Táo Hóngjǐng:introduction about his biography and legend,main books and academic thoughts.
✵陶弘景 (Táo Hóngjǐng), a famous Taoist who specialized in the study of herbs, he is a naturalist, with a special contribution to herbalism at that epoch. He is also a famous Taoist Priest at Southern and Northern Dynasties period, ever compiled the Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu (the Commentary on Sheng Nong's Herbal) 7 volumes, one of the most valuable books on materia medica in China, describing 730 varieties of medical substances, including vegetables, animal and mineral herbs. Tao was also the author of the Yang Xing Yan Ming Lu (Books of nature-cultivation and life extending) 2 volumes.
陶弘景 (Táo Hóngjǐng).
Brief Introduction
漢語名 (Chinese Name):
陶弘景 (Táo Hóngjǐng)
Alias:
通明 (Tōngmíng)
Popular name:
華陽隱居 (Huáyáng Yǐnjū)
English Name:
Tao Hongjing, or Hongjing Tao (Given/Sur Name)
Hometown:
丹陽秣陵 (Moling, Danyang Jun)
Dates:
about 456~536 A.D.
Main works:
《陶隱居本草》(Tao Yin Ju Ben Cao,or Herb Canon of Tao Hermit),《養性延命錄》(Yang Xing Yan Ming Lu,or Books of nature-cultivation and life extending),《肘後百壹方》(Zhou Hou Bai Yi Fang),《本草經集註》(Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu),《陶隱居本草》(Tao Yin Ju Ben Cao),《藥總訣》(Yao Zong Jue),《導引養生圖》(Dao Yin Yang Sheng Tu),etc.
Representative works:
Yang Xing Yan Ming Lu (Books of nature-cultivation and life extending),Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu (the Commentary on Sheng Nong's Herbal), etc.
Biography and legends:
陶弘景 (Táo Hóngjǐng), a famous Taoist who specialized in the study of herbs, also called Tao Tongming(year 456~536 A.D.), alias Tōngmíng, courtesy name Huáyáng Yǐnjū (Huayang Hermit), posthumous title 貞白先生 (Zhēn Bái Xiān Shēng), native to Dan Yang Mo Ling. His life years passed three dynasties of the Southern Dynasties (the Song Dynasty, year 420~479 A.D., the Qi Dynasty, year 479~502 A.D., and the Liang Dynasty, year 502~557 A.D.), he is a naturalist, with a special contribution to herbalism at that epoch. He was also a famous Taoist Priest during the Southern and Northern Dynasties. He compiled the Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu (the Commentary on Sheng Nong's Herbal) in 7 volumes, one of the most valuable books on materia medica in China, describing 730 varieties of medical substances, including vegetables, animals, and mineral herbs. Tao was also the author of the Yang Xing Yan Ming Lu (Books of Nature Cultivation and Life Extending) 2 volumes.
History books recorded that Tao Hongjing has a strange character since childhood, show hobby in books at his four to five years age, "use a reed stick as pen, learn words in ashes", he started to read Confucian classics since his nine years age, Li Ji (the Book of Rites), Shang Shu (the Book of History, or the Book of Documents), Zhou Yi (Yi Jing, or I Ching), Chun Qiu (the Spring and Autumn Annals), Xiao Jing (the bookd of filial piety), Mao Shi (An annotation of the Book of Songs by Mao Heng and Mao Chang), Lun Yu (the Analects of Confucius), etc, know well about them. At ten years old, he got a book named Shen Xian Zhuan (the biography of faries, by Ge Hong), so "read and study it day and night, so has the will of life persevation." Until his adult age, "graceful elegance and bright handsomeness, clear bright eyebrows and big eyes", "already read books over ten thousands volumes, if there is one thing out of his knowledge, feel shame deeply", At his fifteenth year of age, he ever wrote a book Xun Shan Zhi(records about seeking mountains), showed his strong admiration for hermit life. At his seventeen years age, he was known widely for his talent and learning, 陶弘景 and 江斅 (Jiāng Xiào), 褚炫 (Chǔ Xuàn), 劉俁 (Liú Yǔ) were called 升明四友 (Shēng Míng Sì Yǒu, or four friends of Shēng Míng years, "Shēng Míng" is the reign title of Liu Zhun, emperor Shun Di of the Song Dynasty, year 477~479 A.D.).
Main books and academic thoughts:
The ancient literature noted, Tao Hongjing got an ancient book Shen Xian Zhuan (the Legend of Immortals) (written by Ge Hong) at his 10-year age, and he wrote a book named Xun Shan Zhi (records about seeking mountains) at his 15 years age, admiring the life of a hermit, he took 孫遊嶽 (Sūn Yóuyuè) as his teacher at 30 years age, learn method of Qīng Jìng, and started to live in solitude since year 492 A.D., at Mount Ju Qu (today's Mount Maoshan), titled Hua Yang hermit, constructed Hua Yang Palace with disciples, till his death, Tao Hongjing is excellent in astronomy, calendar calculation, herbs, gold elixir, classics, geography, natural science, literature, and arts, ever compiled books over 80 kinds, those books survived all became important books in Taoism and China Scientific Technology history. Tao Hongjing lived at Mount Mao for 45 years, had many disciples, and passed away at the age of 81. His posthumous title is Zhēn Bái.
Except for his famous herbal books, Tao Hongjing wrote some other herbal books, such as Xiao Yan Fang (Effective Recipes) in 5 volumes, Zhou Hou Bai Yi Fang in 3 volumes, Tao Yin Ju Ben Cao (Herb Canon of Tao Hermit), Ya Zong Jue, Da Yin Yang Sheng Tu, etc. Tao Hongjing compiled many books about Taoism.
Tao Hongjing's book Yang Xing Yan Ming Lu (Books of nature-cultivation and life extending) summarized the Taoist Preservation Science, like spirit-cultivation, building physical shape, Qi-promoting methods, coition medicine, etc. This book gave a new medicine classification system according to different species: stones, herbs and woods, insects, animals, fruits, vegetables, kernels, and seeds. It enriched the system of Taoism Medicine. Following Taoist Ge Hong, Tao Hongjing developed the Jin Dan School Taoism and discovered the flame identification method of saltpeter (KNO3).
According to records, herbalist Tao Hongjing compiled many books, the ancient book Hua Yang Yin Ju Nei Zhuan (the Inner Biography of HuaYang Hermit) by 贾嵩 (Gǔ Sōng) of Song dynasty, recorded that herbalist Tao Hongjing ever compiled 32 kinds of books, total 233 volumes. In nature-cultivation, his representative books are Yang Xing Yan Ming Lu (Books of nature-cultivation and life extending), and Yang Sheng Jing (classical books for health maintenance), on herbalism, except his book Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu (the Commentary on Sheng Nong's Herbal), he ever compiled a book Yao Zong Jue (general knack of herbs), etc.
About physical shape building, herbalist Tao suggested that the basic principle is that "eating habits should obey limits or demarcations on time and volume", He proposed that "the cause and damage from eating, may over than sexual desire and passions. Sensual passions and desire could be suppressed over years, but eating could not stop for one day. When it brings a good deal of goodness, it brings much troublesome too."
References:
1.Táo Hóngjǐng:introduction about his biography and legend,main books and academic thoughts.
✵陶弘景 (Táo Hóngjǐng), a famous Taoist who specialized in the study of herbs, he is a naturalist, with a special contribution to herbalism at that epoch. He is also a famous Taoist Priest at Southern and Northern Dynasties period, ever compiled the Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu (the Commentary on Sheng Nong's Herbal) 7 volumes, one of the most valuable books on materia medica in China, describing 730 varieties of medical substances, including vegetables, animal and mineral herbs. Tao was also the author of the Yang Xing Yan Ming Lu (Books of nature-cultivation and life extending) 2 volumes.
陶弘景 (Táo Hóngjǐng), a famous Taoist who specialized in the study of herbs, also called Tao Tongming(year 456~536 A.D.), alias Tōngmíng, courtesy name Huáyáng Yǐnjū (Huayang Hermit), posthumous title 貞白先生 (Zhēn Bái Xiān Shēng), native to Dan Yang Mo Ling. His life years passed three dynasties of the Southern Dynasties (the Song Dynasty, year 420~479 A.D., the Qi Dynasty, year 479~502 A.D., and the Liang Dynasty, year 502~557 A.D.), he is a naturalist, with a special contribution to herbalism at that epoch. He was also a famous Taoist Priest during the Southern and Northern Dynasties. He compiled the Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu (the Commentary on Sheng Nong's Herbal) in 7 volumes, one of the most valuable books on materia medica in China, describing 730 varieties of medical substances, including vegetables, animals, and mineral herbs. Tao was also the author of the Yang Xing Yan Ming Lu (Books of Nature Cultivation and Life Extending) 2 volumes.
Except for his famous herbal books, Tao Hongjing wrote some other herbal books, such as Xiao Yan Fang (Effective Recipes) in 5 volumes, Zhou Hou Bai Yi Fang in 3 volumes, Tao Yin Ju Ben Cao (Herb Canon of Tao Hermit), Ya Zong Jue, Da Yin Yang Sheng Tu, etc. Tao Hongjing compiled many books about Taoism.
According to records, herbalist Tao Hongjing compiled many books, the ancient book Hua Yang Yin Ju Nei Zhuan (the Inner Biography of HuaYang Hermit) by 贾嵩 (Gǔ Sōng) of Song dynasty, recorded that herbalist Tao Hongjing ever compiled 32 kinds of books, total 233 volumes. In nature-cultivation, his representative books are Yang Xing Yan Ming Lu (Books of nature-cultivation and life extending), and Yang Sheng Jing (classical books for health maintenance), on herbalism, except his book Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu (the Commentary on Sheng Nong's Herbal), he ever compiled a book Yao Zong Jue (general knack of herbs), etc.
