Exploring Ancient to Modern Chinese Medicine: A National Library of Medicine Exhibition

National Library of Medicine NLM holds over 2000 volumes of Chinese medical classics and a vast collection of thousands of public health items that include posters, scrolls, pharmaceutical advertisements, and puzzles. These historical documents illustrate the remarkable advancements in medical discoveries and changes in medical practices and policies from ancient China to mid-20th century. This exhibition showcases traditional Chinese medical texts, anatomical illustrations, and pharmaceutical ads to explore various facets of Chinese medicine throughout antiquity to modern times.

EARLY IMPACTS

Prior to the 6th century AD, Buddhist monks brought Chinese medicine knowledge to Korea and Japan through their travels during the Tang dynasty 618-907 AD. These traveling priests spread Chinese medical expertise more widely across these nations.

Yin Yang

Yin and Yang are fundamental principles of Chinese philosophy that also underpin traditional Chinese medicine. A balance between Yin negative, dark, feminine and Yang positive, bright, masculine is believed to contribute to good health.

EMPERORS AND PHYSICIANS

Huang Ti and Shen Nung

The earliest known medical text is attributed to the emperor Huang Ti, who composed the Huang-ti Nei ching or The Canon of Internal Medicine. This treatise consisting of two parts set the groundwork for later Chinese medical classics. Emperor Shen Nung, often called the Father of Chinese medicine, contributed greatly through meticulous herb studies which led to writing the Shen-nung pen ts'ao ching Divine Husbandman's Materia Medica.

Chang Chung-ching and Li Shih-chen

After Huang-ti Nei ching, Chang Chung-ching significantly influenced Chinese medicine with profound impacts from his work in 校正傷寒論 or Shang han lun Treatise on Colds and Fevers. In the Ming dynasty era, Li Shih-chen compiled one of China's greatest pharmacopoeias that gathered all known herbal medicines up until late 16th century.

ANCIENT TREATISES AT NLM

Based on the works of influential Chinese emperors and physicians, many contributions from China, Japan, Korea were made leading to what is considered traditional Chinese medicine today. These books encompass discoveries in acupuncture, surgery, herbal remedies, early thoughts about communicable diseases among others.

ANATOMICAL POSTERS

Traditional Chinese medicine conceptualizes the body through the flow of energy or 'chi' through channels called meridians that connect to organs and bodily functions. This model is distinct from Western medical anatomy but in the 1930s, a series of anatomical posters produced by Shangh Xueyou Books Art Club and another published by Shangh Xinya Bookstore in 1951 demonstrate an adoption of western anatomical knowledge into traditional Chinese medicine.

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Medicinal compounds have been recorded since Han dynasty dating back approximately 2000 years ago. Starting from the late 1880s, Western firms like Bayer, Hoechst now Aventis, and Eli Lilly Company challenged traditional medicines with their vast resources of modern capitalism. As a result, Chinese companies entered commercial markets too. The Tianjin Pharmaceutical Factory founded in 1921 utilized western methods for producing and marketing traditional Chinese medicines. These advertisements reflect the transition in Chinese medicine that bls Western pharmaceutical industry advancements along with its traditional foundation.

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Credits

This exhibition is curated by the National Library of Medicine drawing from previous exhibitions:

In 2001, an exhibition called Classics of Traditional Chinese Medicine Margaret Feng, Yoshiko Doherty, and Young Rhee of NLM. The updated website in 2009 was designed by Amanda Smith and Roxanne Beatty.

In 2006, a digital presentation titled “Public Health Chinese Society from 1930s to SARS” prepared by Dr. Liping Bu 卜丽萍 was presented at the Seminar in the History of Medicine at NLM on August 15, 2006. The website was developed by Duyan Dang and Young Rhee.

In 2010, an online exhibition Health For The People: Continuity Change in Asian Medicine Dr. Liping Bu 卜丽萍 for NLM was released. This exhibition was designed by Ruth Peyser and implemented by Roxanne Beatty.

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In , this exhibition is a tribute to the rich history and advancement in Chinese medicine that spans several centuries. The NLM holds onto these ancient texts and illustrations for preservation and dissemination of knowledge about traditional Chinese medicine practices.

Please contact us or resources on Chinese medical classics or public health practices throughout China's historical timeline.

The National Library of Medicine is committed to providing resources that preserve the heritage of Chinese medical knowledge while facilitating international research collaboration.
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