[Examining the publications Su Wen Ji Wen and Su Wen Kao].

Abstract

Su Wen Ji Wen and Su Wen Kao are representative works of Chinese medicine located in the textual research school in Japan. However, the authorship of Su Wen Ji Wen had not been confirmed, and the relationship between the two books was still confusing. This paper examined the manuscript of Su Wen Ji Wen collected by the Taipei National Palace Museum and Su Wen Kao emendated by Qian Chaochen, and explored the life experience of Nakano Gengo, the author of Su Wen Ji Wen and Kijou Koukan, the author of Su Wen Kao. It can be identified that Nakano Gengo is the author of Su Wen Ji Wen because it was written from his lecture notes when he attended to the lecture Su Wen instructed by Taki Motoyasu. His book Su Wen Ji Wen was completed between 1780 and 1788. It was found that Taki Motoyasu was not a student of Kijou Koukan and did not plagiarise his work. It was also found that the two books were indirect interpretations of the early research of Taki Motoyasu on Suwen. They have important value for the textual research school of Japanese kampo medicine.