Shen Nong's Herbal (Jinling Edition Printed Version) (Volume 1, 2, 3)

Author: Li Shizhen
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-11-01
Features: Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) is a monumental medical and pharmacological work compiled by the outstanding Ming Dynasty medical scientist Li Shizhen. It took nearly 30 years to complete, with three revisions, and was first published in the 18th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1590), known as the "Jinling Edition." The Bencao Gangmu adopts the gangmu (outline and details) system of organization, arranging entries from the microscopic to the macroscopic and from the common to the precious. It divides the content into 16 sections and 60 categories, including a total of 1,892 medicinal substances, with 374 newly added ones. It contains over 10,000 prescriptions and 1,109 illustrations, making it the most comprehensive bencao (materia medica) work before the Ming Dynasty. This printed edition is based on the earliest existing carved version, the Jinling Edition, and has been compiled by referencing other relevant literature. The book features an innovative design with clear organization, presenting only the original text without annotations. At the end, it includes a stroke-order index and a pinyin index for Chinese medicinal names, making it convenient for reading and reference. It is highly recommended for faculty and students of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) institutions, as well as for grassroots medical workers and enthusiasts of all levels in the field of medicine.
Preface Compilation Notes
Li Shizhen’s Bencao Gangmu is an immortal pharmacological masterpiece, and its academic achievements are renowned worldwide. Not only does it shine brightly in the history of Chinese medicine, but it also holds an important place in the history of world medicine. Even today, studying, researching, and exploring Bencao Gangmu and Li Shizhen’s academic thought remains highly relevant.
The earliest version of Bencao Gangmu was published in 1590 by Hu Chenglong as the Jinling Edition. Subsequently, in 1603 and 1606, Jiangxi and Hubei editions were also published. By the late Ming Dynasty, there were seven versions of Bencao Gangmu. After the Ming Dynasty, new editions continued to appear, and to date, there are over 30 versions of the work, with the Xia Lixin Edition and Zhang Shaotang Edition being particularly popular. The numerous versions of Bencao Gangmu have undoubtedly played an active role in promoting the study of traditional Chinese medicine. However, due to repeated printing and engraving, many errors have emerged. As a result, scholars throughout history have continuously engaged in (correction and collation) of the text, with the edition published by the People’s Health Publishing House in 1975, edited by Liu Hengru, being particularly notable for its significant contributions. In 1993, Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers published a photolithographic reproduction of the Jinling Edition of Bencao Gangmu, providing researchers with the earliest version available. Currently, there are still many versions of Bencao Gangmu in the market, most of which focus heavily on textual research while often neglecting practicality. To more effectively utilize Bencao Gangmu in disease prevention and treatment, and considering the needs of clinical medical workers, especially grassroots healthcare professionals, this edition has been newly compiled based on the Jinling Edition.
The compilation method of this book is as follows:
1. This edition is based on the photolithographic reproduction of the Jinling Edition published by Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, with the Jiangxi Edition as the primary reference, while also consulting relevant literature such as Zhenglei Bencao and incorporating some textual research findings from Liu Hengru’s edition.
2. This book aims to provide a popular version for medical workers in both Chinese and Western medicine, as well as for faculty, students, and enthusiasts of TCM. Therefore, typographical errors and variant characters in the original text have been corrected directly without additional annotations. The entire book is printed in simplified characters in horizontal format for easier reading.