历史学最新文献

The seven articles on 'Yun Qi' in Su Wen (Issue 19-22) focused on the theories of 'Wu Yun Liu Qi' based on the influence of climate changes on the human body. It was found that the two citations in the seven papers from Tai Shi Tian Yuan Ce were annotated and interpreted by Wang Bing with reference to the Dun-jia astrolabe. One citation was "nine stars and seven luminaries revolve in the sky" in Tian Yuan Ji Da Lun in Su Wen, meaning the movements of celestial bodies in the universe. The "nine stars" here referred to the Big Dipper, rather than the nine stars in the Dun-jia astrolabe. Another citation was "the Qi passed through the lunar mansions and the gates between the sky and the earth" in Wu Yun Xing Da Lun in Su Wen. The interpretation of this citation has to take the reference of the unearthed Liu-Ren astrolabe instead of the Dun-jia. It was found that by marking the path on the Liu-Ren astrolabe, the Qi transformed into Five-Yun and led to Sui-Yun, reflecting the changes of climate, phenology and pathogenic characteristics throughout a year. This indicates the unity and harmony of time and space.

Character research or figure studies is important content in Chinese Journal of Medical History - a pivotal platform for research on the history of Chinese medicine in China. A total of 893 papers on character research were published from 1947 (when the journal was launched) to 2024, accounting for 20.74% of the journal content. These papers on character research were distributed in the diverse sections of the journal, such as 'Characters', 'Masterpieces', 'Chinese Medical History', 'Short Pieces and Discussion', 'Textural Research', 'Forum and Contention' and 'History Discourses', showing the trend of periodic changes with time. The contents of these papers involved biographies, achievements or evaluations, characters relationships or comparative studies and character relics studies. This character research covered a variety of viewpoints, research methods, novel data and materials and even cross disciplines.

Tools have to be used to process herbs and drugs in traditional Chinese medicine. Many of them were described in The Fifty-Two Prescriptions for Diseases. However, these tools still appear controversial today. This paper examined three metal tools 'Diao'(), 'Yan'() and 'Ding'() in The Fifty-Two Prescriptions for Diseases, in order to clarify the nature of the metal tools for processing from the unearthed Han Dynasty Tombs. It was found that the 'Diao'() in the Han Dynasty was not copper ware with a handle, but a tool with an open curved bottom. The 'Yan' () in the Han Dynasty was not a three-legged device with a top container, but a combination of a kettle, a caldron and a pot. The 'Ding'() in the Han Dynasty was a container normally with a lid, a round belly and an ellipsoidal shaped dome, which helped enhance gas pressure in cooking. The results of this study provide a reference to understand the characteristics of three metal tools used in processing herbs and drugs in The Fifty-Two Prescriptions for Diseases at that time.

ölmei-7 is a medicinal formula in classic Mongolian medicine, renowned for its diuretic efficacy. Clinically, it is widely used in the treatment of visceral-origin edema associated with disorders of the heart, kidney, liver, and other internal organs. This study reviewed the ancient texts of Mongolian and Tibetan medicine across various historical periods with traditional philological methods, drawing on the standards of Mongolian medicine. The study examined the origin, name, composition, indications, modifications, and dosage ratios of ölmei-7. It was found that ölmei-7 had been skillfully applied in clinical practice up to the 16^th century. Its basic or fixed composition was constructed with seven herbs - safflower, fragrant green orchid, scabiosa flos, Cochinchina Momordica Seed (processed), maitake, quomai, and gardenia. It was also associated with another 17 herbs as it medically evolved, such as clove, sedum, and gentiana. Clinically, ölmei-7 can be used for internal organs alternatively according to etiology, pathogenesis, nature of disease, predilection sites, and simultaneous phenomenon of the condition of dropsy. The main medicinal flavor and dosage of ölmei-7 is also believed relatively stable clinically. It has the value of further development and application.

Sman thang, the graphic drawings of Tibetan medicine, was completed by Desi Sangye Gyatso at the end of the 17th century. Its content was based mainly on Blue Lapislazuli (Lan Liu Li), the annotated version of Rgyud bzhi (Si Bu Yi Dian). It drew references from many classic medical books, such as Ashtanga Hridaya (Ba Zhi Xin Yao) and Lunar King (Yue Wang Yao Zhen), involving the content of Tibetan medicine on physiology, pathology, prevention, diagnosis and treatment, with 80 drawings in total. Sman thang was, therefore, taken as the first reference learning material by the Tibetan medicine learners for a long time. With the Sman thang stereotyping and dissemination after the 18^th century, Tibetan medical education had been further developed. With the innovation of traditional Tibetan medicine teaching, the genres of Sman thang tended to be diversified into flip charts, long form books, wall paintings, xylographs and other forms, adapting to the needs at different stages, places and for various people. These genres of Sman thang broadened the scope of Tibetan medicine education and played an important role in promoting the development of Tibetan medicine.

The commercial advertising brochures (Fang Dan) were descriptive documents used by old shops to introduce the features, purposes, and use of products. The medical and health brochures (Fang Dan) in the period of the Republic of China in the Beijing area were examined in this paper. Among them, a total of 356 brochures (Fang Dan) were collated and reclassified, excluding duplicates and double-sided printings. After that, a total of 339 Fang Dan were identified effectively. These Fang Dan were specifically examined in terms of the functions of Chinese patent medicine, usages, taboos and format designs. They were categorised into five major types of traditional Chinese medicine: internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics and others. It was found that 120 brochures were on internal medicine, 73 on surgery, 64 on gynecology, 29 on pediatrics, and 55 on others. The results demonstrated that these brochures (Fang Dan) were rich in story-telling and the manufacturers of traditional Chinese medicine placed a high value on brand building and the quality of raw materials. This indicates the state of the traditional Chinese medicine industry in the Beijing area in the period of the Republic of China.

The emendation of traditional Chinese medicine disease names had been widely discussed in the period of the Republic of China. It continued to be discussed after the establishment of the People's Republic of China and presented two research directions. One was to ascribe it to the category of disease history. Another was to follow the guidance of "Scientization of traditional Chinese medicine", therefore,to take emendation of traditional Chinese medicine disease names as a bridge to achieve this purpose. Both of the directions indicate the underlying thinking of "Scientization of traditional Chinese medicine" and "Comparison between traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine". Such a conflict continues today.

'Food depression', as a term in traditional Chinese medicine, refers to a disease with main symptoms of dysthymia, dyspepsia, loose stool, insomnia and fatigue. It was first described by Zhu Danxi in the Dan Xi Xin Fa and the description was enriched and developed after that. Its definition, etiology, pathogenesis, treatment and prevention had been known specifically through the Ming and Qing Dynasties. This paper examines the early cognition, proposal and development of 'food depression'. It was found that 'food depression' is an important pathogenesis, leading to the occurrence and development of a variety of diseases. It is also an independent disease, often caused by emotional disorders or mixed with improper diet. These two findings are important to clarify the understanding of this disease clinically and theoretically today.

'Gantuomupi', as a foreign herb from Gandamu Bark, appeared in China in the Tang Dynasty because of the rich and flourishing foreign exchanges at that time. It was given meaning from both Buddhist symbolism as well as traditional Chinese medicine. It was recorded in Hai Yao Ben Cao as a herb with the description of "invigorating blood circulation and dispelling stasis". Based on a literature review, comparative study and skills in linguistics, it was found that 'Gandamu Bark' was the bark of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam., and its medicinal benefits do not stem from the jackfruit bark itself, but are attributable to the efficacy of a plant from the Schisandraceae family known as Kadsura coccinea (Lem.) A. C. Smith.

In the Ming Dynasty some medical books were named Food Materia Medica, but with different authors, unidentified authorship or inconsistent volumes. This paper examined and compared the versions and content in these books with archival methods, bibliographic examination and textual criticism. It was found that the original authors of Food Materia Medica in the Ming Dynasty were Lu He and Wang Ying. A total of four versions of this book remain now. The other books with the same name were those with deletions or additional pictures.