[Examining the author of She Sheng Yao Yi].

Abstract

She Sheng Yao Yi, a medical book on how to keep fit and healthy in the Ming Dynasty, contained a variety of theoretical ideas for doing so from diverse traditional Chinese medicine physicians and had great influence. However, its author has not been identified because the author of this book in Bibliography of Ancient Books of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Bibliography of Ancient Chinese Books is claimed to be different. The authors dates of birth and death also vary in other relevant reference books. This paper examines and identifies the author of this book based on biographies, historical records, dictionaries and other relevant documents, with a view to contributing to the research of medical history literature.