Prosperous Shadow - Sex in the History of Chinese Medicine (960-1665)

Author: Fei Xiali
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: This book is a renowned medical anthropology classic in the fields of international medical history, anthropology, and Sinology. The author, over a span of 20 years, with an extremely rigorous academic attitude, meticulously examined a vast array of traditional Chinese medical classics, case studies, secret prescriptions, and manual-style literature to complete this work, which even general Chinese scholars find difficult to achieve. Although the author chose to focus on the 700-year history from the Song to the Ming dynasties, the unique perspective adopted—starting with "Huangdi's body"—allows for discussions on the yin-yang balance and gender, revealing that Song Dynasty medical gynecology emphasized "women governing blood as the core principle," prioritizing the treatment of menstrual regulation and the art of single-prescription formulations. Pregnancy and childbirth became the central focus of obstetric activities within families. After the Ming Dynasty, the focus of gynecology shifted to nourishing yin, with treatment shifting from the external to the internal, emphasizing the replenishment of qi and blood depletion caused by childbirth. This book does not merely examine the content and history of traditional Chinese medical gynecology from the perspective of general technical history but delves into social and cultural dimensions, exploring the cultural roles of ancient Chinese women as a special gender group within traditional Chinese medicine. Thus, it is not a traditional medical history work but rather places topics related to medical history within the context of society, family, and gender, creating a new style that blends medical history, disease history, and body history.