Yujianyan's Three Medical Books

Author: Yu Jiayan (Qing Dynasty), edited by Jiang Lisheng and others
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-06-01
Features: Shang Lun Fan, Yi Men Fa Lü, and Yu Yi Cao are the representative works of the famous physician Yu Chang from the early Qing Dynasty. Shang Lun Fan consists of eight volumes, divided into two parts. The first part, Shang Lun Fan, begins with an introduction to the essence of Zhang Zhongjing's Treatise on Cold Damage, analyzing the errors in the arrangement, annotation, and correction by Wang Shuhe, Lin Bi, and Cheng Wuyi, and refuting the flaws in Wang Shuhe's preface. Volumes 1 to 4 focus on discussing the syndrome differentiation and treatment of the six channels, aiming to restore the original form of Zhongjing's Treatise on Cold Damage. The content is meticulously analyzed and explained in detail, earning praise from physicians. The second part, Shang Lun Hou Fan, is also four volumes, covering febrile diseases, cold damage, true stroke, pediatric conditions, and the syndrome differentiation and treatment of the three yang and three yin channels, with mutual enlightenment between the two parts. Yi Men Fa Lü, a six-volume work, is a specialized treatise by Yu Chang that explains the principles of clinical syndrome differentiation and treatment, as well as the taboos of clinical diagnostic errors. Volume 1 elaborates on the principles of the four diagnostic methods—observing the complexion, listening to sounds, inquiring about the condition, and palpating the pulse—and clarifies the treatment principles of the Inner Canon and the Treatise on Cold Damage. Volumes 2 to 6 discuss the diseases caused by the six evils—cold, stroke, heat, dampness, dryness, and wind—as well as the syndrome differentiation and treatment of various conditions such as dysentery, phlegm retention, cough, jaundice, lung abscess, consumption, edema, jaundice, and other miscellaneous diseases. The format is rigorous, the reasoning is thorough, the principles are clear, and it serves as a warning and enlightenment. Yu Yi Cao, a four-volume work, is a collection of over 60 case studies compiled by Yu Chang for the treatment of internal medicine, cold damage, and other difficult and miscellaneous conditions. Each case details the etiology and condition, with particular emphasis on syndrome differentiation and treatment, striving for precision and clarity. Additionally, the book begins with two medical essays, "Prior to Discussing the Disease, Then Using Medicines" and "Establishing a Format for Discussing Diseases," which emphasize the principle of first identifying the disease before discussing medicine. It also sets a format for discussing diseases and standardizes the writing of conditions, making it a model in the history of Chinese medicine case writing. It remains highly relevant for reference today.