Chinese Medicine in European Texts
It is interesting to note that quite advanced knowledge of Chinese Medicine theory, practice, Materia Medica and Formulas was taken to Europe, often having been written by missionaries or travelers who took detailed notes of various aspects of Chinese culture while stationed there.Below are 4 texts between 1682–1772 which discuss aspects of Chinese Medicine, one being dedicated specifically to Ginseng. All have links to view parts or all of the text.
Above: The Illustration of Papaya in Flora sinensis, 1656.In addition, the earliest European work on Chinese Natural History including some plants is Flora Sinensis, published in Vienna in 1656, written by Michael Boym, a Jessuit Missionary. Not only does it contain color illustrations, it included Chinese characters.
A wonderful color edition can be downloaded at dfg-viewer.de
Four European texts containing Chinese Medicine
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1. General History of China From the ‘s, a number of such texts appeared in England and Europe. One example was The General History of China by Du Halde, first written in French in the early ‘s and later translated into English. This text has great detail about aspects of Chinese, Tibetan, Korean and Mongolian culture at the time. But the most detailed account and that which the book begins with is on Chinese Medicine, and specifically on Ginseng. There is a detailed account of Ginseng, where it grows and when it is to be collected. There is an exhaustive list of formulas containing Ginseng taken from classical sources. CLICK to read General History of China, 1772 CLICK to read Ginseng from the General History of China |
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2. Specimen Medicinae Sinca Specimen Medicinae Sinca, written in 1682, is a surprisingly detailed text, in Latin. This text gives great detail on Chinese Pulse diagnosis, then lists numerous traditional formula for the different types of pulses. It has an introduction to almost 300 articles of Chinese Materia Medica giving Latin names for those medicines common to both China and Europe. It also has tables detailing Tongue diagnosis and full illustrations of each meridian. CLICK to read Specimen Medicinae Sinca, 1682 |
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3. Observations Made upon the Root called Nean Another interesting text is Some Observations Made upon the Root called Nean, or Ninsing [Ginseng]. This short monograph of only 5 pages esteems this as a miraculous tonic herb, noting it to have cured many in China that were not cured with elaborate formulas. It also gives accounts of the author, a Physician of Yorkshire, who had used it on a number of his patients in England. CLICK to read Some Observations Made upon the Root called Nean, or Ninsing, 1680 |
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4. The Chinese Traveller Another example can be found in The Chinese Traveller. This text also gave interesting accounts of aspects of Chinese Medicine. CLICK to read The Chinese Traveller, 1772 |
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