[Yue Chang and his Yao Xing Ji Yao Bian Du].

Abstract

Yao Xing Ji Yao Bian Du was a book on materia medica, compiled by Yue Chang, a physician in Wujin, Jiangsu, in the Qing Dynasty. This book was first published in the 23rd year of Dao Guang in the Qing Dynasty (1843) and there are three versions remaining. They were the movable-type printing of the Song Yang Study of the Tao's in 1843, the reprinted version of the Song Yang Study in the 30th year of Dao Guang (1850) , and the version of the Yi Hai Tang in the first year of Xian Feng (1851). This book involved 374 herbs, describing each of their shapes and colours, features and tastes, and meridial distribution with poems of five or seven characters, as well as their functions and prescriptions. It attached many herbs from the formulas of physicians and a 'Brief Guide of Medicine' to the poems, indicating herb features and Chinese medical culture. The book had both academic value and literature value because it integrated theories and practice. This paper examines the life of Yue Chang and his book, and clarifies the content and version sources of the Yao Xing Ji Yao Bian Du. It also corrects the mistakes of version recording to the following books: the General Catalogue of Chinese Ancient Books, the General Catalogue of Chinese Ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine Books and the Dictionary of Chinese Medical Books.