Why are the famous doctors in ancient China all self-taught? Don't they have a teacher?

Most of the famous doctors in ancient times were self-taught and didn't teach excellent apprentices. Bian Que, Hua Tuo and Li Shizhen, like a shining star in history, had nowhere to go.

Because the interpretation of pathology in ancient Chinese medicine pays more attention to theory, such as the harmony of yin and yang, dryness and dampness, cold and fire, etc., which are all very theoretical expressions. For ordinary people, it feels like a fog, and there is no way to start. So is the education of disciples by old Chinese medicine practitioners. Without a good understanding and good practice, these disciples would not understand at all.

In addition, TCM relies more on personal experience, that is, practice. It is said that the older the qualifications of Chinese medicine, the more reliable it is. This is not unreasonable. Traditional Chinese medicine is the opposite of western medicine. If it is western medicine, many young doctors are actually more reliable, because they are at the forefront of science and have mastered more advanced knowledge and medical technology. Young Chinese medicine practitioners, due to lack of experience and practice, can only open their own pharmacies after studying under some old Chinese medicine practitioners for a long time. Even after their independence, they often have to consult old Chinese medicine practitioners.

Traditional Chinese medicine, as a natural pharmacology, is healthier than western medicine in killing viruses and bacteria directly, so it is only a medicine to stimulate individual immunity to overcome diseases, which also leads to different immunity of different people and different prescriptions. If they are inexperienced, they may not be able to prescribe the right medicine. Even if Hua Tuo's prescription is good, his apprentice may not copy his medical prescription.