are all personages with virtues, but he did not be friending with playboys or those not a good-for-nothing from a wealthy family, he was known as a famous Confucian scholar at 22 years age, in his young age, Li did not hold a will to save people, his study with medicine in young age was only for self health maintenance, but later his mother caught a serious disease when he was 20 years old, consulted local physicians, gave different diagnosis and treatment method, taken various herbal recipes, but the disease never relieved, and his mother passed away, for not knowing treatment but only Confucianism, Li had to see the passing away of his parent and felt very sorrow for he did not know treatment, so he sweared to take a good herbalist as his teacher when met him, at that time there are two famous herbalists in the area, one is herbalist 刘完素 (liú wánsù, about 1120-1200 A.D.) who lived at Hejian, and he is very old and sick, another is herbalist 张元素 (Zhāng Yuánsù) who lived at Yishui, he was known well for he ever treated the cold-induced disease of herbalist Liu Wansu, when scholar Li heard herbalist Zhang Yuansu then went to Yishui 400 miles a way from his hometown and took him as teacher with “gold and silks”, he spent many years hard learning, Li learned a lot from herbalist Zhang Yuansu and basically mastered with the academic thoughts and diagnosis treatment techniques, so said farewell with his teacher herbalist Zhang and returned to hometown to help folks, all the patients treated by him, although a lot of them are suffering from difficulty miscellaneous disease, but treatment got positive effects. From his youth, 李杲 (Lǐ Gǎo) formed a character of honesty and kept a promise, treated folks with manners and politeness, was cautious with friendship, never teased others, cared about his reputation and integrity, and also bore with molesting from prostitutes lady.
In his 30s, 李杲 (Lǐ Gǎo)'s father got him arranged as an official in the court of Jin with his relationship, devoted money and bought an official position at Ji Yuan (located in today's Henan province), but he did not serve as a physician or herbalist, he only offered help to requests from relatives and friends in a circle for the urgent cases. During this period, there was a kind of epidemic disease named "Da Tou Tian Xing" (massive head scourge, an epidemic disease characterized by swelling and redness of the face) spread here and there, its symptoms represented as red swollen on the face and head, and the throat was in obstruction. Many physicians in that epoch looked up ancient herbal classics and never found descriptions of this kind of disease. They normally use a purgative prescription for treatment but cannot get a positive effect, patients suffer from diarrhea again and again, then die one by one. Although these conditions continued, physicians did not tell its fault of treatment, and relatives of patients had no objection to this. But herbalist Li Dongyuan considered the patients may die unjustly, so he started to study this kind of disease repeatedly, from the symptoms to the pathogenesis, finally detected and found the pathogenesis, and also found a prescription. Once patients took the recipes, positive results were achieved. Then he engraved this prescription on a wood board and hung it at the place where crowds gathered, and those patients who took these prescriptions all got recovered. The folks there misunderstood that the recipe was given by some immortals, so engraved it on a stone tablet. Sooner or later, to avoid the coming of war and chaos, herbalist Li Dongyuan had to immigrate to Bian Liang city. During the period he spent staying in the city Bian Liang, he treated many official patients, the result was very good, so he got known widely. Once he returned from the Middle Earth, he lived in the area of Dong Ping and Liao Cheng, practice medicine as a career for 6 years. In the year 1244 A.D., Li Dongyuan returned to his hometown ZhenDing when he was 64 years old, many years' life of moving around during the war epoch, his physical condition turned weak, except for clinical practice and saving people. He put the clinical experience of many years into writing and creating the theory in which disorder of the spleen and stomach caused by internal hurt is the main content, and later finished his book Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (the Differentiation of Endogenous and Exogenous injury). In his late years, around 70 years old, herbalist Li Dongyuan compiled his later works Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in 3 volumes, Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in 3 volumes, and some parts of his theses and records from practice. Before his passing away, herbalist Li Dongyuan left his manuscripts and academic writings to his disciple 羅天益 (Luó Tiānyì) and told him that "these books are for your handling now, not for Li Mingzhi, or Luo Qianfu, but for folks and later generations, take care and not let them get buried, publish and let them get applications." Later his disciple 羅天益 (Luó Tiānyì) edited and compiled, published his books Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in 3 volumes, Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in 3 volumes, he also used the book Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) as the basis, supplemented it with DongYuan's academic articles and records, compiled this literature as the book Dong Yuan Shi Xiao Fang (Effective Prescriptions verified by Dong Yuan). Dongyuan's books that survived till today are Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (the thesis differentiation between endogenous hurt and exogenous affection), Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in 3 volumes, Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in 3 volumes, Mai Jue Zhi Zhang (Countings of the Pulse Knacks), Huo Fa Ji Yao, Yi Xue Fa Ming (the Inventive Elaborations on the Medical Science) in 1 volume. There are several other ancient books ever attributed authorship to him, include Dong Yuan Mai Jue (Pulse Formula of Dong Yuan), Shi Wu Ben Cao (Food Tonic Materia Medica), Zhen Zhu Nang Zhi Zhang Bu Yi Yao Xing Fu (the Supplement Herb Properties handbook in Verse of the Pearl Bag), but the authorship is doubtful. There is also a lost bookShang Han Hui Yao (the Essentials of the Cold-induced diseases) also ever attributed its authorship to him. His major works, whose authorship has been confirmed, are briefly introduced:
Herbalist Li Dongyuan proposed how his specific viewpoint about the treatment values of the spleen pertaining to earth at the middle energizer, and inherited viewpoint about spleen-stomach from his master herbalist 張元素 (Zhāng Yuánsù), some of his patients are those officials who eat a lot of greasy and surfeit flavor which may hurt the spleen and stomach easily, some of his patients are suffering folks eating disorder and suffering from hunger, anxiety, sorrow in the war epoch, easily hurt the spleen and stomach too, so he holds a viewpoint that new social reality need a new analysis based on characteristics of patients instead of references to ancient recipes, all these conditions became the starting point and drive for him to create the spleen and stomach theory, his spleen stomach theory is similar to related theory recorded in ancient classics Nei Jing (the Inner Canon of Huangdi), “the stomach Qi supports life, dying without stomach Qi”, the shares between them is an emphasis on the functions of the stomach Qi. Also, herbalist Li Dongyuan classified internal diseases into 2 big classes, exogeneous affections, and endogenous injuries. This difference has strong implications for diagnosis and treatment. For endogenous injury, he holds the viewpoint that the endogenous hurt of the spleen and stomach is most common, and there are three reasons. Herbalist Li Dongyuan proposed different methods should be applied in the treatment of excess syndromes, also he extremely emphasized on the treatment principle of syndrome differentiation, and proposed to treat deficiency syndrome with tonification method, and treat excess syndrome with purgative methods, which make his theory complete and consistent with the relevant viewpoint "supplement the middle energizer, and tonify" of herbalist 張子和 (Zhāng Zǐhé), the theory of herbalist Li Dongyuan was inherited and developed by his disciples 王好古 (Wáng Hǎogǔ) and 羅天益 (Luó Tiānyì), herbalist 王好古 (Wáng Hǎogǔ) absorbed the pharmaceutics theory of herbalist Li Dongyuan, took its clinical applications seriously, on the other side he was enlightened with his endogenous hurt and the spleen-stomach pathogenesis theory, established the Yin Syndrome theory, herbalist 羅天益 (Luó Tiānyì) might inherit the spleen-stomach theory in completeness from Li Dongyuan, enriched this theory on the classification and the outline of the spleen and stomach endogenous hurt, and related clinical application experience. His academic thoughts generated a big influence on later herbalists, especially for the warm-recuperation school.
For the morbid leucorrhea, herbalist Li Dongyuan proposed it is mainly related to Qi deficiency of spleen and stomach and Yin-fire, the clinical symptoms represented in the forms of dampness invasion of the lower energizer and lasting for a long period. He also gave explaination on the main pathogenesis that caused the dampness invasion of the lower energizer. Those morbid leucorrhea cases herbalist Li treated with, for the cause of Qi-dropping for a long period, Yin-fire developed to the cold syndrome, so the cases of morbid leucorrhea mostly developed to the syndrome of deficiency, deficiency-cold, or exhaustion. He gave a detailed explaination of the pathogenesis of various types of leucorrhea: ①.The syndrome leucorrhea of deficiency; ②.the syndrome leucorrhea of deficiency-cold; ③.the syndrome leucorrhea of exhaustion; ④.The syndrome of uterine bleeding and morbid leucorrhea.
On February 25th, the year 1251 A.D., herbalist Li Dongyuan passed away, then he was buried at his hometown Huang Lin County, and his tomb was reserved and stand at the west corner of the A Dang village, A Dang township, Huang Lin county, a stone tablet stand in front of the tomb, the engraved markings read that: “master the skills and classics of Qibo and Huangdi, revive the dead, famous herbalist who shares morality to native people, fame spread from south to north, east to west.” to memorize and praise his achievements.
