Illustrated Guide to the Four Medical Classics - Medical Theory and Health Preservation Chapter

Author: Yutok. Nyima Gyenpo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: This is a monumental medical work from ancient Tibet, a genuine and authentic health manual, its importance is no less than that of Traditional Chinese Medicine's Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon. This book aims to perfectly combine the Tibetan medical classic The Four Medical Tantras and 80 medical tangkas, presenting the tangkas in a detailed, illustrated format, allowing you to appreciate the rare national treasures while gaining wisdom, and bringing the ancient and mysterious Tibetan medical culture to more people. Ancient Tibet holds abundant treasures and inspiration, and The Four Medical Tantras is a "treasure hidden in a box" with immense practical and academic value, yet little known to the general public. Due to its importance, its transmission has been strictly restricted for millennia. It is precisely because of this strict transmission that it developed its own system, maintaining its pure "bloodline" of authenticity. After the 1980s, Chinese translations of The Four Medical Tantras began to appear, but unfortunately, the other gem of Tibetan medicine—a precious medical tangka that vividly depicts the medical principles, health preservation, and healing methods of The Four Medical Tantras—remains inaccessible to most readers. Therefore, when we re-edited and published this Tibetan medical masterpiece, we strived to achieve the following:
- Based on the authoritative version, we presented the content in clear and accessible language, remaining faithful to the original while adapting to the reading habits of general readers.
- We compiled 80 precious medical tangkas of The Four Medical Tantras, offering an authentic visual feast through the art of tangkas.
- We reconstructed the original images in an illustrated format, ensuring that the text and images correspond perfectly, allowing you to appreciate and gain wisdom simultaneously.
The history of famous Tibetan physicians and the development of the two major Tibetan medical schools can be traced back to around the 1st century BC. According to the ancient Tibetan text The Discourses of the Officials, the Tibetan people had long recognized that certain wild fruits, vegetables, animals, and minerals could alleviate bodily ailments and had arrived at the understanding that "where there is poison, there is medicine," realizing that medicine could counteract toxicity. By the 4th century AD, people had learned to use melted butter to stop bleeding and to treat wounds with leftover beer residue from making barley wine, and they had some understanding of the benefits and harms of diet. This marked the beginning of Tibetan medical science. However, due to the underdeveloped cultural level at the time and the lack of a standardized Tibetan script, Tibetan medicine never developed into a complete scientific system from the formation of the Tibetan people until the establishment of the Tubo Dynasty.
In 629 AD, Songtsen Gampo unified the Tibetan plateau and established the slave-owning Tubo Dynasty. He formulated laws for government and military systems, vigorously developed the economy, and created a standardized script. The invention of the Tibetan script promoted the accumulation of Tibetan medical experience and the advancement of its theory. In the early 8th century, the comprehensive medical book The Moon King's Medical Treatise was published. Soon after, the fifth Tubo king, Trisong Detsen, ascended to the throne. He continued to encourage foreign medical experts to teach in Tibet and compile medical works, vigorously supporting the development of Tibetan medicine. During his reign, the famous Tang Dynasty physician Dongzong Gawa was invited to Tibet and granted the king's name. He settled in Tibet and, to ensure the continuation of Dongzong Gawa's medical legacy, Trisong Detsen selected nine outstanding young men from across Tibet to study medicine under him. Under Dongzong Gawa's tutelage, these nine young men eventually became the nine famous physicians of the mid-Tubo period. Among them, Yutok. Nyima Gyenpo was particularly renowned. After mastering medicine under Dongzong Gawa, he traveled to various parts of Tibet and to countries like Nepal and India. Upon his return, Trisong Detsen appointed him as the chief physician. He extensively absorbed the essence of previous medical works such as The Great Medical Canon and The Moon King's Medical Treatise, diligently summarized his own practical experience, and gathered folk medical formulas from various regions. After over two decades of hard work, he finally completed the world-famous Tibetan medical classic The Four Medical Tantras, laying the foundation for the system of Tibetan medicine and marking the beginning of its mature development.
In the late 12th century, Yutok. Nyima Gyenpo's descendant, Yutok. Samye Gyenpo, made careful annotations to The Four Medical Tantras and systematically supplemented and revised the classic based on the development of medicine over the three centuries following its completion. In addition, he compiled numerous treatises explaining The Four Medical Tantras, as well as works such as The Five Elements Harmony Theory and The Complete Herbal Encyclopedia, contributing significantly to the advancement of Tibetan medicine.
In the 13th century, the Sakya Dynasty of Tibet submitted to the Yuan Dynasty, and Tibet was formally incorporated into China, restoring unified rule. After unification, Tibet's political and economic situation became increasingly stable, fostering the vigorous development of Tibetan medicine. During this period, the famous medical master of the Sakya Dynasty, Dharma Master Rinchen Dorje, wrote The Comprehensive Herbal Encyclopedia.