The Special Record of Yue Medicine
Hongda Wang
FIRST
Medical activities in Yue（Shaoxing area）originated very early.The ancestors treated diseases with stone needles，ironing and bloodletting method.A celadon pulse-pillow of Tang Dynasty which unearthed from Tingshan in Yuecheng district is an early diagnostic and treatment appliance found in Shaoxing.There have been many famous doctors throughout the ages.According to the“Chinese Medical Encyclopedia，History of Medicine”，there are now 107 famous Traditional Chinese medicine doctors recorded，10 of whom are from Yue（Shaoxing area）.The famous experts in the Medical school were：Zhang Jingyue，Chen Shiduo，Zhang Nan，Yu Genchu，Wang Fuyuan，Zhou Yan，Zhao Qingchu，He Lianchen，Fu Nengyuan，Shao Lansun，Yang Zhian，Qiu Jisheng，Hu Baoshu，Cao Bingzhang，Wang Miaoda，Zhu Weiju，Zhang Ruoxia，Yang Zemin，Wang Shenxuan，Pan Guoxian，Xu Rongzhai，Jin Shoushan，etc.There also has some representative medical families，like Qian's family of gynecology：Qian Baocan，Qian Baonan，ect.The orthopedics department like：“3-6-9”（Zhang's family）Zhang Meiting，Zhang Fengming，Gu's family：Gu Xingzhuang，Gu Renrui，Gu Rensheng，The pediatric department includes：Xu's family，like Xu Xian Chai，about the internal medicine department，there has Fu's family.Beside those famous masters，there also some become the imperial physician.Like in the the Northern Song dynasty，the PEI Zongyuan，CHEN Shiwen，who works as editors for“Revise Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People in the Taiping Era（Jiao Zheng Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang）”In the early Ming dynasty，the imperial physician，DAI Sigong，MA shi compiled the“Depict of Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen”.Also the FU Maoguang，the first person who started the medicine communication with ancient Korea，the famous surgeon：QI kun，sphygmology expert：ZHAO Wenkui，and some other famous doctors：HU Tingyin of Tang dynasty，SHI Kui，YU Yaori，ZHANG Tingyu，ZHOU Liangzong of Ming dynasty，QIAN Song，GAO Runzhi，XU Qilin，of Qing dynasty etc.
Beside the famous doctors，there also have lots of classic medicine works，like the ZHANG Jingyue's“Collected Treatises of［Zhang］Jing-Yue”，CAO Bingzhang's“Compendium of Chinese Medicine”，QIU Jisheng's“Collection of Rare Medical Books”and“Three Three Medical Books"，ZHAO Qingchu's"Cun Cun zhai's Medical Records”and SHAO Lansun's six medical cases，those are representative works of Traditional Chinese Medicine.In the national“Tenth Five-Year Plan”，collection of the famous doctors in the Republic of China era，13 famous doctors and 21 kinds of classical works had been selected，among them，7 medical books which written by the doctor of Shaoxing，including HE Liancheng's“Revised Popular Guide to the Discussion of Cold Damage”etc.“The Guideline for Tongue Differentiation”of CAO Bingzhang.The"The inquiries of Cold Damage"by ZHU Weiju.Those Chinese medicine works which selected from hundreds of works had been repeated demonstrated，strict screened，had identified the high academic value of the Yue's medicinal school.
In August 2005，the Eighth National Symposium on Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture was held in Huangshan，Anhui province，and the preliminary definition of“Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture”was proposed.The Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture is the summation of the spiritual civilization and material civilization that embodies the essence and characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine in the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation.
In December 2007，The National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine's“The Instruction Opinion on Strengthening the Culture Construction of Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital”points out that Traditional Chinese Medicine culture is an important part of the Chinese nation excellent traditional culture，which is the material and spiritual wealth in the process of development，and this culture is the inner spirit of Chinese medicine service and ideological basis，the core value was summed up as“benevolence，harmony，sincerity，faith”.
Yue's medical culture is an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine culture，which has two characteristics：one is inheritance.The medical culture of Yue has a long history which had formed at the beginning of medical activities，and has been inherited by generations.The second is regionalism，the medical culture of Yue has obvious and typical regional characteristics，which is closely related to the geographical features and humanistic customs of Yue.This special culture has combine the Chinese traditional culture and the essence of traditional medicine culture，embodies the ancient core idea of Yue culture，it is a precious heritage，a representative of the Zhejiang Traditional Chinese Medicine.In June 2009，Yue Medical culture had been included in the third batch of intangible cultural heritage list of Zhejiang Province.
SECOND
There are very early records of medical treatment and culture in Yue.In the“Annals of the Reign of Wu and Yue（The Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue）”，Gou Jian，king of Yue（In Spring and Autumn period），in order to boost his solider'morale，said that："If a soldier is sick and cannot follow the army［path］，I will give him medicine and porridge”.When a woman gives birth，“［they will］orders the doctor to stay with her”to deliver the baby，and stipulates that“the strong［young］man should not marry an old woman，while the old man does not should a strong［young］woman”.Those are the ancient record of the appellation of“Yi［doctor］”in history.
In the Huang Di Nei Jing，it had mentioned more than 10 ancient famous doctors such as Qi Bo and Lei Gong，but for these famous doctors，the appellation of“Yi［doctor］”has not been used.In the Yin and Shang Dynasties，the“witch doctors”appeared and became the dominant of medical industry，but the proportion of“Yi［doctor］”was still rare.LI Jingwei believes that in the 5th century BC，there were records of a famous doctor named Yi Huan，Yi He，the Yi refers to his job---doctor，and He，Huan were his surname.In the archaeological finds，there are some words as“Shi Yang”，or“King Wu”，“Guo Zuo”，the former as a doctor who can treat ulcers and carbuncle，the latter refers to a doctor who good at treating aphonia or acne，［it is a custom to］combine the disease name with the doctor's family name.During the Sui，Tang and Ming dynasties，the appellation of doctors was more abundant due to the different time，region and academic level.The one who works in Palace was called“imperial physician”，“respected doctor”，while in civil，there have many names like：“doctor”“sir”“Confucianism”.In addition，there are some“Jingle Doctor”，“itinerant doctor”，and others with regional names，such as“Jing［Beijing area］Doctors”.
The term“Yue medicine”was verified by FANG Chunyang，and the QIN Yueren of Qin Dynasty were the ancestors of Yue medicine.In Library Theory and Practice，volume 738，quoted from the Book of“Chun Qiu Hou Yu”written by KONG Yan of the Jin Dynasty，states that“Bian Que，a Yue Yi［doctor from the State of Yue］，went to Qi and was treated by Huan Hou”.Bian Que in the article refers to QIN Yueren，“Yue”is his native place，doctor is his profession，so he is called“Yue Yi”.This is not conclusive，but it is a well-founded opinion.Since then，there are many Yue Yi word or senescence been found in historical records or medical books by researchers and historiographer，mostly the Yue Yi refers to the doctors from Zhejiang area，but the change point is in Qing dynasty，based on the：“a supplement to the compendium of materia medica”which compiled by ZHAO Xuemin，ZHU Deming firstly found out that the Yue Yi has directional meaning---QUAN Danruo is a doctor from Shaoxing，the Yue refers directly to Shaoying.And the PING Buqing directly list the Yue Yi as one chapter to describe the famous doctors and the long history of medicine in Shaoxing，which had been generally accepted by the society.HE Liancheng，a Shaoxing doctor，firstly called himself Yue Yi［doctor］.
THREE
The name“Yue Yi”originated very early.it has both the connotation of“Zhejiang medicine”and“Shaoxing medicine”.There are those who are called by others，and there are those who are called by doctors themselves.Historically，“Yue Yi”has long formed a specific group and been recognized by the society.Wang Guoqiang，vice Minister of Health and director of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine，commented that Shaoxing is one of the first historical and cultural cities in China with a long history and profound Traditional Chinese Medicine culture.Yue Yi is characterized by a large number of specialized families，schools，famous doctors and books.It has the unique personality of emphasizing practice，daring to innovate，good at summarizing，and combining knowledge and practice which occupies an important position in the history of Chinese medicine and has made great contributions to the development and prosperity of Traditional Chinese medicine.
The State of Yue was founded by the Yue nationality in Kuai Ji（now Shaoxing，Zhejiang）.Yue was an ancient nationality living in the Lake Tai Hu and the Qian Tang River in ancient times.The central area of Yue is refers to the Ning Shao Plain，Hang Jia Hu plain and Jin Qu hills of present-day Zhejiang Province.In June 1935，shaoxing administrative supervision district was established，leading Shaoxing，Xiaoshan，Zhuji，Yuyao，Shangyu，Shengxian and Xinchang 7 counties，and stationed in Shaoxing county seat.In October 1949，Shaoxing Special Zone was established.It is now a provincial municipality，leading Yuecheng District，Shaoxing County，Zhuji City，Shangyu City，Shengzhou City，Xinchang County.
In terms of time，Yue culture includes not only the culture after the founding of the ancient state，but also the culture created by its ancestors before the founding，and even the customs of Yue after its demise.The culture of the state of Yue refers to the culture during the establishment of the stat，spatially speaking，it involves not only the geographical distribution of the culture of the state，but also the culture within the territory of the former State of Wu in a specific period of time，including at least the culture of Yue and the culture of Wu，which is generally known as the culture of the State of Wu Yue.The Yue culture is the mother body of the Yue medical culture，and the medical culture belongs to the same region as the Yue cultural.Due to the changes of times，the definition of specific regions is also changing constantly.For the convenience of research，the current focus of the research on Yue Medical culture involves the area of Shaoxing City（including Yuecheng District，Shaoxing County，Zhuji City，Shangyu City，Shengzhou City and Xinchang County）as the center.
FOUR
As the birthplace of rice farming culture，silk culture，original place of celadon，one of the creators of metallurgy，and the first nation follow the lake and step into the world，Yue culture has made great contributions to Chinese civilization.The Yue Yi medical culture is rooted in the fertile soil of Yue culture，and the formation of Yue medical culture is deeply marked by Yue culture.
The influence of The Philosophy of Yue culture on the formation of Yue medical culture is huge，the most prominent view was promoted by FAN Li，who believed that to conduct oneself in the world，one must act according to objective laws.“When the time is not arrived，All things［should］not［forcefully］required”；“The sage does what he wants［always］follow the time and period，which is Shou Shi［Seize the Moment］”.And also［he］believed that objective things can be transformed into each other.“［extreme］Yang［turns］to Yin，［extreme］Yin［turns］to Yang”；“The sun sets and rises，the moon waxes and wanes”.In business，dialectical ideas are also reflected everywhere.［FAN Li］According to the law of mutual transformation between high and low，financial management and business methods are proposed.Meanwhile，he also emphasized that the success need the cooperation by understand the objective situation，and give play of［human］subjective initiative.
To seize the opportunity and give full play to the subjective initiative，FAN Li had an image analogy："The person who catch up the trend of the time，［should］like putting out the fire，catching the escaped prisoner，rushing and running never too late."FAN Li's“seize the moment”thought and the JI Ran's“preparing for future”thought，as well as ZHANG Jingyue's focus on Yang Qi academic idea，all had a profound impact on the Yue's medical culture.
The ancient Yue area，beside the local citizens，there were also has some immigrants from Wu，Chu，Jin，Qi，Xu.For example，WEN Zhong，FAN Li，CHEN Yin（a famous Archer）were come from Chu（Hu Bei area），while JI Ran are from Jin（Shan Xi）.“Guo Yu·Yue Yu”record：“People from four sides［far and near］，［must］treated with a high respectful reception”.“Wu Yue Spring and Autumn·Goujian attack Wu's biography”says：“all the people who comes from the four corners of the country，will be treated with the highest courtesies，servicing with food and soup，can traveling around the country”.“providing them［people from far and near］houses，dressing them well，and feed them adequately.”As a result，“the people from the four corners of country pays allegiance to［Yue］like river running into the sea”.Furthermore，the Yue had close relations with the state of Lu［Shan Dong area］which was regarded as the orthodox state of central China.In the“Annals of the Six States of Shih Chi［Records of the Historian］”record：“The Yue people came to［Qin］for welcoming［his］bride”，the historical fact that a woman of Qin marry to Yue reflects the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.The foreign exchange and compatibility of Yue culture had a profound influence on the Establishment of Shao's cold damage theory，and the early attitude towards the exchange，tolerance and absorption of Western medicine.
Yue's social customs，advocated warrior and not afraid of death，adoring ghosts and gods.And some special customs like：cut hair and make tattoo，left lapel clothes style，cultivate paddy and farming fish，like drinking alcohol.The land of Yue is famous for its abundant rivers and lakes，which are crisscrossed and dotted everywhere.Therefore，the main means of transportation is boat.Housing is popular in the form of stilt buildings，the first characteristic is dry，ventilated，bright，and can avoid dampness，secondly，the integral structure of building is scientific and reasonable.All those folk customs are closely related and affected the Shao's cold damage disease school.The Yue's medicine have accumulated unique experiences and established theories in the diagnosis and treatment of cold damage disease.
（The author is the Director of Shaoxing Municipal Health Commission；Translator：ZHU Wenpei，From Zhejiang Chinese Medical University）