Shu Zhao: Biographical introduction and historical accounts, major works and academic contributions

TCM Knowledge:Prominent Ancient Herbalists ✵Shu Zhao: A Qing dynasty herbalist, he was fond of medical prescriptions and learned medical skills under the renowned herbalist 罗子尚 (Luo Zishang), a disciple of Yu Chang. His medical skills greatly improved under Luo Zishang's tutelage. He is the author of 《傷寒集註》(Shang Han Ji Zhu, or the Collected Annotations on the Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases) and 《傷寒六經定法》(Shang Han Liu Jing Ding Fa, or the Fixed Methods of the Six-channels Cold-induced Diseases).

舒詔 (Shū Zhào).

  
Brief Introduction
Chinese Name: 舒詔 (Shū Zhào)Alias: 馳遠 (Chí Yuǎn)
Popular Name: 舒詔 (Shū Zhào)English Name: Shu Zhao (family name first) or Zhao Shu (given name first)
Hometown: Jinxian, JiangxiDates: Unknown, about middle to late 18th century.
Main Works: 《傷寒集註》(Shang Han Ji Zhu),《傷寒六經定法》(Shang Han Liu Jing Ding Fa),《痘疹真詮》(Dou Zhen Zhen Quan), and《女科要訣》(Nv Ke Yao Jue).
Representative Works: Shang Han Ji Zhu, Shang Han Liu Jing Ding Fa, Dou Zhen Zhen Quan, and Nv Ke Yao Jue.

Biographical introduction and historical accounts


 舒詔Shū Zhào Shu Zhao, a Qing dynasty herbalist, his alias is 馳遠 (Chí Yuǎn), his self-title is Shenzhai Scholar (慎齋學人), he was native to Jingxian of Jiangxi. As a teenager, he developed an interest in medical prescriptions and learned medical skills from a renowned herbalist, 羅子尚 (Luo Zishang), , a disciple of Yu Chang. This greatly improved his medical skills.

Major works and academic contributions


 Shu Zhao excelled in pulse diagnosis and authored the one-volume 《辨脈篇》(Bian Mai Pian, or Differentiation of Pulse) in 1739 CE. This text advocated classifying pulses as floating, sunken, slow, or rapid and criticized the notion that "the pulse can be understood by meaning but not expressed in words". His scholarship advocated Yu Jiayan's Shang Lun Pian, and compiled the ten-volume book Shang Han Ji Zhu revising it ten years later. In addition, he also wrote other books, Shang Han Liu Jing Ding Fa, Dou Zhen Zhen Quan, Nv Ke Yao Jue.

 Shang Han Ji Zhu (Collected Annotations on the Treatise on Cold-Induced Diseases) is also known as Shu Chi Yuan Shang Han Ji Zhu. It is a ten-volume book with an additional five volumes, and is also known as Shu Shi Shang Han Ji Zhu. After publishing the book, the author revised it twice. Among the annotations, he praised Yu Chang's book, Shang Lun Pian. However, he also held the view that "there are more unexplained meanings.", then based on the book, "reference to a hundred schools for syndrome differentiation and treatment", to supplement and collect annotations from various schools, in addition to collecting essential discussions from previous scholars, the book also includes the author's views and those of his disciples. Furthermore, the book supplements the 113 prescriptions from Shang Han Lun (the Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases), listing the original prescriptions below the entries and explaining the purpose of the formulas, the meaning and the properties of the medicine. Popular later editions in circulation are an engraved copy by himself from the Qianlong 25th years of the Qing Dynasty (1760 CE), and a revised copy from 1770 CE. There were 19 editions during the Qing dynasty.

 Shang Han Liu Jing Ding Fa (The Fixed Methods of the Six-channels Cold-induced Diseases), a book about Shang Han (the cold-induced diseases), also known as Shu Shi Shang Han Liu Jing Ding Fa, one volume. The author studied Shang Han Lun (The Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases) for decades and has shown great skill. Therefore, his analysis of cold-induced diseases of six channels offers profound insights. He also briefly introduces his treatment methods, which incorporate some experienced prescriptions from later generations. This book was also published and attached to the book Shang Han Ji Zhu.

 Dou Zhen Zhen Quan (A True Interpretation of Exanthema Variolosum), one volume, compiled by Shu Zhao. The book was published in 1917 CE. Its contents include the theories of fever, complexion, swelling, nourishing pulp, a collected discussion, Shu's medical case, the combination of exanthema and variolosum, different treatments of exanthema and variolosum, miscellaneous diseases, and brief, simple prescriptions for treating exanthema, etc.

References:
  • 1. Shu Zhao: Biographical introduction and historical accounts, major works and academic contributions

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