Wan Quan: Biographical introduction and legendary stories, major works and academic contributions
✵Wan Quan: a famous herbalist in the Ming Dynasty. He was born into a family of herbalists, and his grandfather and father were both pediatricians. He is even more renowned for his work in pediatrics. He inherited his grandfather's and father's medical ethics and saved countless lives during his 50-year career. He is also the author of the book Shang Han Zhai Jin (Picked Brocade of Shang Han), which is his study of Shang Han Lun (the Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases).
萬全 (Wàn Quán).
Brief Introduction
Chinese Name:
萬全 (Wàn Quán)
Alias:
密齋 (Mì Zhāi), 字事 (Zì Shì)
Popular name:
萬密斋 (Wàn MìZhāi)
English Name:
Wan Quan, or Quan Wan (Given/Family)
Hometown:
Luo Tian.
Dates:
about 1499–1582 AD.
Main works:
《萬密齋醫書十種》(Wan Mi Zhai Yi Shu Shi Zhong, or the Ten Kinds Medical Books of Wang Mizhai).
Representative works:
Wan Mi Zhai Yi Shu Shi Zhong (the Ten Kinds Medical Books of Wang Mizhai).
Biography and legends:
萬全 (Wàn Quán), his alias is 密齋 (Mì Zhāi) or 字事 (Zì Shì), was born in 1499 and passed away in 1582 CE. He was a famous herbalist during the Ming Dynasty. He was born into a family of herbalists, and both his grandfather and father were pediatricians. His grandfather, Wan Xingpo (萬杏坡,Wàn Xìngpō), a native of Yuzhang (present-day Nanchang, Jiangxi), was the first-generation pediatrician in the Wan family, but he died at an early age. His father, Wan Kuang (萬筐, Wàn Kuāng), moved to the Luotian River bank in the Chenghua Gengzi year (1480 CE) due to a shortage of soldiers. A few years later, he became a renowned herbalist, establishing the reputation of Wan's Pediatrics as the second generation. Wan Quan is even more famous for pediatrics. As the third generation, he inherited the medical ethics of his grandfather and father and saved countless people during his 50-year career.
Wan Quan studied Confucianism from a young age. He studied the Confucian classics, history, and calendars under the tutelage of the Confucian scholars Hu Liuxi (胡柳溪,Hú Liǔxī) and Zhang Yuquan (張玉泉,Zhāng Yùquán), from whom he learned well. At 19, he entered Hu Yang as a Zhu Sheng (a scholar student of the Ming dynasty). At 28, he became a student of Shan Sheng. During this period, while studying and preparing for the imperial examinations, he also studied Chinese herbal medicine and inherited his family's knowledge. He often visited herbalists on behalf of his father and treated illnesses for teachers and friends at school. Gradually, he became known as a herbalist. He participated in several triennial examinations (the imperial exam at the provincial level), but unfortunately failed. When he was 30 years old, his father passed away. He then gave up his pursuit of the imperial examination and served as a herbalist.
Although Wan Quan gave up his pursuit of the imperial examinations early on, his respect for Confucianism never wavered. He opened schools many times, taught students and disciples, and continued until he was old. He also wrote many Confucian works, claiming, "From the classics to history and calendars to the Hundred Schools, his writings are related." Unfortunately, none of his Confucian works have been handed down.
Main books and academic thoughts:
Wan Quan's academic thoughts are pure and clean. The roots are flourishing, resulting in luxuriant growth. His work relates to pediatrics, gynecology, internal medicine, eugenics, good child-rearing, extending lifespan, producing heirs, and healthcare. His work is broad and profound.
Wan Quan collected the extensive experience of his predecessors and family studies. He wrote books, and his famous works include 《保命歌括》(Bao Ming Ge Kuo, or Songs for Saving-life), 35 volumes; 《傷寒摘錦》(Shang Han Zhai Jin, or Excerpts from Febrile Diseases), 2 volumes; 《養生四要》(Yang Sheng Si Yao, or the Four Essentials of Health Care), 3 volumes; 《內科要決》(Nei Ke Yao Jue, or Internal Medicine Essentials), 3 volumes; 《幼科發揮》(You Ke Fa Hui, or Elaboration of Pediatrics), 4 volumes, 《育嬰秘訣》(Yu Ying Mi Jue, or Secrets of Parenting), 4 volumes; and 《痘疹心法》(Dou Zhen Xin Fa, or Essential Methods of Exanthema Variolosum), 23 volumes, 《片玉新書》(Pian Yu Xin Shu, or the New Book of Jade Piece), 5 volumes; 《片玉疽疹》(Pian Yu Ju Zhen, or the Jade Piece of Ulcer and Rash), 13 volumes; 《廣嗣紀要》(Guang Si Ji Yao, or the Summary of Extending Heirs), 16 volumes. These works were combined and edited into a series of books titled 《萬密齋醫書十種》(Wan Mi Zhai Yi Shu Shi Zhong, or Ten Kinds of Medical Books of Wangmizhai), with 108 volumes and over 700,000 Chinese characters. Additionally, there are more than ten kinds of handwritten manuscripts, including 《萬氏外科心法》(Wan Shi Wai Ke Xin Fa, or Mental Methods of Wan's External Mecicine), 《酒病點點經》(Jiu Bing Dian Dian Jing, or Little Classics about Alcohol Disease), 《萬氏秘傳眼科》(Wan Shi Mi Chuan Yan Ke, or Ophthalmology Secret Copy of Wan's), and collected the publications 《痘疹歌括》(Dou Zhen Ge Kuo, The Song of Smallpox and Rash) and 《幼科指南》(You Ke Zhi Nan, or the Guidelines for Pediatrics).
Wan Quan is well-known for his work in pediatrics and gynecology. His approach to pediatrics is based on the theories of the herbalist Qian Yi. It focuses on pediatric care and disease prevention. The syndrome differentiation emphasizes the four diagnoses, and the treatment method and prescriptions emphasize the spleen and stomach. His family has passed down effective prescriptions, some of which are still used today.
Shang Han Zhai Jin (The Picked Brocade of Shang Han) is a book about the study of Shang Han Lun (The Treatise on Cold-Induced Diseases). The full name of the book is 《萬氏家傳傷寒摘錦》(Wan Shi Jia Chuan Shang Han Zhai Jin, or The Picked Brocade of Shang Han inherited by Wan's Family). It is a two-volume book compiled by Wan Quan. Based on the author’s clinical experience, the book focuses on syndromes of the six channels and treatment methods selected from Shang Han Lun (the Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases). It also records treatments for double affection syndromes of Shang Han (the interior and exterior both affection of Yin and Yang channels), relapse due to fatigue after recovery, Yin-Yang exchange, Zhi-Shi-Ye syndromes, Huo-Luan (acute gastroenteritis), warm diseases, and seasonal epidemic disease. Later, it was collected in the book 《萬密齋醫學全書》(Wan Mi Zhai Yi Xue Quan Shu, or Complete Books of Wan Mizhai). There are Ming and Qing block-printed editions that have survived to this day. The book explains the syndromes of the six channels. Wan Quan offers unique insights and interpretations of the transmission and change of the six channels.
References:
1.Wan Quan: Biographical introduction and legendary stories, major works and academic contributions
✵Wan Quan: a famous herbalist in the Ming Dynasty. He was born into a family of herbalists, and his grandfather and father were both pediatricians. He is even more renowned for his work in pediatrics. He inherited his grandfather's and father's medical ethics and saved countless lives during his 50-year career. He is also the author of the book Shang Han Zhai Jin (Picked Brocade of Shang Han), which is his study of Shang Han Lun (the Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases).
萬全 (Wàn Quán), his alias is 密齋 (Mì Zhāi) or 字事 (Zì Shì), was born in 1499 and passed away in 1582 CE. He was a famous herbalist during the Ming Dynasty. He was born into a family of herbalists, and both his grandfather and father were pediatricians. His grandfather, Wan Xingpo (萬杏坡,Wàn Xìngpō), a native of Yuzhang (present-day Nanchang, Jiangxi), was the first-generation pediatrician in the Wan family, but he died at an early age. His father, Wan Kuang (萬筐, Wàn Kuāng), moved to the Luotian River bank in the Chenghua Gengzi year (1480 CE) due to a shortage of soldiers. A few years later, he became a renowned herbalist, establishing the reputation of Wan's Pediatrics as the second generation. Wan Quan is even more famous for pediatrics. As the third generation, he inherited the medical ethics of his grandfather and father and saved countless people during his 50-year career.
Wan Quan's academic thoughts are pure and clean. The roots are flourishing, resulting in luxuriant growth. His work relates to pediatrics, gynecology, internal medicine, eugenics, good child-rearing, extending lifespan, producing heirs, and healthcare. His work is broad and profound.
