Guo Yong: Biographical introduction and legendary stories, major works and academic contributions
✵Guo Yong: a herbalist and a scholar of the I Ching. He is very fond of Zhongjing's book and has studied it deeply. He took discussions from other ancient books and theories from other herbalists to compile and supplement it. He is the author of the book Shang Han Bu Wang Lun (The Recovery Supplement of Shang Han Lun).
郭雍 (Guō Yōng).
Brief Introduction
Chinese Name:
郭雍 (Guō Yōng)
Alias:
子和 (Zǐ Hé)
Popular name:
白雲先生 (Bái Yún Xiān Sheng, or White Cloud Teacher.)
English Name:
Guo Yong, or Yong Guo (Given/Family)
Hometown:
Xia Zhou
Dates:
about 1106–1187 A.D.
Main works:
《傷寒補亡論》(Shang Han Bu Wang Lun, or the Recovery Supplement of Shang Han Lun) 20 volumes, co-authors of 《大易粹言》(Dai Yi Cui Yan, or the Essential Discussions of the I Ching) 10 volumes.
Representative works:
Shang Han Bu Wang Lun (the Recovery Supplement of Shang Han Lun).
Biography and legends:
Guo Yong, also known as Zihe(子和, Zǐhé, his alias), was born into a family that believed in the Confucian school. His forefather was native to Luoyang. His father was loyal and filial and was assigned an official career at Taizhong Dafu, a disciple of Cheng Yi (程頤, Chéng Yí) and conducted in-depth research on the Zhou Yi (the I Ching), he is the author of Yi Shuo and used the self-title Jian Shan Xian Sheng, he wrote a self-biography. Guo Yong passed on his father's studies and learned secular affairs. He lived in Xiazhou and as a hermit in mountain valleys. His self-title was "Bai Yun Xian Sheng" (While Cloud Teacher).
During the Qiandao years (1165-1173 CE), he was recommended to the imperial court but declined an appointment. Then, he was given the title Chonghui Chushi. Emperor Xioozong was familiar with his virtuous deeds and praised him to the ministers. Local officials were asked to send him gifts and greetings during festivals. Later, the Emperor conferred the title "Gu Zheng Xian Sheng" upon him and sent officials to ask what he wanted to say. This was recorded and handed in. Therefore, Yong lived until he was eighty-three years old.
Main books and academic thoughts:
At the beginning of the Chunxi era (1174-1189 CE, Chunxi is the reign title of Emperor Xiaozong of the Song Dynasty), scholars compiled a book of Zhou Yi ariticles by scholars such as Cheng Hao (程顥, Chéng Hào), Cheng Yi, Zhang Zai (張載,Zhāng Zài), You Zuo (遊酢,Yóu Zuò), Yang Shi (楊時,Yáng Shí), Guo Zhongxiao (郭忠孝Guō Zhōngxiào), and Guo Yong. The book, named Da Yi Cui Yan(《大易粹言》Dà Yì Cuì Yán, or Essential Discussions of the I Ching), was published.
Guo Yong was very fond of Zhongjing's book and studied it profoundly. Due to the incompleteness of the Shang Han Lun (the Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases), he incorporated discussions from the Su Wen (the Plain Questions of Huangdi's Internal Classic), Nan Jing (the Difficult Classic), Qian Jin Fang (the Invaluable Prescriptions), Wai Tai Mi Yao(the Medical Secrets of an Official), and other texts. He also supplemented it with theories from herbalists Zhu Gong, Pang Anshi, Chang Qizhi, and others. In 1181 CE, he finally compiled 20-volume book Shang Han Bu Wang Lun (the Recovery Supplement of Shang Han Lun).
Shang Han Bu Wang Lun (The Recovery Supplement of Shang Han Lun) is a twenty-volume book on the study of Shang Han Lun (the Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases) (the sixteenth volume was lost during the Ming Dynasty; but the other nineteen volumes have survived to this day). Its author, Guo Yong, lived during the Song Dynasty and finished the book in 1181 CE. At that time, the author recognized that the book was incomplete. He incorporated discussions from other ancient books and theories from other herbalists to supplement it and added his own personal insights. His unique insights often surpass those of other schools. Thus, the title became "Bu Wang Lun" (the Recovery Supplement). This book's arrangement differs from the general version of Shang Han Lun (the Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases), and its content has been expanded. The compilation of lost literature is a notable contribution. However, this book's style is miscellaneous; Zhongjing's original text and later annotations are mixed, and the original source cannot be verified, which is this book's defect.
References:
1.Guo Yong: Biographical introduction and legendary stories, major works and academic contributions
✵Guo Yong: a herbalist and a scholar of the I Ching. He is very fond of Zhongjing's book and has studied it deeply. He took discussions from other ancient books and theories from other herbalists to compile and supplement it. He is the author of the book Shang Han Bu Wang Lun (The Recovery Supplement of Shang Han Lun).
Guo Yong, also known as Zihe(子和, Zǐhé, his alias), was born into a family that believed in the Confucian school. His forefather was native to Luoyang. His father was loyal and filial and was assigned an official career at Taizhong Dafu, a disciple of Cheng Yi (程頤, Chéng Yí) and conducted in-depth research on the Zhou Yi (the I Ching), he is the author of Yi Shuo and used the self-title Jian Shan Xian Sheng, he wrote a self-biography. Guo Yong passed on his father's studies and learned secular affairs. He lived in Xiazhou and as a hermit in mountain valleys. His self-title was "Bai Yun Xian Sheng" (While Cloud Teacher).
