The evolution of Chinese medicine : Song dynasty, 960-1200 / Asaf Goldschmidt.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Goldschmidt, Asaf Moshe.

Series:

Needham Research Institute series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Medicine--China--History--To 1500.

Medicine.

History.

China--History--Song dynasty, 960-1279.

China.

Medicine, Chinese Traditional--history.

History, Medieval.

Medical Subjects:

Medicine, Chinese Traditional--history.

China.

History, Medieval.

Physical Description:

viii, 261 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 2009.

Summary:

The history of Chinese medicine hinges on three major turning points: the formation of canonical theory in the Han dynasty; the systematization of medicine via the integration of earlier medical theories and practices in the Song dynasty; and the impact of Western medicine from the nineteenth century onwards. This book offers a comprehensive overview of the crucial second stage in the evolution of Chinese medicine by examining the changes in Chinese medicine during the pivotal era of the Song dynasty.

Scholars often characterize the Song era as a time of change in every aspect of political, social, intellectual or economic life. This book contextualizes changes in medicine and medical practice within the wider scope of these transformations. More specifically this book focuses on three narratives of change in medicine:

the emperors personal interest in medicine elevated its status in the eyes of the elite, leading to an increased involvement of scholar-officials in shaping medicine;

government officials systematically revised, printed, and promulgated earlier heterogeneous medical manuscripts belonging to various traditions. Subsequently, they included them in the curriculum of the newly established medical education system, thereby setting new imperial standards for medical knowledge;

the government established an Imperial Pharmacy and other unique imperially-sponsored medical institutions to handle public health and epidemics.

The second part of the book delineates the consequent integration of earlier medical doctrines and practices into a systematic comprehensive medicine.

As the first book to study the transformation medicine underwent during the Song period this volume will appeal to sinologists and historians of medicine alike

Contents:

Emperors and medicine: the revival of classical medicine

Institutionalizing medicine: scholar-officials' impact on medicine

Epidemics and medicine: the revival of cold damage disorders

Drug therapy during the northern Song Dynasty

Integrating cold damage disorders with classical medicine

Integrating drug therapy with the doctrinal aspect of classical medicine.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [202]-251) and index.

ISBN:

0415426553

9780415426558

020394643X

9780203946435

OCLC:

212399935