Zhang Zhongjing, a famous doctor in Eastern Han Dynasty

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there appeared three outstanding doctors in China, which were called "Jian 'an Three Magical Doctors" in history.

Among them, Dong Feng left a well-known Xinglin story; Hua tuo has a legend that Guan Yu curetted bones to cure poison, and later generations praised the doctor with "Hua tuo's reincarnation" and "meta-regeneration" (Hua tuo's characterization); Zhang Zhongjing, on the other hand, developed the theory of traditional Chinese medicine and wrote Treatise on Febrile Diseases, which was respected as a "medical sage" by later generations.

Although respected as a "medical sage" by later generations, there is no record of Zhang Zhongjing's life in the History of the Later Han Dynasty and the History of the Three Kingdoms, so that some people doubt whether he really exists.

According to textual research, it is undeniable that Zhang Zhongjing was a famous doctor in the late Eastern Han Dynasty.

With regard to Zhang Zhongjing's information, in addition to the preface of Treatise on Febrile Diseases entitled "Nanyang Zhang Jizhong Jing, Changsha Magistrate", Huangfu Mi, a scholar, medical scientist and historian from the Three Kingdoms to the Western Jin Dynasty, once mentioned that "Zhongjing is better than Fang Zi", while Ge Hong, a Taoist scholar and medical scientist in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, said that "Zhongjing wears a chest to collect red cakes", which is too simple to make people confused.

Zhang Zhongjing was not recorded in detail until Gan Bozong's Records of Famous Doctors in the Tang Dynasty: "Zhang Zhongjing, a native of Nanyang, was famous for his machine, and Zhongjing was the word."

Ju Xiaolian, the official prefect of Changsha.

He was trained in Zhangbozu, the same county. At that time, people told his teachers in implicit words.

The written theory is precise and profound, and the method is simple and detailed, which is beyond the reach of ignorant people.

I don't know where the original materials of this passage are, but since then, many people have said that Zhongjing is here, and there are still people who hold this view.

With the deepening of research, Zhang Zhongjing's life story gradually became clear.

Zhang Zhongjing, whose real name is Zhongjing, was born in Nieyang, Nanyang (now Nanyang, Henan). He was a famous doctor at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty (about AD 148, and died in AD 2 19).

Besides studying medical books, he also realized that to master the art of saving lives, it is inseparable from the teaching of famous doctors: Bian Que learned the true story of Sang Jun, Cang Gong learned the secret of Yang Qing, and his medical skills improved greatly.

Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing decided to learn from the teacher.

At that time, Zhang Bozu, a famous doctor in the same county, was a famous doctor. He is calm and studies medicine hard.

I am very careful every time I give a prescription to a doctor.

The patients he treated were basically cured, so he was respected and admired by Zhang Zhongjing, so he decided to worship him as a teacher.

Zhang Zhongjing devoted himself to studying medicine. Whether going out to see a doctor, copying prescriptions for medicines, going up the mountain to collect medicines, or going home to make medicines, he is never afraid of hardship or fatigue.

Zhang Bozu also liked this student very much and passed on his accumulated medical experience to Zhang Zhongjing without reservation.

Zhang Zhongjing, who has just finished his studies, has been putting theory into practice, saving lives, and his fame has gradually increased.

But he deeply felt that there was no end to medical skills, and a little attempt would accomplish nothing.

So on the one hand, he continued to study and practice, on the other hand, he insisted on finding the expertise of famous doctors, even if there were effective prescriptions or treatments, he would not let go.

You know, at that time, doctors' skills were all inherited in the family, kept secret and held other people's opinions. In this context, it is difficult to learn from others, and it is also difficult to learn from others! However, Zhang Zhongjing went ahead despite difficulties and did not seek fame and fortune. He continued to seek medical advice and visit famous doctors.

At that time, there was a "Doctor Wang Shen" in Xiangyang who was good at treating scars.

Zhang Zhongjing packed his bags and traveled hundreds of miles to Xiangyang to learn from his teacher.

Source: Harle (March 2020)