The Tale of Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine is representative of the profound philosophical wisdom and thousands of years of healthcare practice in China. It is a gem of ancient Chinese science as well as a passport to the wider glimpse of Chinese civilization at large. It has played a key role in the growth and prosperity of the Chinese nation.“Herbary” is the general name of traditional Chinese medicine in ancient Chinese books. The earliest Chinese medical monograph was Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic dating back to the Han Dynasty （202 B.C.-A.D. 220）. In the Tang Dynasty （618-907）， Tang’s Newly Revised Materia Medica issued by the government became the world’s earliest pharmacopoeia. Famous Chinese medical expert Li Shizhen （1518-1593） of the Ming Dynasty （1368-1644） wrote the 52-volume masterpiece titled Compendium of Materia Medica， compiling a comprehensive reference for Chinese medicine before the 16th century and making a significant contribution to the future development of Chinese medicinal pharmacology.

This book was adapted from the first season of the documentary The Tale of Chinese Medicine， a new and moving work illuminating mysterious Chinese medical culture. The documentary was first aired on May 20， 2016. Supported by the Publicity Department of the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China， the film was produced under the supervision of the Chinese Population Culture Promotion Association and under the professional guidance of the General Office of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It has won numerous awards including Special Mention in Anthropological Concern Documentary Category at the 2016 International Gold Panda Documentary Festival and Best Chinese Series Award at the 2017 Beijing International Film Festival. It has become a torchbearer for traditional Chinese medical culture.

The book， The Tale of Chinese Medicine， fully narrates the original documentary. Making Chinese medical providers the soul， it leads readers deep into the mysterious world of traditional Chinese medicine. While exploring authentic Chinese medicine， recording herbal processing skills and introducing medicinal principles， it expounds the profound culture behind traditional Chinese medicine. A new chapter not in the original documentary was added， which records the most often applied medicinal materials in ancient China according to ancient Chinese books， poetry， and anecdotes. The chapter also includes in-depth interpretation of herbal medicine， diet prescriptions and daily healthcare content to fill the book with more valuable knowledge for practical use.

Nearly 800 beautiful pictures were carefully selected for this book， including many in color from the ancient traditional Chinese medicine book Graphics of Medicinal Minerals， Insects and Plants by Ming Dynasty painter Wen Chu. Its illustrations include graphics of herb gathering， images of medicinal herbs and an elaborate medicine map that visualizes the multiple realms and distribution areas of medicinal plants. Through this book， readers can get to know the profound culture of traditional Chinese medicine and soak in the brilliance of timeless Chinese civilization.