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孙思邈 Sun Simao (circa AD 581-682) - The King of Medicine
By Zhang Ciyun |
June 5, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Sun Simiao, author of the earliest encyclopedia of traditional Chinese medicine, has been worshiped in China as the King of Medicine ever since the early Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). Even today, people can find many temples devoted to this great physician across the country.
Sun was born in Huayuan in today's Yaoxian County, Shaanxi Province in northwestern China. However, it was not a salutary place for people at that time as many locals frequently contracted unusual illnesses.
Sun's father suffered from night blindness and his mother had serious "thick-neck" (goiter) symptoms. Even Sun himself had been sickly as a child.
So the boy studied very hard and was determined to become a doctor to help treat his parents, relatives and neighbors in his home village.
In addition to various Chinese classics, the young Sun dug deep into every medical treatise that he could get access to. He also traveled to various places to collect folk and family recipes and study the medical effects of thousands of herbs. He was particularly interested in identification and preparation of herbs. Sun began his medical practice by the age of 18. Later, due to his exceptional skills and deep care for patients, he was able to cure the illnesses of his parents and treated many others in his home village.
After he gained a great reputation as a medical specialist, Sun began to write a 30-volume medical work called "Qianjin Yaofang" or "Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold." In ancient China, there was a saying that "a life is worth a thousand gold," so the title indicates that the more than 5,300 recipes contained in the book are life-saving remedies.
"Qianjin Yaofang" contains not only medical recipes, but also commentaries on clinical practices. It includes treatises on diet and exercise as well. And because of its comprehensive and well-researched contents, the book was later deemed by later generations of Chinese herbal doctors as the first encyclopedia of traditional Chinese medicine.
Soon after finishing the first book, Sun went to live in seclusion on Panyu Mountain, which was later known as Mt. Medicine King. There, while continuing his medical research, Sun studied Taoism and integrated Taoist principles with Buddhism and Confucian doctrines.
Later, by summing up his clinical experiences, medical classics and ancient Chinese philosophies, he wrote a second book entitled "Qianjin Yifang" or "Supplement to the Prescriptions of a Thousand Gold." The second book, also written in 30 volumes, contains about 2,000 recipes. In his books, Sun also elaborated on measures to keep healthy, such as combing hair, rolling the eyes, walking and doing other exercises.
Sun was not only known for his exceptional medical skills but also his lofty morals and conduct. In one article, entitled "Dayi Jingcheng" or "Absolute Sincerity of Great Physicians," Sun wrote:
"When a great physician treats patients, he must maintain his inner serenity, pay no attention to personal desires or demands, and feel great sympathy for the patients. He should vow to save people from their sufferings, no matter if they are nobles or plebeians, rich or poor, old or young, attractive or unattractive, friends or enemies, Chinese or foreign, educated or uneducated. He must treat them all on equal grounds and as his own close kin."
Later, Sun's views on professional ethics were treasured as the first code of conduct for all physicians in ancient China.
Sun was born in Huayuan in today's Yaoxian County, Shaanxi Province in northwestern China. However, it was not a salutary place for people at that time as many locals frequently contracted unusual illnesses.
Sun's father suffered from night blindness and his mother had serious "thick-neck" (goiter) symptoms. Even Sun himself had been sickly as a child.
So the boy studied very hard and was determined to become a doctor to help treat his parents, relatives and neighbors in his home village.
In addition to various Chinese classics, the young Sun dug deep into every medical treatise that he could get access to. He also traveled to various places to collect folk and family recipes and study the medical effects of thousands of herbs. He was particularly interested in identification and preparation of herbs. Sun began his medical practice by the age of 18. Later, due to his exceptional skills and deep care for patients, he was able to cure the illnesses of his parents and treated many others in his home village.
After he gained a great reputation as a medical specialist, Sun began to write a 30-volume medical work called "Qianjin Yaofang" or "Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold." In ancient China, there was a saying that "a life is worth a thousand gold," so the title indicates that the more than 5,300 recipes contained in the book are life-saving remedies.
"Qianjin Yaofang" contains not only medical recipes, but also commentaries on clinical practices. It includes treatises on diet and exercise as well. And because of its comprehensive and well-researched contents, the book was later deemed by later generations of Chinese herbal doctors as the first encyclopedia of traditional Chinese medicine.
Soon after finishing the first book, Sun went to live in seclusion on Panyu Mountain, which was later known as Mt. Medicine King. There, while continuing his medical research, Sun studied Taoism and integrated Taoist principles with Buddhism and Confucian doctrines.
Later, by summing up his clinical experiences, medical classics and ancient Chinese philosophies, he wrote a second book entitled "Qianjin Yifang" or "Supplement to the Prescriptions of a Thousand Gold." The second book, also written in 30 volumes, contains about 2,000 recipes. In his books, Sun also elaborated on measures to keep healthy, such as combing hair, rolling the eyes, walking and doing other exercises.
Sun was not only known for his exceptional medical skills but also his lofty morals and conduct. In one article, entitled "Dayi Jingcheng" or "Absolute Sincerity of Great Physicians," Sun wrote:
"When a great physician treats patients, he must maintain his inner serenity, pay no attention to personal desires or demands, and feel great sympathy for the patients. He should vow to save people from their sufferings, no matter if they are nobles or plebeians, rich or poor, old or young, attractive or unattractive, friends or enemies, Chinese or foreign, educated or uneducated. He must treat them all on equal grounds and as his own close kin."
Later, Sun's views on professional ethics were treasured as the first code of conduct for all physicians in ancient China.
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