Introduction to Compendium of Materia Medica

Compendium of Materia Medica, 52 volumes. Li Shizhen's book in Ming Dynasty was written from the 31st year of Jiajing to the 6th year of Wanli. During his tenure in Pengxi County, Li Shizhen's eldest son, Li Jianzhong, helped Li Shizhen edit and revise Compendium of Materia Medica and helped the book to be published.

Although Compendium of Materia Medica is a book devoted to the study of traditional Chinese medicine, it covers a wide range and has many records in botany, zoology, mineralogy, physics, chemistry and agronomy. For example, the origin and characteristics of petroleum are described in detail in Mineralogy; In chemistry, the methods of testing the authenticity of stone gall are expounded. In physics, the amount of rainfall can be inferred from the humidity change in the air; In agronomy, the methods of improving fruit tree varieties by grafting technology were expounded.

Compendium of Materia Medica clarifies the glyphs and pronunciations of some Chinese characters through the exploration and textual research of drug names. It also describes the pronunciation and meaning of drug names of some ethnic minorities and other countries. It also records the custom of using sheepskin and sheep bones for divination and writing in the Khitan people, the custom of using swallow fat for makeup in the Tufan people, and the method of using cowhide to treat trauma in the Mongols. This book has preserved a large number of documents and materials before16th century, some of which have been lost, and relevant materials can be seen from this book.

The Value of Compendium of Materia Medica

Compendium of Materia Medica is an important historical document. A large number of lost documents are preserved in the book, which provides an important reference for us to understand the development of pharmacy and other disciplines in history. Through Compendium of Materia Medica, we can see the development level, academic thought and social background of pharmacy in Ming Dynasty, which is of great significance for us to know and study history.

Compendium of Materia Medica is an excellent work of traditional Chinese medicine, which is of great value not only in the field of pharmacy, but also in the fields of science, culture and history. It is not only an important tool for us to understand pharmacy, but also an important way for us to understand history and nature. Therefore, the value of Compendium of Materia Medica is various and inestimable.

The above contents refer to Baidu Encyclopedia-Compendium of Materia Medica.