2.2 Traditional Chinese Medicine 2 中医2. mp4

Summary

In this episode of China Overview, John Fenway continues to delve into traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), focusing on its ancient doctors. Shennong, the legendary figure credited with inventing Chinese herbal medicine and tea, is highlighted. His story includes testing hundreds of herbs and distinguishing between edible and poisonous plants. Shennong's Herbal Classic, one of the earliest Chinese pharmacopoeias, is mentioned. The lecture also introduces Zhang Zhongjing, known as the 'King of Medicine,' and his influential works, including the 'Thousand Gold Pieces Emergency Formulary' and its commentary, 'Wings of the Thousand Gold Pieces.'

Takeaways

• 🌿 The lecture continues to explore traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), focusing on ancient doctors and their contributions.
• 👨‍🌾 Shen Nong is introduced as a legendary figure in TCM, known as the 'good of Agriculture' and credited with inventing Chinese herbal medicine tea.
• 🌿 Shen Nong is said to have tested hundreds of herbs, classifying them into edible and inedible categories, with a crystal belly that allowed him to see the effects of herbs.
• 📚 Shen Nong's Herbal Classic is highlighted as a foundational text in TCM, listing 365 medicines derived from minerals, plants, and animals.
• 🍃 The story of tea's invention is attributed to Shen Nong, who discovered its curative properties after accidentally ingesting a poisonous plant.
• 👨‍⚕️ Sun Simiao is mentioned as another significant figure in TCM, known as the 'king of medicine' and a medical master during the Tang Dynasty.
• 📖 Sun Simiao is known for his works 'Qian Jin Yao Fang' (Emergency Formulary) and 'Qian Jin Yi Fang' (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold), which are essential texts in TCM.
• 📚 'Juan Yin' is another important book in TCM, though not written by Sun Simiao, it expands on his ideas and emphasizes the importance of 'Jing' and the mind in TCM.
• 🔍 The lecture promises to delve deeper into these concepts in future sessions, indicating a progressive approach to teaching TCM.
• 👋 The speaker, John Fenway, invites the audience to join future lessons, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the series.

Q & A

Who is considered the legendary founder of Chinese herbal medicine according to the transcript?

Shennong is considered the legendary founder of Chinese herbal medicine.

What is the story behind Shen Nong's death mentioned in the transcript?

Shen Nong died after testing a poisonous herb called 'Jie Xian Cao'.

What is unique about Shen Nong's physical characteristics as described in the transcript?

Shen Nong was said to be born with a crystal belly which was almost transparent, allowing anyone to see his internal organs.

How many kinds of edible herbs did Shen Nong reportedly discover according to the transcript?

Shen Nong reportedly discovered 47,000 kinds of edible herbs.

How many kinds of inedible herbs is Shen Nong said to have discovered?

Shen Nong is said to have discovered 39,800 kinds of inedible herbs.

What is the significance of the number 70 in relation to Shen Nong's story?

Shen Nong encountered 70 poisonous things a day, which is considered very dangerous.

What is the story behind the invention of tea as told in the transcript?

Shen Nong invented tea after tasting a poisonous plant and then eating the small fresh leaves of another plant which cleared up his internal organs.

What is the name of the book attributed to Shen Nong that lists medicinal herbs?

The book attributed to Shen Nong is called 'Shennong's Herbal Classic'.

What types of substances are included in the medicines listed in 'Shennong's Herbal Classic'?

The medicines listed in 'Shennong's Herbal Classic' are derived from minerals, plants, and animals.

Who is referred to as the 'King of Medicine' in the transcript?

The 'King of Medicine' referred to in the transcript is Sun Simiao.

What are the two books written by Sun Simiao mentioned in the transcript?

The two books written by Sun Simiao are 'Qian Jin Yao Fang' (Emergency Formulary) and 'Qian Jin Yi Fang' (Wings of the Thousand Gold Prescriptions).

What is the importance of the book 'Juan Din' in Traditional Chinese Medicine as per the transcript?

The book 'Juan Din' is very important in Traditional Chinese Medicine because, despite having not too many words, its meanings are profound and it emphasizes the Jing and the mind.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine

The video script introduces the audience to traditional Chinese medicine with John Fenway as the host. It continues from a previous lesson where the philosophical underpinnings of TCM were discussed, including the influences of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. The script then delves into the history of ancient Chinese doctors, starting with Shen Nong, who is revered as the legendary founder of agriculture and is credited with inventing Chinese herbal medicine and tea. The story of Shen Nong includes his testing of hundreds of herbs, his death after consuming a poisonous herb, and his mythical attributes such as an ox hat and a crystal belly that allowed him to distinguish edible from inedible herbs. The script also mentions Shen Nong's Herbal Classic, which is considered one of the earliest Chinese pharmacopoeias, listing 365 medicines derived from minerals, plants, and animals.

05:02

📚 Key Figures and Texts in Traditional Chinese Medicine

The second paragraph of the script focuses on another significant figure in the history of TCM, referred to as the 'King of Medicine' in Chinese. This individual is known for authoring two important books, although the names of these books are not provided in the script. The paragraph also mentions a book attributed to Juan Din, which is highly regarded in TCM despite its brevity, as it contains profound meanings. The script emphasizes the importance of 'Jing' and the mind in TCM, with the promise of further discussion in future lectures. The video concludes with a farewell and an anticipation of the next lesson.

Keywords

💡Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a system of medicine that originated in China and has been practiced for thousands of years. It encompasses a range of treatments and diagnostic methods, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, and massage. In the video, TCM is the central theme, with the discussion focusing on its historical roots and key figures who contributed to its development.

💡Philosophy

Philosophy in the context of the video refers to the underlying principles and beliefs that guide Traditional Chinese Medicine. It includes concepts from Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism that influence the practice of TCM. The video mentions that these philosophies were discussed in a previous lesson, indicating their foundational role in understanding TCM.

💡Shennong

Shennong is a legendary figure in Chinese mythology, revered as the 'Divine Farmer' and is credited with inventing Chinese herbal medicine and tea. The video tells a story about Shennong testing hundreds of herbs and identifying which were safe for consumption and which were poisonous, which is foundational to the development of TCM.

💡Herbal Medicine

Herbal Medicine is a key component of TCM, involving the use of plants for healing purposes. The video mentions Shennong's contribution to herbal medicine, including his discovery of tea as a curative plant, which highlights the historical significance of herbal remedies in TCM.

💡Crystal Belly

The 'Crystal Belly' is a mythical feature attributed to Shennong, which allowed him to see the effects of herbs on his internal organs. This concept is used in the video to illustrate the legendary origins of TCM and the empirical approach Shennong is said to have taken in testing herbs.

💡Shennong's Herbal Classic

Shennong's Herbal Classic is an ancient text attributed to Shennong and is considered one of the earliest pharmacopoeias in TCM. The video mentions this book as a significant work that lists various medicinal herbs, emphasizing its historical importance in the field of herbal medicine.

💡Minerals

Minerals are mentioned in the video as being part of the materia medica in TCM, alongside plants and animals. This indicates the diverse range of substances used in TCM treatments, with minerals being used for their therapeutic properties.

💡Jing and Mind

Jing and Mind are concepts in TCM that relate to vital essence and mental/emotional well-being, respectively. The video refers to these concepts in relation to a book by Juan Din, indicating their importance in TCM theory and practice.

💡Tang Dynasty

The Tang Dynasty is a period in Chinese history known for its cultural and medical advancements. The video mentions a famous medical master from this era, emphasizing the ongoing development and refinement of TCM practices over time.

💡Qianjin Yaofang

Qianjin Yaofang, or 'Essential Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold', is a medical text from the Tang Dynasty mentioned in the video. It is an important work that has significantly influenced TCM, showcasing the medical knowledge and practices of the time.

💡Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun

Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun, or 'Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases', is another significant text in TCM, attributed to Zhang Zhongjing. The video mentions this book as an example of the profound medical literature that has contributed to the field.

Highlights

Introduction to the continuation of learning about traditional Chinese medicine.

Review of the philosophical underpinnings of traditional Chinese medicine, including Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.

Introduction of Shen Nong, the legendary figure associated with agriculture and Chinese herbal medicine.

Story of Shen Nong testing hundreds of herbs and his invention of Chinese herbal medicine tea.

Description of Shen Nong's death after testing a poisonous herb called 'Jie Xiong'.

Shen Nong's mythical attributes, such as his ox hat and human body, and his role as a deity of the five grains.

Account of Shen Nong's crystal belly, which allowed him to see the effects of herbs on internal organs.

Details of Shen Nong's categorization of edible and inedible herbs into two bags.

The story of Shen Nong's invention of tea after recovering from a poison by consuming its leaves.

Mention of Shen Nong's Herbal Classic, an early Chinese pharmacopoeia listing 365 medicines.

Discussion on the inclusion of minerals in traditional Chinese medicine.

Introduction of the second doctor, Sun Simiao, known as the 'King of Medicine' in Chinese.

Mention of Sun Simiao's two famous books: 'Qian Jin Yao Fang' and 'Qian Jin Yi Fang'.

Reference to 'Juan Yin,' a significant book in TCM, not written by Sun Simiao but highly regarded.

Emphasis on the importance of 'Jing' and 'mind' in traditional Chinese medicine as highlighted in 'Juan Yin'.

Anticipation for future lectures to delve deeper into the concepts introduced.

Conclusion of the lesson with a farewell and anticipation for the next session.

Transcripts

hello everyone welcome to China overview

again I'm John Fenway still here and

today we are going to continue to learn

the traditional Chinese medicine in the

previous lesson I think we have

discussed the philosophy behind the

traditional Chinese medicine do you

still remember what other philosophies

or the ideas that we discussed in the

previous hour I'm sure you have

remembered those things we discussed the

impact of Confucianism terrorism and the

Buddhism and today we will continue to

learn the ancient doctors in the in

ancient China and the first doctor I

would like to introduce he's regarded as

the legendary good of Agriculture that's

this man his name is

and there's a story about

and so she said that channel actually he

tested hundreds of herbs so people say

that he's the inventor of the Chinese

herbal medicine tea and the brands

however he died after testing gel Simian

elegant you may want to know what is gel

Simian elegant let's see the picture

I've prepared for you that's the grass

that killed Shannon let's see more

stories about Shannon he's an and sister

of China and people say that he's the

deity of the five Grands the English

thing about him is that the people think

that he had an ox hat and the human body

in Chinese mythology

humans the use of plow and the other

knowledge of Agriculture that's why we

say in the previous slide he's regarded

as the legendary gold of Agriculture and

speaking of the story of fusion

that is hundreds of herbs he tested

let's see the description version of

this story people say that he was born

with a crystal belly which was almost

transparent so that anyone could clearly

see the internal organs including the

stomach and the food in it well that's

weird right and Shannon he has two bags

he put the edible herbs in his left back

and the inedible herbs into his right

back so the edible herbs in left back is

said that there are 47 000 kinds of

flowers herbs and roots and the leaves

put in a lab bag so not only bites her

not only 100 herbs right more than that

far more than that and the inedible

herbs is said that there are 39 and 800

kinds and and people say that channel he

encountered 70 poisonous things a day

wow that's very dangerous right and just

now we mentioned that shenong he is also

the inventor of tea so let's see the

story of the invention of tea it is said

that once shenong tasted a poisonous

plant and felt so uncomfortable that he

was on the edge of death luckily he ate

the small fresh leaves of another and

gets much better in his stomach the

samoria fresh leaves cleared up all the

internal organs so shenong named the

Curative plant tea in Chinese we say

so I think that's the story of shenong

and let's talk about the books written

by him shenong's herbal classic I always

say

it's the most well-known work attributed

to shenong this work lists of the

various medicinal herbs that were

discovered by and given great and the

reality writings it's considered to be

the earliest Chinese pharmacopo period

and includes

365 medicines derived from minerals

plants and animals yeah pay attention

here minerals because minerals were also

used in TCM

so that's the first doctor I would like

to share with you the second doctor is

this meme his name is

people say that he's the king of

medicine in Chinese we say

and he is the famous medicine medical

master in Tang Dynasty it's a said that

he has written these two books one is a

thousand gold pieces emergency formulary

another one is the wings of the Thousand

gold pieces emergency familiar so the

first book is named

the second book is named

and this is another book but not written

by sons it's regarded to be written by

Juan DIN and actually Juan din is a very

very important book in the TCM although

it has not too many words but its

meanings are very profound for example

he says that yeah

so this is to emphasize the Jing and the

mind in the in the traditional Chinese

medicine and the details would be

discussed uh in the future lectures so

thank you for watching today's lesson

and I'm very looking forward to see you

next time goodbye