Danxi Medical Collection. 2nd Edition

Author: Zhu Zhenheng (Yuan Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-01-01
Features: This book is a compilation and annotated edition of the works of Zhu Danxi, a renowned physician of the Yuan Dynasty. Zhu Danxi, named Zhenheng and styled Yanxiu, was a native of Yiwu, Wuzhou, in the Yuan Dynasty and one of the four great physicians of the Jin and Yuan periods. Zhu Danxi wrote extensively throughout his life, with documented works attributed to him numbering over twenty. Upon examination, some of these were written by his disciples or those who admired him privately, while others were attributed falsely. This edition compiles eight works personally authored by Danxi, as well as those compiled by his disciples and admirers, and is titled The Medical Collection of Danxi, presented to readers.
Among Danxi's own works are three: The Treatise on the Residues of Inquiry (one volume), written in the seventh year of the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1347 AD), a profound work reflecting his late-life insights. It contains forty-one medical discourses, advocating the theory of "excess yang and insufficient yin" and emphasizing the treatment of "nourishing yin and subduing fire," serving as a representative work that embodies Zhu Danxi's academic thought. The Elucidation of the Prescriptions of the Imperial Pharmaceutical Bureau, a single-volume work that discusses over thirty issues in the form of Q&A, firmly opposes the excessive use of warming and drying treatments, and elaborates on the academic insights of "nourishing yin and subduing fire," targeting the shortcomings of the Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang in its rigid adherence to fixed prescriptions for treating various diseases, with a tendency toward overly warming and drying herbs. The Supplement and Extension of the Derivation of Materia Medica, a single-volume work authored by Zhu Danxi and revised by Fang Guang. It primarily supplements and elaborates on Kou Zongxi's Derivation of Materia Medica. Originally containing one hundred fifty-three herbs, it was later expanded by Fang Guang to include an additional forty-three, making it a valuable reference for studying and learning about medicinal herbs.
Five works compiled by Danxi's disciples and admirers are included: The Golden Cabinet: Clarifications and Summaries, also known as The Collection of Treatments for Common Illnesses. Attributed to Zhu Danxi of the Yuan Dynasty with postscripts by Dai Yuanli of the Ming Dynasty, it comprises three volumes. It compiles Danxi's years of clinical experience, covering one hundred thirty-eight internal, external, gynecological, pediatric, and ophthalmological diseases, as well as nearly one hundred miscellaneous conditions. The sections marked "Dai Yun" are appended by Dai Yuanli, along with six specialized essays. The Heart Method of Danxi, compiled by Danxi's disciples based on his academic experiences, consists of five volumes, organized by internal, external, gynecological, and pediatric diseases. Each volume begins with Danxi's original theories, followed by Dai Yuanli's differential diagnoses, and concludes with prescriptions and appendices. It also includes Song Lian's Eulogy for the Late Master Zhu Zhenheng and Dai Liang's Biography of Danxi, important historical materials for studying Danxi's life. The Mirror of Danxi's Methods, originally attributed to Zhu Danxi with revisions by Wu Shangmo of the Ming Dynasty, comprises three volumes with one hundred sixty chapters. It primarily relies on the Treatise on Cold Damage and the Golden Cabinet to clarify and classify syndromes, serving as a model for differential diagnosis and treatment in internal, external, gynecological, pediatric, ophthalmological, and miscellaneous diseases. The Pulse, Cause, and Syndrome Treatment of Danxi, attributed to Zhu Danxi, is divided into two volumes. It includes seventy chapters on internal, external, gynecological, and other diseases, compiled by later scholars from the essence of works like The Heart Method of Danxi and The Treatise on the Residues of Inquiry, thus reflecting the core of Danxi's academic thought. The Essential Methods of Danxi's Treatment, attributed to Zhu Danxi but actually compiled by his disciples and revised by Gao Shuqian of the Ming Dynasty, consists of eight volumes. It discusses one hundred fifty-four types of internal, external, gynecological, and pediatric diseases, explaining their etiology and treatment, with concise yet comprehensive content.
This collection includes eight works by Zhu Danxi, embodying his views on "excess yang and insufficient yin," the theory of "phase fire," and the treatment principles of qi, blood, phlegm, and depression. His theory of nourishing yin stands out in the history of Chinese medicine and has had a profound influence on its development. At the end of the book, there is a postscript by the compilers, providing a meticulous analysis and objective evaluation of Danxi's medical works and academic perspectives, which holds high academic value. Thus, this book is a must-read for studying Zhu Danxi's academic thought and the characteristics of academic debates during the Jin and Yuan periods, as well as a valuable reference for researching traditional Chinese medicine.