Herbal Classic

Author: Li Shizhen
Editor-in-Chief: Wu Shaozhen
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-05-01
Features:
Fragment:
Zhang Yuxi and others compiled the Bencao, completing it over the years; then, an imperial decree ordered all prefectures and counties to submit illustrations of medicinal plants produced locally, following the Tang Yonghui model. It was specifically commissioned to Tu Changshu, a Confucian scholar, to write this book, which consists of twenty-one volumes. The (investigation and verification) is detailed, with significant elaborations. However, the illustrations and descriptions often do not align. There are cases where illustrations lack descriptions, or where plants are described without illustrations, or where descriptions do not match the illustrations. For example, the Guaipu in Jiangzhou is described as "immortal's leftover grain," and the Qingmuxiang in Chuzhou is identified as the root of the Doulin plant, both listed in the illustrations together. The Tangzaozi is the same as the Chizhao tree, and the Tianhuapfen is the same as the Gualou root, which are redundant entries—minor omissions. Tu Changshu, styled Zirong, was from Tong'an and passed the imperial examinations. During the Zhizong era of Emperor Huizong, he rose to the position of Prime Minister and was enfeoffed as Duke of Wei.
Zheng Lei Bencao (Shizhen’s Note):
In the second year of the Daguan era (1108) of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, the Shu physician Tang Shenwei combined the Jiayou Supplement to the Bencao and the Illustrated Bencao into one book. He also included over five hundred species omitted from the Tang Bencao, Chen Cangqi’s Bencao, and Meng Xun’s Food Therapy Bencao, adding them to each section. He further incorporated unrecorded views from Lei Gong’s Materia Medica, the Tang Bencao, food therapy, and Chen Cangqi’s works, appending them to each entry. Additionally, he included ancient single-prescription formulas and references from classics, history, and the works of scholars related to medicine. The book comprises thirty-one volumes and is titled Zheng Lei Bencao. It was submitted to the court and renamed Daguan Bencao. Tang Shenwei, despite his unattractive appearance, possessed extensive knowledge. It was his contribution that ensured the survival of various Bencao texts and single-prescription formulas for posterity, preventing them from being lost. During the Zhenghe era, the imperial court ordered the (correction and publication) of the Bencao by the physician official Cao Xiaozhong, hence it is also called Zhenghe Bencao.
Bencao Biyao (Shizhen’s Note):
In the Yuanyou era of Emperor Zhizong of the Song Dynasty, the physician Chen Cheng from Langzhou combined the Bencao and the Illustrated Bencao into one book, interspersing brief annotations, titled Bencao Biyao. In the late Shaoxing era of Emperor Gaozong, the court ordered the physician official Wang Jixian and others to (correct) the Bencao, adding their own annotations. These works are shallow and lack profound insights.
Ri Hua Bencao (Shizhen’s Note):
During the early Kaiyuan era of the Song Dynasty, the Ming people compiled the Bencao, but the authors’ names were not recorded, only stating that the compiler was Ri Huazi from Daming. The book organizes modern medicinal plants into categories such as cold, warm, properties, flavors, flowers, fruits, insects, and beasts, providing detailed descriptions of their functions, totaling twenty volumes.
Ri Hua Bencao (Shizhen’s Note):
According to the Thousand Family Surnames, the surname Ri is a major one from Donglai. Ri Huazi must have been from the surname Tian, but this is uncertain.
Bencao Yanyi (Shizhen’s Note):
During the Zhenghe era of the Song Dynasty, the physician official Tongzhi Lang Kou Zongxi compiled this book. He referenced historical facts and logical reasoning, citing evidence to explain and elaborate extensively. Scholars like Dongyuan and Danxi respected and trusted this work. However, he mistakenly identified orchids as lans, and as lilies. The book, along with its preface and examples, comprises twenty volumes. Zhang Weiqing of Pingyang attached these explanations to each entry, combining them into one book.
Jiegu Pearl Chamber (Shizhen’s Note):
The book consists of one volume, written by Zhang Yudian, a renowned physician from Mingzhou. Zhang Yudian, styled Jiegug, failed the imperial examinations and turned to medicine. He deeply explored the mysteries of the classics and the subtle interactions between humans and nature. He believed that ancient prescriptions were not suitable for modern diseases and developed his own methods. He distinguished between the properties of herbs in terms of taste, yin-yang, thickness, thinness, ascending, descending, floating, sinking, tonifying, and draining, as well as the six qi and twelve meridians. He established principles for treatment, secrets, and essential guidelines, calling it the Pearl Chamber. After him, others turned it into rhyming verses for easier memorization, mistakenly calling it Dongyuan Pearl Chamber, which is incorrect. Regrettably, it only discussed one hundred herbs and did not cover all others. He also wrote the four-volume (Diseases and Qi Appropriateness Life-Preservation Collection), also known as Huofa Jiyao. Later, it was falsely attributed to Liu Wansu of the Hejian school, with a fabricated preface and accompanying verses. Other works attributed to Jiegug are mostly spurious, making them disorganized and illogical.
Yongyao Fazheng (Shizhen’s Note):
The book consists of one volume, written by Li Gao, a renowned physician from Zhending. Li Gao, styled Mingzhi, was known as Dongyuan. He was proficient in the Spring and Autumn Annals, Book of Documents, and I Ching, and was known for his loyalty and generosity. He became the tax official of Jiyuan as an example. He studied under Jiegug and mastered his teachings, further elaborating on them and earning the title of "divine physician." He expanded the Pearl Chamber with rules for using herbs, guides for meridians, and essential principles, compiling this book. He argued that people were confused about internal and external injuries, leading to improper treatments, and distinguished between pulse and symptom analysis, yin and yang fires, and excess or deficiency caused by diet, labor, and fatigue. He wrote the three-volume (Distinguishing Confusion Theory) and the three-volume (Spleen and Stomach Theory). He elucidated the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, the Classic of Difficult Issues, Bencao, pulse diagnosis, and treatments for miscellaneous diseases in the nine-volume (Medical Invention) and the five-volume (Secrets of the Orchid Chamber). He analyzed meridians and pulse methods, comparing them to the six stages of cold damage in the two-volume (This Matter is Difficult to Know). He also wrote books on carbuncles, eyes, and effective prescriptions, all compiled by his disciples.
Tangye Bencao (Shizhen’s Note):
The book consists of two volumes, written by Guo Wao, a medical professor from ancient Zhao. Guo Wao, styled Jinzhi, was known as Haizang, a disciple of Dongyuan and a Confucian physician. He compiled this book by referencing Bencao and the works of Zhang Zhongjing, Cheng Wuj, Zhang Jiegug, and Li Dongyuan, adding his own insights. He also wrote the four-volume (Decoction Method) and the ten-volume (Medical Fortress).
Riyong Bencao (Shizhen’s Note):
The book consists of eight volumes, written by Wu Rui, a physician from Haining. He selected the most relevant herbs for daily diet from Bencao and organized them into eight categories, adding a few new entries. Wu Rui, styled Ruiqing, was a contemporary of Emperor Wen of Yuan.
Bencao Gequ (Shizhen’s Note):
The book was written by Hu Shikai, a medical professor from Ruzhou. He composed rhymes based on the properties and illustrations of herbs to aid beginners. During my Ming Dynasty, Liu Chun, Xiong Zongli, and Fu Zi also wrote similar rhyming texts and pharmacological assignments to teach beginners.
Bencao Yanyi Buyi (Shizhen’s Note):
The book was written by Zhu Zhenheng at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. Zhu Zhenheng, styled Yanxiu, studied under Xu Baiyun and was known as Danxi Master. He learned medicine from Luo Taiwu, inheriting and expanding the ideas of Liu, Zhang, and Li, becoming a revered figure in medicine. This book builds upon Kou Zongxi’s Bencao Yanyi, adding nearly two hundred species with insightful explanations. However, he mistakenly identified orchids as lans and tin powder as vermilion powder, clinging to old views. He also assigned herbs to the five elements, which is overly rigid. He wrote other works such as (Remnants of Learning), (Commentary on Formulas), (Distinguishing Doubts on Cold Damage), (New Essentials of External Medicine), and (Questions and Answers on Wind and Wood).
Bencao Fahuang (Shizhen’s Note):
The book consists of three volumes, compiled by Xu Yanchun, a disciple of Danxi during the Hongwu era. He synthesized the views of Zhang Jiegug, Li Dongyuan, Wang Haizang, Zhu Danxi, and Cheng Wuj into one book, adding no new content.
Jiuhuang Bencao (Shizhen’s Note):
In the early Hongwu era, Prince Zhou of Xian ordered the collection of four hundred forty plant species for famine relief, illustrated their forms, and described their production, leaves, flowers, seeds, properties, and consumption methods in four volumes, which were quite detailed and reliable. Later, it was reprinted, but half of it was cut out. Although its understanding was limited, it remains a tragedy for the book. Prince Zhou, styled Chengzhai, was intelligent and compiled one hundred sixty-eight volumes of (General Relief Formulas), four volumes of (Pocket Formulas), and books on poetry, literature, and music. During the Jiajing era, Wang Pan of Gaoyou wrote a one-volume (Wild Vegetable Spectrum), describing shapes and adding brief notes for famine relief, but it was too brief and lacked detail.
Tang Xinyu Ce (Shizhen’s Note):
In the Xuande era, Ning collected materials on external alchemy from Cui Fang, ’s (Guide to Creation), ’s (Source of Alchemy Chamber), ’s (Discourse on Treasure), and ’s (Record of the Alchemy Platform), compiling them into this book. It is divided into (Metal and Stone), (Spiritual Seed), (Spiritual Plant), (Feather), (Scale), (Drinking and Cooking), and (Vessels), totaling two volumes with five hundred forty-one species. The descriptions of production and forms, along with their yin-yang classifications, are useful for reference. Prince Wang, styled Guoxian, was knowledgeable in various fields and wrote hundreds of books on medicine, divination, agriculture, gardening, music, chess, alchemy, and poetry.
(Thirty-three Chapters of the Guide to Creation) (Shizhen’s Note):
It claims to be the work of (Tusou Kunyuan True Lord) and annotated by (Holding the Embrace of Purity), supposedly from the Song and Yuan dynasties, but it is likely a fabrication by alchemists.
Ancient books like (Great Clearing Materia Medica), (Great Clearing Diet and Food), (Great Clearing Alchemy Record), (Yellow and White Secret Methods), (Thirty-Six Water Methods), and (Discussion on Hidden Grass and Stone) are of the same nature.
Bencao Jiyao (Shizhen’s Note):
During the Hongzhi era, Wang Lun, a langzhong of the Ministry of Rites, selected commonly used herbs from Bencao and summarized the principles of Jiegug, Dongyuan, and Danxi into eight volumes, adding no new content and rigidly adhering to ancient views. Wang Lun, styled Ruyan, was known as Jiezhai and passed the imperial examinations, rising to the position of Censor-in-Chief.
Shiwu Bencao (Shizhen’s Note):
During the Zhengde era, Wang Ying of Jiangling, the prefect of Jiujiang, compiled this book. Lu He, styled Lianfu of Dongyang, also organized the food-related entries of Bencao into this book. Wang Ying obtained the manuscript and divided it into two volumes, categorizing it into water, grains, vegetables, fruits, birds, beasts, fish, and flavors.
Shi Jian Bencao (Shizhen’s Note):
During the Jiajing era, Ning Yuan of Jingkou compiled this book. It selected edible items and added brief notes, offering no new insights.
Bencao Huibian (Shizhen’s Note):
During the Jiajing era, Wang Ji, a physician from Qimen, compiled this book. Wang Ji, styled Shengzhi, criticized the lack of plant descriptions in Wang’s Bencao Jiyao. He removed the upper, middle, and lower categories of Bencao, organizing them by type, combining vegetables and grains into the grass section, fruits into the wood section, and including the principles of various schools, totaling twenty volumes. The book is concise but confusing due to mixing categories, and its title, (jì, a type of vegetable), shows the compiler’s limited knowledge. By obscuring the views of others, the book appears fragmented, with speculative and unreliable insights, though a few self-derived ideas are valuable.