Introduction of Ben Jing: Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing
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✵Ben Jing, also known as Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, or Shen Nong’s Herbal, is one of China’s earliest materia medica. It dates to the 1st century BCE, and its authorship is traditionally attributed to the legendary emperor Shen Nong (the Divine Farmer). It is the earliest surviving pharmacological monograph and the first systematic summary of China’s early clinical experience in herbal medicine. It is regarded as a classic work of traditional Chinese medicine.
- Ben Jing (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing)
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Brief Introduction Chinese Name: 《本经》(Ben Jing) English Name: Shen Nong’s Materia Medica Author (or Authors): ☯神农 (Shen Nong) Edition Age: 1st century BCE Introduction of Ben Jing.
The Shennong Ben Cao Jing, also known as the Shennong Ben Cao or Ben Cao Jing, is the earliest surviving pharmacological monograph from ancient China. In English, it is commonly referred to as Shen Nong’s Herbal or Shen Nong’s Materia Medica.
The author is unknown, and “Shennong” is a pseudonymous attribution. Since ancient times, scholars have proposed differing theories regarding its compilation period—ranging from the Warring States period to the Qin and Han dynasties. The original text did not survive; the current version was reconstructed by later generations from fragments preserved in ancient herbal compendia. The work was first recorded in the Sui Shu • Jing Ji Zhi (Book of Sui • Treatise on Classics and Literature) as "Shen Nong Ben Cao, four juan, with supplementary notes by Lei Gong." Over time, numerous transmitted and annotated versions emerged. The earliest extant compilation is Lu Fu’s Shennong Benjing, compiled during the Ming dynasty (1616 CE). A widely circulated and influential edition is the Shennong Bencaojing collated by Sun Xingyan and Sun Fengyi during the Qing dynasty (1799 CE).
The Shennong Ben Cao Jing is the earliest surviving pharmacological monograph and the first systematic summary of China’s early clinical experience in herbal medicine. It is regarded as a foundational classic of traditional Chinese medicine. The text is divided into three volumes and records 365 medicinal substances: 252 botanicals, 67 animal-derived medicines, and 46 mineral-based medicines. These are classified into three grades—superior (shang pin), medium (zhong pin), and inferior (xia pin)—and described in concise, straightforward language. Its classifications and descriptions became central to the theoretical development of traditional Chinese medicine.
The text Ben Jing records each herb’s properties, including flavor, primary indications, synonyms, natural habitat, medicinal parts used, and the diseases and syndromes they are mainly indicated for. It also outlines principles for herbal combinations and simple preparation methods.
The book follows the therapeutic principles outlined in the Nei Jing (the Inner Canon) and employs political metaphors—comparing herbs to rulers, ministers, assistants, and envoys—to illustrate hierarchical relationships and compatibility rules in formula design. It provides detailed discussions of herbal tastes and properties, identifying the "four qi" (cold, hot, warm and cool), and "five flavors" (sour, bitter, sweet, pungent and salty) as fundamental attributes. These attributes guide herb selection according to different nature of diseases—such as cold, heat, dampness and dryness.
To ensure herb quality, the text emphasizes attention to origin, harvesting time and method, and authenticity of collecting. Depending on the herb’s nature, appropriate dosage forms (e.g., decoctions, powders, pills) should be prepared. Timing of administration—including whether taken before or after meals, in the morning, or at bedtime—is determined by the location and nature of the disease. All these considerations remain highly relevant to clinical practice in traditional Chinese medicine.
References:
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- 1. Introduction of Ben Jing: Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing
