Thousand Golden Formulas
Overview
Thousand Golden Formulas (Qian Jin Fang) is a seminal medical text written by the renowned Tang dynasty physician Sun Simiao (581-682 CE). This comprehensive work represents one of the most important contributions to traditional Chinese medicine, compiling medical knowledge from ancient texts with the author's own clinical experiences and innovations. The text is particularly significant for its systematic approach to medical practice, ethical guidelines for physicians, and detailed documentation of treatment methods that influenced Chinese medicine for centuries.
History
The Thousand Golden Formulas was compiled during China's Tang Dynasty, a period of significant cultural and scientific advancement. Sun Simiao, often referred to as the "King of Medicine," dedicated his life to medical practice and scholarship. The work was completed around 652 CE and represents the culmination of Sun's extensive clinical experience and study of medical literature.
The text has undergone several revisions and publications throughout history. The 2008 edition by Inner People's Publishing House represents a modern scholarly interpretation that maintains the medicinal value of the ancient text while adding illustrated annotations and explanations. This edition is presented in a deluxe binding format, making both the content and physical artifact significant to the study of medical history.
Key Information
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Author | Sun Simiao (Tang Dynasty) |
| Original Completion Date | c. 652 CE |
| Notable Modern Edition | 2008, Inner People's Publishing House |
| ISBN | 9787553734156 |
| Price (2008 edition) | ¥77.00 |
| Medical Significance | Established medical ethics, documented 5,300+ formulas, pioneered disease classification |
Content Structure and Academic Features
The Thousand Golden Formulas employs a disease-classification system that organizes internal medicine conditions according to the zang-fu organs (五脏), cold/heat, deficiency/excess patterns. This approach creates a historical parallel to modern systematic medical classification methods.
The text broke from traditional "one disease, one formula" patterns by establishing a "compound formula" system containing over 5,300 medical formulas. Several aspects of the text demonstrate remarkable medical insight:
- The "insect-induced theory" (虫致学说) for treating tuberculosis showed超前 (transcendental) understanding for its time
- Documentation of the relationship between diabetes (消渴症) and carbuncles (痈疽) demonstrated deep clinical observation
- Descriptions of bone tuberculosis locations achieved remarkable precision compared to contemporary medical knowledge
Medical Ethics and Professional Development
The "Great Physician's Sincerity" (大医精诚) chapter established the medical principle "see others' suffering as if it were your own" (见彼苦恼，若己有之), requiring physicians to "first develop great compassion and empathy" (先发大慈恻隐之心). This discourse has been revered as the cornerstone of medical ethics in Chinese medicine.
The text's dedicated sections on gynecology and pediatrics significantly influenced the development of specialized medical practice in China. These comprehensive approaches to women's and children's health represented significant advancements in medical specialization during the Tang Dynasty.
Health Preservation Theory and Dietary Therapy
The dietary therapy (食治) section systematically documented the medicinal properties of animal-based foods:
- Human milk "nourishes the five organs" (补五脏)
- Cow milk "nourishes heart and lungs" (养心肺)
- Goat milk treats diabetes (消渴症)
- Horse milk eliminates damp-heat (利湿热)
- Bear meat primarily treats rheumatism (风痹)
- Blue goat gallbladder heals sores and toxins (疗疮毒)
The text emphasizes food compatibility taboos, documenting special cases such as how goat's milk with black goat brains easily causes intestinal abscesses (肠痈), and how raw goat liver consumed with pepper damages the five organs. Some formulas incorporated theories from earlier classics such as the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon (黄帝内经) and Hua Tuo's medical works, demonstrating the transmission of medical knowledge across generations.
Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovations
The Thousand Golden Formulations established the "same body inch" (同身寸) standard for locating acupoints and promoted the clinical application of "ashi points" (阿是穴), which are tender points found through palpation rather than fixed by classical meridian theory. The acupuncture section meticulously documents the indications for each point, providing detailed guidance for treatment.
Modern Status
Today, the Thousand Golden Formulas remains a vital reference in traditional Chinese medicine education and practice. Its ethical principles continue to influence medical professionalism, while its therapeutic formulas are still studied and applied in contemporary clinical settings. The 2008 edition with its scholarly annotations has made this ancient text more accessible to modern readers while preserving its historical integrity.
References
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Unschuld, P. U. (2003). Medicine in China: A History of Ideas. University of California Press.
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Lu, G. D., & Needham, J. (2000). Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 6, Biology and Biological Technology, Part 6: Medicine. Cambridge University Press.
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Li, C. (2014). The Art of Chinese Medicine: History, Theory, and Practice. Singing Dragon.