Library of Chinese Classics: Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine Plain Conversation

Library of Chinese Classics: Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine Plain Conversation
Translated into English by Li Zhaoguo
Translated into modern Chinese by Liu Xiru
Library binding book, vol. I, II, III, dimensions 960 x 640, 1/16
Publisher: Shi jie tu shu chu ban Xi'an gong si, 2005
ISBN: 7506269813 9787506269810 more info

The most important ancient book of Chinese medicine as well as a major book of Daoist theory and lifestyle is the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine (Huangdi Neijing), said to have been compiled by the mythical Yellow Emperor. It consists of two parts, the Suwen "questions of fundamental nature" and the Lingshu "spiritual pivot" ( a book also called Zhenjing "Classic of Acupuncture" because the latter is its main content). The book is structured as a dialog between the Yellow Emperor and His advisors. Huangdi and His advisors should be considered fictional—they are needed for the question and answer format predominant in the Neijing. This format links together otherwise disjointed texts and is possibly useful for the (anonymous) authors to avoid attribution and blame.

The Neijing departs from the old shamanistic beliefs that disease was caused by other worldly influences. Instead the natural effects of diet, lifestyle, emotions, environment, age and heredity are the reason diseases develop. The universe is composed of various forces and principles, such as Yin and Yang, Qi and the Five Elements (or phases). These forces can be understood via rational means and man can stay in balance or return to balance and health by understanding the laws of these natural forces. Man as is a microcosm that mirrors the larger macrocosm. The principles of yin and yang, the five elements, the environmental factors of wind, damp, hot and cold and so on that are part of the macrocosm equally apply to the microcosm that is man.

Compiled roughly two thousand years ago, this great work forms the theoretical basis of TCM. As TCM's history developed over the millennia, nearly all significant medical works benefited from the enlightenment of this unparalleled book. Covering not only medicine but also philosophy, sociology, anthropology, military strategy, mathematics, astronomy, meteorology, ecology, Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine demonstrates that even in ancient times, people accomplished scientific achievements that are applicable, relevant, and innovative even in modern times. The world-famous medical masters and saints in the history of TCM such as Zhang Zhongjing, Hua Tuo, Sun Simiao and Li Shizhen, who lived hundreds to thousands years ago, are greatly enlightened by the academic thoughts of  Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine. All of them researched into this great book deeply and mastered the essence of this book and thus became the most famous practitioners of TCM in Chinese history.

The title of Plain Conversation first appeared in the Preface to Shang Han Lun, a medical book written by Zhang Zhongjing in the East Han Dynasty. The content of Plain Conversation can be divided into three parts. The first part includes seventy  two chapters which are the basic contents of Plain Conversation when it was first compiled, excluding the seven chapters dealing with Yunqi (Motion of Qi) theory and two appendices. The second part includes the seven chapters dealing with Yunqi (Motion of Qi) theory, namely Tianyuanji Dalun (Discussion on the Law of Motions and Changes in Nature), Wuyunxing Dalun (Major Discussion on the Changes of Five-Motions), Liuweizhi Dalun (Major Discussion on the Abstruseness of the Six Kings of Qi), Qijiaobian Dalun (Major Discussion on the Changes of Qi-Convergence), Wuchangzheng Dalun (Major Discussion on the Administration of Five-Motions), Liuyuan Zhengji Dalun (Major Discussion on the Progress of the Six Climatic Changes) and Zhizhenyao Dalun (Major Discussion on the Most Important and Abstruse Theory). The third part is the so-called appendices which refer to the seventy-two and seventy-three chapters that were lost in history even before Wang Bing's time.

Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor

Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor
Translated into English by Ming Zhu
Publisher: Foreign Languages Press
Hardcover book, 302 pages
Published: 2001
Dimensions: 8.5" by 10.5"
ISBN: 711902664X
Including: Appendix more info

As the oldest extant classic of traditional Chinese medicine, its first word-for-word translation from Chinese to English is published by Beijing Foreign Languages Press.

Compiled roughly two thousand years ago, this great work forms the theoretical basis of TCM. As TCM's history developed over the millennia, nearly all significant medical works benefited from the enlightenment of this unparalleled book. Covering not only medicine but also philosophy, sociology, anthropology, military strategy, mathematics, astronomy, meteorology, ecology, The Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor demonstrates that even in ancient times, people accomplished scientific achievements that are applicable, relevant, and innovative even in modern times. The world-famous medical masters and saints in the history of TCM such as Zhang Zhongjing, Hua Tuo, Sun Simiao and Li Shizhen, who lived hundreds to thousands years ago, are greatly enlightened by the academic thoughts of The Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor. All of them researched into this great book deeply and mastered the essence of this book and thus became the most famous practitioners of TCM in Chinese history. Therefore, more and more western scholars from all realms are attracted to research into this glorious work.

The Chinese original of this English translation is the currently universal textbook of TCM universities and colleges in China. Extracting the essence of The Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor, this well-edited English version is rendered in word-for-word pattern for the purpose of offering a perfect access to the Chinese sources. It is exciting to provide, through this faithful translation, an opportunity to more easily understand Chinese thought for foreign friends with an interest in TCM or Chinese culture.

The translator is Dr. Zhu Ming. Born at Huaihua of Hunan province, China in 1968, he graduated from Hunan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1991 and has been clinically practicing TCM ever since. His clinical focus is on the treatment of difficult and chronic diseases, influenced by my father's long clinical experience. Working assiduously for eight years, he has successfully translated The Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor into English.

The author chose the authoritative and consummate Chinese textbook version of The Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor, edited by a Committee of the Ministry of Public Health of the PRC in 1982, with Cheng Shide of Beijing TCM College as chief editor, as the source work for his translation into English. The book is structured to present the translations of an original article or section of dialogue, followed by annotations and commentaries.

For example, the original article says, "Open the ghost gate and cleanse the clear fu-organ," while the annotation which follows says, "Diaphoresis and diuresis." The reason for the significant difference is that the latter presents a readily recognizable gloss in Western medical terminology, while the former presents a literal translation of the original text that is closer to the expression accepted by practitioners of TCM in China, and comes closer to reflecting the real meaning in the context of TCM conceptualization.

The style of translation is literal and verbatim, a choice made by the translator in order to avoid where possible the pitfalls of narrowly specialized experts who might thus inadvertently alter the transmission of information.

Overall, the text is arranged with an introduction and overview, and eight chapters covering the theory of yin-yang and the five elements, the zang-organs and manifestations, the theory of channels and network-channels, theory of pathogens and pathomechanisms, diseases and symptoms, diagnostic methods, therapeutic principles and methods, and the theory of health preservation.

Related Links

• Library of Chinese Classics: Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine-Plain Conversation
• Book of Changes and Traditional Chinese Medicine (English Edition)
• Fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Medicine - Explains the basic concept and principles of TCM, such as yin-yang, the five elements, qi (vital energy), blood and body fluids, pathogenesis, pathology, the four diagnostic techniques, the eight guiding principles, differentiation of syndromes and general rules of prevention and treatment.
• Practical Traditional Chinese Medicine by Xie Zufan
• Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber with 300 Cases and Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor are the two most important classics of traditional Chinese medicine, that are used by students as textbooks in all colleges of traditional Chinese medicine, as well as being used by medical practitioners and scholars in the field as reference books.
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