Everything is related from tomb raiding canon to legend. Broad and uncomplicated, detailed and important, the comprehensive core goes straight into the deep sea after all. Do you only read medical books? The subtlety of true reason, the universal password of things, the secret of emperors, and the treasure of subjects. -"Compendium of Materia Medica Preface" Wang Shizhen
Li Shizhen was born in 15 18. During the period of Zheng De in Ming Dynasty, he wrote Compendium of Materia Medica, which was a masterpiece of pharmacology before Ming Dynasty. This is the first time to use the compendium system to classify drugs. This compilation style initiated the precedent of herbal works in past dynasties. Li Shizhen was born in a family of traditional Chinese medicine. His medical ambition is seeking truth, that is, the scientific spirit of seeking truth from facts and being pragmatic.
When we were young, we knew that Compendium of Materia Medica was written by Mr. Li Shizhen, but we didn't know the story behind it. After reading this issue of "China in Classics", we realized the hardship and difficulty of writing this book by Li Shizhen at that time.
Although he came from a medical family, his father refused to let him study medicine when he was a child. He repeatedly asked his father to let him be a doctor. "I am sailing against the current, my heart is stronger than stone, I hope my father will be full of ambition, and I will not be afraid of difficulties until I die." This is what Li Shizhen said to his father when he was young and determined to practice medicine.
Later, Li Shizhen followed his father to practice medicine for many years. Often because he encountered the situation of distinguishing the wrong medicine and grasping the wrong medicine, he saw the people's expectation for good medicine and the difficulty for patients to seek medical treatment, which strengthened his determination to rebuild materia medica.
It is difficult to study medicine, practice medicine and study materia medica. Since then, Li Shizhen has consulted more than 800 ancient books, studied various materia medica in Qian Shan, and kept a solitary lamp through wind, frost, rain and snow. It took nearly 30 years to finally write the medical masterpiece Compendium of Materia Medica.
It's just a pity that Mr. Li Shizhen has passed away just after the Compendium of Materia Medica was carved. He didn't see that the book he had worked hard for all his life was finally in front of him.
Classic quotations:
Medical books in the world benefit the world, and if they are edited in the world, they will last forever.
Adhere to integrity and innovation, people-oriented, people-oriented, life first, maintain this integrity, and create new ones for each generation, and we can see that China is getting better and better.
Like sailing against the current, my heart is stronger than stone. I hope my father will aim high and not be afraid of difficulties until he dies.
The value of a doctor lies in his consideration of things —— Compendium of Materia Medica Caobu Volume 14
The Nature and the General Principles of Style —— Preface to Compendium of Materia Medica
Shout for the country and the people-Jin Shu
Great Doctors and Sincerity —— The First Volume of "Pay Your Daughter in Case of Emergency"