Related News
Home
» City specials
» Hangzhou
A prescription for medicine that stands the test of time
By Zhang Qian |
April 14, 2009, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE ancient and magnificent Hu Qing Yu Tang TCM drugstore in Hangzhou was built in 1874 and today still maintains the spirit and philosophy that inspired its creation. Zhang Qian takes its traditional pulse.
To the north of Wushan Hill, there stands the ancient and magnificent Hu Qing Yu Tang drugstore. It was one of the largest ever traditional Chinese medicine complexes, dating from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and is also known as the "King of Medicine" in Jiangnan region, south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
The complex was designed and completed in 1874 by Hu Xueyan, a famous merchant official in the late Qing Dynasty, who spent 300,000 taels of silver on it. The 2,700-square-meter complex is designed in the shape of a celestial crane standing at the foot of Wushan Hill, a symbol for "longevity." There are three jins (a jin is a courtyard with a hall and rooms running off it) in the complex which is surrounded by 12-meter high fire seals with giant black Chinese characters reading Hu Qing Yu Tang drugstore. A southern-style garden and courtyard make the complex even more attractive.
Hu Qing Yu Tang is named after a proverb in the "I Ching" ("Classic of Changes" or "Yi Jing"). The proverb explains that if a family or a person continues to do good deeds in their lifetime, the next generation will enjoy endless happiness.
Following the traditions of the Bureau of Imperial Physicians compiling "Prescriptions of the Peaceful Benevolent Dispensary" during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), the drugstore has collected effective traditional prescriptions, and meticulously prepares various medicines in pill, powder and other forms to heal the sick. Thirty-six black plaques listing the most popular patent drugs and their functions still hang in a hallway in the store, all inscribed in elegant golden characters.
Hu, the founder of the drugstore, was a successful businessman and a high-class official. Businessmen were generally looked down upon in China's feudal society, but Hu was awarded by the emperor because of his contribution to the military. He won a promotion from a businessman to an army officer, and was known as a "red-hat merchant" (businessman holding official position).
He insisted on honesty and openness in the management of the drugstore. A plaque reading "Jie Qi" (avoid deception) written by Hu himself still hangs prominently on the wall of the drugstore. He told his workers to follow the idea that "all trades, and especially the pharmaceutical trade, should avoid deception. Pharmacy is closely tied to one's life. Be careful and meticulous in the preparation of medicine. The choice of materials and the quality of the medicines should be of the highest grade." He advocated genuine goods at a fair price, which gained the store its reputation.
Even though Hu became bankrupt because his silk business failed, the drugstore continued through the years.
Though the Tong Ren Tang drugstore in Beijing and Chen Li Ji drugstore are also famous ancient TCM drugstores that have survived more than 100 years, most of their stores and workshops have been rebuilt. Hu Qing Yu Tang is the only original drugstore that remains more or less as it was when it was first built. It is also the only state-level professional Chinese medicine museum in China, and was listed as one of the National Key Historical Relics Preservation Units in 1988.
The museum consists of five sections: the Exhibition Hall, the Medicine Preparation Hall, the Chinese Health Care Clinic, the Medicinal Diet Restaurant and a sales department. The Exhibition Hall introduces visitors to the development of Chinese medicine, including its origins, the lives of famous doctors, famous books about medical science and China's exchanges about medicine with foreign countries.
In the Medicine Preparation Hall, museum staff demonstrate the art of preparing traditional pharmaceutics. Visitors can even try this themselves. In the Chinese Health Care Clinic, visitors can receive Chinese-style health care administered by experienced doctors. The Restaurant of Medicinal Diet provides visitors with foods and menus that are good for their health. The sales department offers a huge variety of Chinese medicines from throughout China. Plaques in the museum "Shi Nai Ren Shu"
"Shi Nai Ren Shu"
是乃仁术
At the arched gateway to Hu Qing Yu Tang, remains the golden board with the four words °?°?Shi Nai Ren Shu," as written by the founder Hu Xueyan, expressing the belief that the business of Hu Qing Yu Tang is to assist people in need and save lives.
"Zhen Bu Er Jia"
真不二价
In the preparation of medicine, Hu Qing Yu Tang adheres to the philosophy demanding a careful choice of herbs and careful preparation of medicine. The drugstore advocates °?°?genuine goods at a fair price.°?°? The golden horizontal board with the phrase °?°?Zhen Bu Er Jia" (net price) still hangs in the hall.
"Jie Qi"
戒欺
Hu Qing Yu Tang's management philosophy believes strongly in "Jie Qi" (avoiding deception). The famous golden horizontal board was written by Hu Xueyan himself. He warned his employees against cheating especially in the pharmacy as it involved human life. And that continues to contribute to the reputation of the drugstore even today, as it holds on to its crown as the "King of Medicine" in Jiangnan region.
To the north of Wushan Hill, there stands the ancient and magnificent Hu Qing Yu Tang drugstore. It was one of the largest ever traditional Chinese medicine complexes, dating from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and is also known as the "King of Medicine" in Jiangnan region, south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
The complex was designed and completed in 1874 by Hu Xueyan, a famous merchant official in the late Qing Dynasty, who spent 300,000 taels of silver on it. The 2,700-square-meter complex is designed in the shape of a celestial crane standing at the foot of Wushan Hill, a symbol for "longevity." There are three jins (a jin is a courtyard with a hall and rooms running off it) in the complex which is surrounded by 12-meter high fire seals with giant black Chinese characters reading Hu Qing Yu Tang drugstore. A southern-style garden and courtyard make the complex even more attractive.
Hu Qing Yu Tang is named after a proverb in the "I Ching" ("Classic of Changes" or "Yi Jing"). The proverb explains that if a family or a person continues to do good deeds in their lifetime, the next generation will enjoy endless happiness.
Following the traditions of the Bureau of Imperial Physicians compiling "Prescriptions of the Peaceful Benevolent Dispensary" during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), the drugstore has collected effective traditional prescriptions, and meticulously prepares various medicines in pill, powder and other forms to heal the sick. Thirty-six black plaques listing the most popular patent drugs and their functions still hang in a hallway in the store, all inscribed in elegant golden characters.
Hu, the founder of the drugstore, was a successful businessman and a high-class official. Businessmen were generally looked down upon in China's feudal society, but Hu was awarded by the emperor because of his contribution to the military. He won a promotion from a businessman to an army officer, and was known as a "red-hat merchant" (businessman holding official position).
He insisted on honesty and openness in the management of the drugstore. A plaque reading "Jie Qi" (avoid deception) written by Hu himself still hangs prominently on the wall of the drugstore. He told his workers to follow the idea that "all trades, and especially the pharmaceutical trade, should avoid deception. Pharmacy is closely tied to one's life. Be careful and meticulous in the preparation of medicine. The choice of materials and the quality of the medicines should be of the highest grade." He advocated genuine goods at a fair price, which gained the store its reputation.
Even though Hu became bankrupt because his silk business failed, the drugstore continued through the years.
Though the Tong Ren Tang drugstore in Beijing and Chen Li Ji drugstore are also famous ancient TCM drugstores that have survived more than 100 years, most of their stores and workshops have been rebuilt. Hu Qing Yu Tang is the only original drugstore that remains more or less as it was when it was first built. It is also the only state-level professional Chinese medicine museum in China, and was listed as one of the National Key Historical Relics Preservation Units in 1988.
The museum consists of five sections: the Exhibition Hall, the Medicine Preparation Hall, the Chinese Health Care Clinic, the Medicinal Diet Restaurant and a sales department. The Exhibition Hall introduces visitors to the development of Chinese medicine, including its origins, the lives of famous doctors, famous books about medical science and China's exchanges about medicine with foreign countries.
In the Medicine Preparation Hall, museum staff demonstrate the art of preparing traditional pharmaceutics. Visitors can even try this themselves. In the Chinese Health Care Clinic, visitors can receive Chinese-style health care administered by experienced doctors. The Restaurant of Medicinal Diet provides visitors with foods and menus that are good for their health. The sales department offers a huge variety of Chinese medicines from throughout China. Plaques in the museum "Shi Nai Ren Shu"
"Shi Nai Ren Shu"
是乃仁术
At the arched gateway to Hu Qing Yu Tang, remains the golden board with the four words °?°?Shi Nai Ren Shu," as written by the founder Hu Xueyan, expressing the belief that the business of Hu Qing Yu Tang is to assist people in need and save lives.
"Zhen Bu Er Jia"
真不二价
In the preparation of medicine, Hu Qing Yu Tang adheres to the philosophy demanding a careful choice of herbs and careful preparation of medicine. The drugstore advocates °?°?genuine goods at a fair price.°?°? The golden horizontal board with the phrase °?°?Zhen Bu Er Jia" (net price) still hangs in the hall.
"Jie Qi"
戒欺
Hu Qing Yu Tang's management philosophy believes strongly in "Jie Qi" (avoiding deception). The famous golden horizontal board was written by Hu Xueyan himself. He warned his employees against cheating especially in the pharmacy as it involved human life. And that continues to contribute to the reputation of the drugstore even today, as it holds on to its crown as the "King of Medicine" in Jiangnan region.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
