Introduction to Compendium of Materia Medica

Compendium of Materia Medica, 52 volumes. Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty was written in the thirty-first year of Jiajing to the sixth year of Wanli, and three drafts were changed. During his tenure in Pengxi County, Li Shizhen's eldest son, Li Jianzhong, helped Li Shizhen edit and revise Compendium of Materia Medica, and helped the book to be published.

Compendium of Materia Medica is a special book on traditional Chinese medicine, but it covers a wide range, with many records on botany, zoology, mineralogy, physics, chemistry and agronomy. For example, the origin and characteristics of petroleum are described in detail in Mineralogy. In chemistry, the method of testing the authenticity of stone gall is expounded. In physics, the amount of rainfall can be inferred from the humidity change in the air; In agronomy, the methods of improving fruit tree varieties by grafting technology were expounded.

Compendium of Materia Medica clarifies the glyphs and pronunciations of some Chinese characters through the exploration and textual research of drug names. It also describes the pronunciation and meaning of the names of some ethnic minorities and other countries. It also records the custom of divination and writing with sheepskin and sheep bones of the Khitan people. Turen used swallow fat to make up, and Mongolians used cowhide to treat trauma. This book preserves a large number of documents and materials before16th century, some of which have been lost. Relevant information can be found in this book.

The Value of Compendium of Materia Medica

Compendium of Materia Medica is an important historical document. A large number of lost documents are preserved in the book, which provides an important reference for us to understand the development of pharmacy and other disciplines in history. Through Compendium of Materia Medica, we can see the development level, academic thought and social background of pharmacy in Ming Dynasty, which is of great significance for us to know and study history.

Compendium of Materia Medica is an excellent work of traditional Chinese medicine, which is of great value not only in the field of pharmacy, but also in the fields of science, culture and history. It is not only an important tool for us to understand pharmacy, but also an important way for us to understand history and nature. Therefore, the value of Compendium of Materia Medica is various and inestimable.

The above contents refer to Baidu Encyclopedia-Compendium of Materia Medica.