This section offers a brief overview of the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), organized into 12 historical periods. It also includes a chronology highlighting key events and foundational classic texts.
Traditional Chinese medicine plays a very important part in medicine's history. Understanding TCM through a historical context gives insight to this ancient form of medicine and establishes its validity as a healthcare system.
MoreTwo well-known legends at the time, Yellow Emperor whose name was Huang Di, and the Fire Emperor who was bestowed the title Shennong, they are the attributed author's of two well-known books that have contributed significantly to Traditional Chinese Medicine.
MoreDuring this period, medical principles were very primitive in form, and based on myths and oracle bones legends as well as experience. Inscriptions on oracle bones of buffalo and tortoise shells describe the use of wine and hot water as medicine, and the use of needles and bronze knives as…
MoreDuring this period, the theoretical system of Chinese medicine was formed basically, which recorded in the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine (huang di nei jing), also known as the Classic of Internal Medicine (nei jing). Treating illnesses became a specialty.
MorePhilosophy, societal values and religion played key roles in shaping the practice of Chinese medicine during this time. Basic medical service on a national level was also introduced. There were the imperial court physicians who attended to the emperor, and the physicians who attended to the army and the common…
MoreDevelopment of Chinese medicine was blooming in all aspects, that based on the medical achievements in the Han Dynasty, people accumulated sufficient medical knowledge and experiences, and so published a lot of great books, especially in the field of pulse study, acupuncture and moxibustion, Materia Medica and herbal prescriptions.
MoreDuring this time, blooming on Buddhism, art and culture made a great contribution to the development of Chinese medicine. The governments cared about medical work; clinical medicine became a mainstream that had evolved into different medical branches. In addition, frequent exchanging with other cultures also rich the contents of Chinese…
MoreChina in this period was buffeted by a series of reforms, the changes facilitated medical reorganization and enabled new healthcare systems or facilities to be set up. The invention of printing had a significant impact on Chinese medicine and science in general as it enabled important texts to be more…
MoreBased on the knowledge in old medical texts, and along with rich experiences from clinical practice, Chinese medicine stepped further to a new phrase during the Jin-Yuan period. A number of physicians living at this time made a significant contribution to medical development.
MoreThere were great debates among physicians from the different schools advocating different philosophies. The work of many eminent physicians and the publication of numerous treatises testify to the blossoming of medical theories and practices. Wu Youxing, Li Shizhen and many others made important breakthroughs on their expertise.
MoreIn Qing dynasty, the school of febrile disease became a special study and further developed clinically. Wang Qingren published a book to dispel the long-held beliefs in anatomy. Zhao Xuemin finished a supplement text to the Compendium of Materia Medica. Government gave patronage to publishing boom in encyclopedias and medical…
MoreThis period presented enormous challenges for Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine loses its status as the "one and only medicine," in China, where Chinese and Western medicine are practiced side by side for the benefit of the patient.
MoreThe practice of modern TCM is largely shaped by annotations on ancient texts, Chinese medicine chronology lists out the TCM development of different stages, and enables you to better realize its advantages as well as limitations in healthcare.
MoreThis section gives a brief introduction for the development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), in which contents are divided into 12 historical periods. The main references for this sections..
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