✵Well-Known Ancient Works of TCM: Huang Di Nei Jing (the Yellow Emperor's Internal Canon), Nan Jing (the Difficult Classic), Shang Han Za Bing Lun (the Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Miscellaneous Diseases), Ben Jing (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, or Shen Nong's Herbal), and other well-known ancient TCM works are introduced: Zhong Zang Jing (the Treasured Classic), Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang (the Invaluable Prescriptions for Emergencies), Qian Jin Yi Fang (the Supplement to the Invaluable Prescriptions), etc.
The book Huang Di Nei Jing (the Yellow Emperor's Internal Canon) is the cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine theory, covering the basic theories and treatment principles; the book Nan Jing (the Difficult Classic) provides an in-depth exploration of pulse science and acupuncture in Chinese medicine; the book Shang Han Za Bing Lun (the Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Miscellaneous Diseases) is an important guiding book for Chinese medicine's treatments, proposing important theories on diagnosis and prescriptions; and the book Ben Jing (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, or Shen Nong's Herbal) is a classical work of Chinese herbal medicine that provides the theoretical foundation for the application of Chinese medicine. Together, these books form the core of the theoretical system of TCM, and are crucial to the study and practice of TCM.
Huang Di Nei Jing, or Huangdi's Internal Classic, also known as Huangdi's Internal Canon (the Yellow Emperor's Internal Canon, or the Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic), the oldest and greatest classic extant in China, with its authorship ascribed to the ancient Emperor Huangdi (2698-2589B.C.). The book consists of two parts:Su Wen, or the Plain Questions, and Ling Shu, or the Spiritual Pivot or Divine Axis, the latter is also known as the Canon of Acupuncture.
Zhong Zang Jing
Zhong Zang Jing,or Hua Shi Zhong Zang Jing, or the Treasured Classic,a comprehensive book on herbs and treatment, its authorship was ascribed to prominent ancient herbalist Hua Tuo but also might probably be written by an unknown author during the Six Dynasties periods. The book has contents of 49 articles on diagnosis and treatment, pulse taken, Zan and Fu, deficiency and excess syndromes, cold and heat syndromes, etc, as well as a list of remedies.
Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang
Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, or the Invaluable Prescriptions for Emergencies, or Qian Jin Yao Fang (the Invaluable Prescriptions), compiled by herbalist Sūn Sīmiǎo at the end of the 7th century in 30 volumes, with a general introduction, prescriptions of various branches, diet, pulse-taking, acupuncture, etc. It was known as the first famous encyclopedia in China.
Qian Jin Yi Fang
Qian Jin Yi Fang: or the Supplement to the Invaluable Prescriptions, compiled by herbalist Sūn Sīmiǎo at the end of the 7th century in 30 volumes, including various branches such as herbal lore, febrile diseases, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, miscellaneous diseases of internal, pulse-taking, acupuncture and diet, which, together with Qian Jin Yao Fang (Invaluable Prescriptions), is considered a compendium of the medical achievements made before the Tang Dynasty.
Nan Jing
Nan Jing, or the Difficult Classic or the Classic of Questioning, or the Classic of Difficult Issues, a book which appeared in the 1st and 2nd century B.C. or earlier, the authorship was unknown, although it was often ascribed to Qin Yueren, it was a famous ancient book and its origin has several legendary versions. It deals with those fundamental theories and expounds the main points of the Huang Di Nei Jing or the Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic in the form of questions and answers. The points for acupuncture and moxibustion, the method of needling, the physiological and pathological conditions related to the meridians and collaterals, and the method of pulse-taking are all discussed.
Shang Han Za Bing Lun
Shang Han Za Bing Lun:or the Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Miscellaneous Diseases, or the Treatise on Cold-induced and Miscellaneous Diseases, written by herbalist Zhāng Zhòngjǐng at the beginning of the 3rd century, edited and named by herbalist Wáng Shūhé in which diagnosis and treatment of cold-induced disease and other miscellaneous diseases are dealt with. The book was rearranged by herbalist Wáng Shūhé in the Jin Dynasty, and later in the Song Dynasty it was divided by Jiao Zheng Yi Shu Ju (the Bureau for Rectifying and Publishing Medical Books) into two parts: Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases) and Jin Kui Yao Lue Fang Lun (Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber).
Ben Jing
Ben Jing:also known as Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, or Shen Nong's Herbal, one of China's earliest materia medica, believed to be a book of the 1st century B.C. with its authorship attributed to the ancient emperor "the Divine Peasant" Shen Nong. The book is the earliest existing pharmacological monograph that survived till today, the first systematic summary of China's early clinical experience in the use of herbs, and has been regarded as a classic work of traditional Chinese medicine.