Xu Dachun: Biographical introduction and historical accounts, major works and academic contributions

: ✵Xu Dachun:Xu Dachun has studied Confucianism since childhood and has read widely. Due to his family's illnesses, he devoted himself to medicine, studying the books of famous herbalists from the past. He quickly became an expert and often treated serious diseases with positive results. He is the author of 《傷寒類方》(Shang Han Lei Fang, or the Classified Prescriptions from the Treatise on Cold-Induced Diseases).

Xu Dachun

Brief Introduction
Chinese Name:	徐大椿 (Xú Dàchūn)	Alias:	Lingtai (靈胎Líng Tāi), Huixi (洄溪Huí Xī)
Popular name:	徐大椿 (Xú Dàchūn)	English Name:	Xu Dachun(family name first) Dachun Xu (given name first)
Hometown:	Wujiang of Jiangsu	Dates:	about 1693~1771 CE
Main Works:	《論傷寒類方》(Lun Shang Han Lei Fang),《蘭臺軌範》(Lan Tai Gui Fan),《醫學源流論》(Yi Xue Yuan Liu Lun).
Representative Works:	Lun Shang Han Lei Fang.

Biographical introduction and historical accounts

Xu Dachun, formerly known as 大業 (Dà Yè), his alias is 靈胎 (Líng Tāi), self-title is 洄溪老人 (Huí Xī Lǎo Rén, meaning "old man of the returning stream") when he was old. A native person of Songling Town, Wujiang, Jiangsu. He was born in the 32nd year of the Kangxi era (1693 CE) and died in the 36th year of the Qianlong era (1771 CE). He was born into a family of readers. However, he had little interest in fame and fortune and disdained stereotypical writing. On the contrary, he became interested in studying Confucian classics and medicine. Later, he chose to study medicine. He had studied Confucianism since childhood and read widely, and he is very clever at a young age. At nearly 30 years of age, due to his family's illness, he devoted himself to medicine. He studied the books of famous herbalists of the past and quickly became profound. Then he started to save patients, knowing the properties of medicine. He often treated serious diseases with positive results.

Xu Dachun was bored with essay writing when he was fourteen years old. Inspired by his teacher, he said, "Essays have limits, but the study of classical works is endless." He devoted himself to studying classical works and favored the I Ching and other ancient schools the most. By focusing on acquiring practical knowledge, he achieved outstanding success in poetry, literature, calligraphy, painting, astronomy, calendar calculation, rhythm, mathematics, water conservancy, and especially medicine.

Many of Xu Dachun's family members suffered from illness, including his third younger brother, who suffered from riffles. His father asked famous herbalists for a diagnosis and treatment. The famous herbalist Xu Lingtai treated him and prepared the medication himself; he was somewhat familiar with the medical theory. However, Xu Dachun's fourth and fifth brothers died one after another. Because of this, his father became ill with grief and took medicine year-round. He understood the importance of medicine, and he was angry about the poor medical skills of quack physicians at that time. This anger motivated him to study medicine. He took dozens of medical books from his family to read, and study them day and night. Over time, he gradually understood their meanings. In the fifty years since he started studying medicine, he has read over and given remarks on more than a thousand volumes of works, and reviewed more than 10,000 volumes. According to the records of SuzhouFu Zhi (SuzhouFu Chronicles), he studied the I Ching (the Book of Changes) extensively and was proficient in the works of Huang Di (Yellow Emperor) and Laozi (Lao-tzu). Xu Dachun believes that reading should start with the source to stream, trace the roots of Su Wen and Ling Shu, and go to those branches of the Han and Tang dynasties. First, he read ancient classical medical works, such as the Nei Jing (The Internal Classic), Ben Cao (Shen Nong's Materia Medica), Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases), Jin Kui Yao Lüe (Synopsis of the Golden Chamber), and then read the following books such as Qian Jin Yao Fang (the Invaluable Prescriptions), and Wai Tai Mi Yao (the Medical Secrets of an Official). He learned from each text's strengths, broadened his knowledge, conducted examinations, linked knowledge with practice, and avoided pitfalls and prejudice.

Xu Dachun cured many patients in his lifetime, and people from far and near sought his treatment. Emperor Qianlong also called him to the capital city many times for treatment. The last time was when he was seventy-nine years old. When he was ill and lying in bed, his resignation was in vain. He asked his son to accompany him and bring a coffin, knowing he would die on the way. Sure enough, he died of his illness three days after arriving in the capital city. A pair of self-authored tomb couplets read: "Mountains with many kinds of grass and fairy medicine, a path to the grave of pine wind."

Major works and academic contributions

Xu Dachun was diligent in his studies and produced a wealth of writings throughout his life. These writings have been commented on and explained in works such as The Origin of Medical Theory(《醫學源流論》Yi Xue Yuan Liu Lun, 1757), Medical Mirror(《醫貫砭》Yi Guan Bian, 1767)、Lan Tai's Medical Guide (《蘭臺軌範》Lan Tai Gui Fan,1764)、Cautionary Remarks on Diseases (《慎疾芻言》Shen Ji Chu Yan,1767), and so on. He also wrote Interpretation of the Difficult Classics (《難經經釋》Nan Jing Jing Shi, 1727)、《神農本草經百種錄》(Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing Bai Zhong Lu,1736)、《傷寒類方》(Shang Han Lei Fang, or the Classified Prescriptions from the Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases, 1759), etc., as well as 《洄溪醫案》(Hui Xi Yi An, or the Huixi Medical Cases) and 《樂府傳聲》(Yue Fu Chuan Sheng, or Music and Medicine) compiled by later generations. Although it is said to be an interpretation of the classics, it contains quite a few insights. Later generations compiled his major works into 《徐氏醫學全書六種》(Xu Shi Yi Xue Quan Shu Liu Zhong, or the Complete Six Medical Works of Xu Shi) and other publications, which was widely spread and had a great influence. He also wrote songs titled 《洄溪道情》(Hui Xi Dao Qing, or the Emotional Songs of Dao at the Hui Xi River).

Nan Jing Jing Shi (The Interpretation of the Difficult Classics)is a two-volume book on classical medical works compiled by Xu Dachun and was completed in 1727 CE. Xu's commentary on the Nan Jing (The Difficult Classics) is based on the theory of the Nei Jing (The Inner Canon). It expounds on the rationale and academic origin of the Nan Jing and has some reference value. However, the author's view that the Nan Jing must not violate the Nei Jing is somewhat extreme.

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing Bai Zhong Lu (Shen Nong's Materia Medica: Hundred Kinds of Records) is a pharmacy book compiled by Xu Dachun. The book was published in 1736 CE. It collects 100 kinds of main herbs from the book Ben Jing (Shen Nong's Materia Medica), added his brief annotations with notes.

Yi Xue Yuan Liu Lun (On the Origin of Medicine) is a collection of medical essays and compiled by Xu Dachun. The book was completed in 1757 CE. A total of 99 review articles were collected. The first volume contains meridians, Zang and Fu-viscera, pulses, diseases, prescriptions, and herbal medicines. The second volume contains treatment methods, discussions of books (and various subjects), since ancient time to his epoch. Vertically and horizontally, wherever he touches, whenever there is a new view, he often raises new views what predecessor dared not express, especially when there are many disadvantages, and the reasoning is profound.

Yi Xue Yuan Liu Lun

The four-volume Shang Han Lei Fang (Classified Prescriptions from the Treatise on Cold-Induced Diseases) is a treatise on febrile diseases compiled and interpreted by Xu Dachun, it is also known as Shang Han Lun Lei Fang. The book was published in Qianlong's 24th year (1759 CE). Xu categorized the prescriptions of Shang Han Lun (Treatise on cold-Induced diseases) by name and arranged them in order. First, he listed the compositions and administrations of the prescriptions, and the main indications were discussed later, with additional notes. The first three volumes list the following prescriptions: Guizhi Decoction, Mahuang Decoction, Gegen Decoction, Chaihu Decoction, Zhizi Decoction, Chengqi Decoction, Xiexin Decoction, Baihu Decoction, Wulingsan, Sini Decoction, etc., for a total of 91 prescriptions; The fourth volume discusses the "miscellaneous method" and a total of 22 prescriptions were collected, 113 prescriptions in total. Xu's study on Shang Han Lun is not classified into the six channels. He believed and stated that "the prescriptions have a fixed indication, but the changes of the disease are uncertain." The 113 prescriptions in Shang Han Lun were then divided into the following categories: Guizhi Decoction, Mahuang Decoction, Gegen Decoction, Chaihu Decoction, Zhizi Decoction, Chengqi Decoction, Xiexin Decoction, Baihu Decoction, Wulingsan, Sini Decoction, Lizhong Decoction, and Miscellaneous Prescriptions, totaling 12 categories. The entries of the main prescription are discussed first, followed by the entries of the same kind of prescriptions are attached later, and then followed by the annotations and changes to the prescriptions. The pulse syndromes of the six channels, as well as the developed syndromes and different syndromes, are listed at the end in a clearer order.

Yi Guan Bian is a book on medical theory, it was compiled by Dachun Xu and completed in 1764 CE. It is a review of Zhao Xianke's Yi Guan (The Key Link of Medicine). It adopts quotations or excerpts from the original text, along with the author's comments paragraph by paragraph, raises his very different opinions about the author's theory and principles of warming therapy, and avoids purgation proposals. The author pointed out that in the medical profession at that time, there might have disadvantages of sticking to the one or two warming and nourishing prescriptions to treat diseases. He advocated following syndrome differentiation and treatment, which was influential. Therefore, the book has a certain reference value. However, the author held a negative attitude toward Zhao's theory, deeming it one-sided and arbitrary. There are more than ten kinds of block editions from the Qing dynasty have survived to this day.

The book Lan Tai Gui Fan, the book, was compiled and finished in 1764 CE. The first volume is about general prescriptions, and the second to eighth volumes are about internal medicine, miscellaneous diseases, seasonal diseases, the five senses, gynecology, pediatric diseases, and syndrome treatment. Diseases and syndromes are classified by department. The dialectical treatment is based on the theoretical principles and fundamental treatments of classical medical books, such as the Nei Jing (the Inner Canon), the Nan Jing (the Difficult Classics), and the Shang Han Lun (the Treatise on Cold-induced diseases). The author held the view that "the meanings can be understood from those mostly effective" on prescriptions after the Song dynasty. The book is relatively rigorous, and its analysis of the disease names, syndromes and symptoms, prescriptions and main functions, indications, and combinations is concise, methodical, and clear in its orders. In terms of syndrome differentiation and treatment, Xu advocates, "First, know the origin of the disease; then, identify the origin and symptoms. The treatment must have a main method, the method must have a main prescription, and the prescription must have a main herb", which is praised by herbalists.

Shen Ji Chu Yan is a book on medicine. It was compiled by Xu Dachun and was finished in 1767 CE. This book focuses on analyzing the corrupt practices (prevailing abuses) in the medical profession, hoping that herbalists can treat illness with care and caution. The content of this book includes the misuse of supplements and the mistreatment of miscellaneous diseases. There are also discussions on the treatment of different patients (such as the elderly, women, and children), and should follow different principles, as well as the treatment of external diseases. The book's content is concise and essential, and there is no overstatement.

References:

1. Xu Dachun: Biographical introduction and historical accounts, major works and academic contributions

Edited: April 7, 2024