Tao Hua: Biographical introduction and legendary stories, major works and academic contributions
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✵陶華 (Táo Huá): A herbalist during the Ming Dynasty who specialized in the study of Shang Han Lun (the Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases). Patients usually recover after taking only one dose of his prescription. He is the author of 《傷寒六書》(Shang Han Liu Shu, or the Six Books of Shang Han), a book about the study of Shang Han Lun (the Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases).
- 陶華 (Táo Huá).
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Brief Introduction Chinese Name: 陶華 (Táo Huá) Alias: 尚文 (Shàng Wén) Popular name: 陶節庵 (Táo Jiēān) English Name: Tao Hua, or Hua Tao (Given/Family) Hometown: Yu Hang Dates: about 1369~1463 A.D. Main works: 《傷寒六書》(Shang Han Liu Shu, or the Six Books of Shang Han), 《癰疽神秘驗方》(Yong Ju Shen Mi Yan Fang),《傷寒點點金書》(Shang Han Dian Dian Jin Shu),《傷寒全生集》(Shang Han Quan Sheng Ji). Representative works: Shang Han Liu Shu (the Six Books of Shang Han). Biography and legends:
陶華 (Táo Huá), his alias is Shang Wen (尚文,Shàng Wén), self-titled 節庵 (Táo Jiē'ān), was a herbalist in the Ming Dynasty. According to records, he was born in 1369 and passed away in 1463. He is native to Yu Hang of Ming. He specialized in the study of Shang Han Lun (the Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases). Patients usually recover after taking only one dose of his prescription, so he was called "Tao Yitie." He is the author of Shang Han Liu Shu (The Six Books of Shang Han).
Main books and academic thoughts:
The book Shang Han Liu Shu (The Six Books of Shang Han) is about the study of Shang Han Lun (The Treatise on Cold-Induced Diseases). Another name for it is Tao Shi Shang Han Quan Shu (The Complete Works of Tao's Shan Han). It has six volumes and was compiled by the herbalist Tao Hua in the tenth year of the Zheng Tong period of the Ming Dynasty (1445 CE). It is a collection of six studies about Shang Han Lun (The Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases) from Tao Hua. Each study is collected and listed as one volume. In general, it is named "The Six Books of Shang Han." The six volumes, or works, are briefly introduced below:
(1) Shang Han Suo Yan (The Trivial Articles of the Treatise on Cold-Induced Diseases): It is a record of Tao's studies and research on the Shang Han Lun (the Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases). It is named "Trivial Articles" and is not a systematic work.
(2) Shang Han Jia Mi Di Ben (Secret Copy of the Family Inherited Theory of the Treatise on Cold-Induced Diseases): This text focuses on several syndromes of cold-induced diseases, as well as the syndromes and treatments of wind-warm syndrome, damp-warm syndrome, wind-dampness syndrome, etc. It also includes a general treatise on Shang Han and pulse syndrome fingering methods.
(3) Shang Han Sha Che Chui Fa: it focuses on methods for relieving diseases, preparing herbs, and antidote methods. It records the author's unique academic insights and lists 37 effective, secret prescriptions.
(4) Shanghan Yi Ti Jin (One Handle of Gold from the Treatise on Cold-Induced Diseases): This is an enlightening reading material that outlines the Shang Han Lun (the Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases).
(5) Shanghan Jie Jiang Wang (The River Net of the Treatise on Cold-Induced Diseases): It introduces the differentiation and identification of syndromes related to exogenous febrile diseases, as well as the etiology and medication principles. It also discusses treatment differences between males and females for exogenous febrile diseases. The text embodies traditional theories of adaptation to time, place, and individual conditions.
(6) Shanghan Ming Li Xu Lun (The Successive Theory of Shang Han Explanations): Tao made supplementary amendments based on personal experience and references to the style and content of Shang Han Ming Li Lun (the Concise Exposition of Cold-Induced Disease) by Cheng Wuji, compiled and finished with supplement contents.
Tao's works were greatly influenced by Zhu Gong's Nan Yang Huo Ren Shu (T Nanyang for Life-saving Book), The content of his six works is repetitive, and the syndrome differentiation principles are not clear enough. The selected prescriptions and medicines are chaotic, so there were many comments from later generations. There are various Ming and Qing block-printed editions of Tao's works.
Shang Han Quan Sheng Ji (The Complete Collection of Treatises on Febrile Diseases)was compiled by Tao Hua and contains 169 articles totaling over 100,000 Chinese characters discussing the pathogenesis of exogenous febrile diseases, including warm disease and febrile diseases, as well as syndrome differentiation and treatment. The book is characterized by its detailed analysis and flexibility. It not only interprets the main points of Zhongjing, but also goes beyond the six channels of Shang Han. It is especially notable for its innovation in the diagnosis and treatment of warm and febrile diseases, making it useful for treating exogenous febrile diseases. Herbalist Ye Gui's ancestors have regarded the book as a professional text for many generations. Ye Tianshi studied it at age 68 and added comments. Therefore, the book has had a considerable influence on the academic origins of Ye's family. After referring to the contents of this book and Ye's works, such as Wen Re Lun (Treatise on Epidemic Febrile Diseases), it is not difficult to find that the former's essential entries were used as references and application in many articles of Wen Re Lun (Treatise on Epidemic Febrile Diseases).
References:
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- 1.Tao Hua: Biographical introduction and legendary stories, major works and academic contributions
