✵Ben Jing, also known as Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, or Shen Nong's Herbal, it is one of China's earliest materia medica. It occurs in the 1st century B.C. and its authorship is attributed to the ancient emperor Shen Nong (the Divine Peasant). It is the earliest pharmacological monograph that survives till today, and the first systematic summary of China's early clinical experience in the use of herbs. It is regarded as a classic work of traditional Chinese medicine.
Ben Jing (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing)
Brief Introduction
Chinese Name:
《本经》Ben Jing
English Name:
Shen Nong's Materia Medica
Author (or Authors):
☯神农 (Shen Nong)
Edition age:
the 1st century B.C.
Introduction of Ben Jing.
The Shennong Ben Cao Jing, also known as the Shennong Ben Cao or Ben Cao Jing, is the earliest surviving book of pharmacological monographs from ancient China. In English, it is known as Shen Nong's Herbal, or Shen Nong's Materia Medica.
The author is unknown, and "Shennong" is a pretext for authorship. Since ancient times, there have been different theories about when it was compiled, including during the Qin and Han dynasties or the Warring States period. The original book did not survive until today; the current book was collected and compiled by later generations from a collection of ancient herbal books. The book was first recorded in the Sui Shu-Jing Ji Zhi (The book of Sui-book of records), "Shen Nong Ben Cao, four volumes, supplemented notes by Lei Gong." Throughout the ages, various versions have emerged from handed-down copies and annotated copies. The earliest surviving compilation is a compilation copy Shennong Benjing by Lu Fu in the Ming dynasty (1616 AD). A widely circulated compilation is the Shennong Bencaojing by Sun Xingyan and Sun Fengyi in the Qing dynasty (1799 AD).
The Shennong Ben Cao Jing is the earliest surviving pharmacological monograph, and the first systematic summary of China's early clinical experience in the use of herbs. It is regarded as a classic work of traditional Chinese medicine. The book is divided into three volumes; it records 365 kinds of herbs, including 252 kinds of botanical herbs, 67 kinds of animal medicines, and 46 kinds of mineral medicines. The herbs are classified as the upper grade, the middle grade, and the lower grade, and are described in concise and simple text. It has become the essence of the theory of traditional Chinese medicine.
The book Ben Jing records herbs, including their flavor, main indications, synonyms, growing environment, parts for medicine use, and the diseases and syndromes they are mainly indicated for. It also summarizes how the various herbs can be used in combination with each other, as well as simple preparations.
The book follows the principles of the formulae in the Nei Jing (the Inner Canon), and also takes the herbs as examples with metaphors about the relationship between the ruler and ministers in the dynasty to show their primary and secondary relationships and the laws of combination. The book also provides detailed descriptions of the tastes of herbs, pointing out that the four qi (cold, heat, warmth and coolness), and the five flavors (sour, bitter, sweet, pungent and salty) are the basic natures of herbs. These natures can be used for the different selection of herbs for the different nature of diseases, such as cold, heat, dampness and dryness.
To ensure the quality of the herbs, the book also pointed out that attention should be paid to their origin, the time, method, and authenticity of collecting. Depending on the nature of the herbs, various dosage forms should be made. The time of taking the herb should be determined according to the location of the disease, whether it is taken before or after eating, in the morning, or before going to bed. All of these are significant in guiding the use of herbs.
References:
1.Introduction of Ben Jing:Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing.
✵Ben Jing, also known as Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, or Shen Nong's Herbal, it is one of China's earliest materia medica. It occurs in the 1st century B.C. and its authorship is attributed to the ancient emperor Shen Nong (the Divine Peasant). It is the earliest pharmacological monograph that survives till today, and the first systematic summary of China's early clinical experience in the use of herbs. It is regarded as a classic work of traditional Chinese medicine.
The Shennong Ben Cao Jing, also known as the Shennong Ben Cao or Ben Cao Jing, is the earliest surviving book of pharmacological monographs from ancient China. In English, it is known as Shen Nong's Herbal, or Shen Nong's Materia Medica.
The book Ben Jing records herbs, including their flavor, main indications, synonyms, growing environment, parts for medicine use, and the diseases and syndromes they are mainly indicated for. It also summarizes how the various herbs can be used in combination with each other, as well as simple preparations.
