Bencao Gangmu Shiyi (Compendium of Materia Medica with Additions)
Overview
Bencao Gangmu Shiyi (《本草纲目拾遗》, Compendium of Materia Medica with Additions) is a significant pharmaceutical text compiled during the Qing Dynasty by Zhao Xuemin (赵学敏). Completed in 1765 and extensively revised over 38 years, this work serves as a valuable supplement to Li Shizhen's monumental Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica). The text introduces 716 new medicinal substances not found in the original Bencao Gangmu, bringing the total documented entries to 921 medicinal substances (including 205 supplementary entries). The work is particularly notable for its inclusion of numerous folk medicines and imported substances, making it an essential resource for understanding the development of Chinese pharmacology during the 16th to 18th centuries.
History
Bencao Gangmu Shiyi was authored by Zhao Xuemin (courtesy name Shuxuan, style name Yiji), a native of Qiantang (present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province). The initial draft was completed in the 30th year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign (1765), after which Zhao continued to expand and revise the work for another 38 years, with the latest recorded events dating to 1803. The text was first published in the 3rd year of the Tongzhi Emperor's reign (1864) after being compiled, edited, and proofread by Zhang Yingchang.
The organization of Bencao Gangmu Shiyi follows the general structure of Li Shizhen's Bencao Gangmu but with significant modifications. The text is divided into ten volumes, categorized according to traditional medicinal classifications: water, fire, earth, metal, stone, grass, wood, vine, flower, fruit, grain, vegetable, utensils, birds, beasts, scales, shells, and insects. Notably, Zhao excluded the human section (present in Bencao Gangmu) while adding two new categories: vines and flowers. Additionally, the "metal" and "stone" categories were separated into distinct sections.
Key Information
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Author | Zhao Xuemin (赵学敏) |
| Completion Date | Initial draft completed in 1765, final version by 1803 |
| First Publication | 1864 (Tongzhi era) |
| Structure | 10 volumes with traditional medicinal classifications |
| Total Medicinal Entries | 921 (including 716 new substances not in Bencao Gangmu) |
| Sources Cited | 625 references (282 medical texts and 343 other classical works) |
| Notable Features | Corrections of 34 errors in Bencao Gangmu, inclusion of folk medicines and imported substances |
Cultural Significance
Bencao Gangmu Shiyi represents a significant contribution to Chinese pharmaceutical literature and traditional medicine. The text not only supplements Li Shizhen's work but also corrects numerous errors and omissions in the original Bencao Gangmu. The "Corrections" section (正误) at the beginning of the work specifically addresses 34 inaccuracies in Li's text, including the toxic nature of lead powder (粉锡), which Li had incorrectly described as "non-toxic and cold in nature."
The work is particularly valuable for its documentation of folk medicines and imported substances that were not included in earlier texts. Zhao cites an impressive array of 625 classical sources, including many rare and privately circulated texts that would otherwise have been lost to history. This comprehensive approach to sourcing information demonstrates the author's commitment to thorough scholarship and practical medical knowledge.
One notable example of the text's significance is its detailed documentation of sweet potato (甘储, also known as 番薯 or 金薯). The work provides extensive information about cultivation methods, medicinal properties, and processing techniques for this important food crop, which had become a vital staple in many parts of China. The text describes how sweet potatoes could serve as an emergency food source during famines, how they could be processed into various food products, and their medicinal applications for conditions such as dysentery, jaundice, and infertility.
Modern Status
Today, Bencao Gangmu Shiyi is recognized as one of the most important pharmaceutical texts from the Qing Dynasty, standing alongside works like Zhao Qi's "Plant Names and Realities Illustrated" (植物名实图考) as exemplars of Qing Dynasty botanical scholarship. The text continues to be valued by researchers in traditional Chinese medicine, pharmacology, and history of science for its comprehensive documentation of medicinal substances and its corrections to earlier texts.
Modern published editions of Bencao Gangmu Shiyi include versions by the People's Medical Publishing House (1957, 1965, and 1983) and the China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine (1998). The 1998 edition, part of the "Ming-Qing Clinical Chinese Medicine Series," contains 459 pages and includes ISBN 9787800896712. These modern editions typically include editorial notes and annotations to help contemporary readers understand the text's content and historical context.
In contemporary research, Bencao Gangmu Shiyi frequently serves as an important reference for botanical identification and historical pharmaceutical studies. For example, academic investigations into the botanical origins of medicinal plants like "golden plate grass" (金盘草) and "pear樟梨" draw directly on Zhao's detailed descriptions and classifications.
References
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Baidu Baike - 本草纲目拾遗. https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E6%9C%AC%E8%8D%89%E7%BA%B2%E7%9B%AE%E6%8B%BE%E9%81%97
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CUCH.org - Compendium Of Materia Medica Supplement. https://cuch.org/article/compendium-of-materia-medica-supplement
Note: This article is primarily sourced from Baidu Baike (百度百科), the Chinese collaborative encyclopedia. Content has been translated and adapted for an English-speaking audience.