Classic Texts
Guided readings of foundational TCM classics.
50 articles · Page 2 of 5
Tang Ye Ben Cao (汤液本草): The Classic of Decoction and Materia Medica by Wang Haogu
Discover Tang Ye Ben Cao, the Yuan Dynasty classic by Wang Haogu that systematically connected herbal properties to formula practice and Zhang Yuansu's归经 (meridian affinity) theory, creating a bridge between single herbs and clinical prescriptions.
Yi Fang Ji Jie (医方集解): The Encyclopedia of Formula Explanation That Taught Generations of Physicians
Explore Yi Fang Ji Jie (Collection of Formula Explanations) by Wang Ang — the Qing Dynasty text that organized over 800 TCM formulas into a rational, category-based system and became the most widely used formula textbook in Chinese medical history.
Zhen Jiu Da Cheng (针灸大成): The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Learn about Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, the most influential acupuncture-moxibustion text ever written. Compiled by Yang Jizhou in 1601 CE during the Ming dynasty, this monumental work synthesized centuries of acupuncture knowledge and remains the clinical backbone of modern acupuncture practice.
Wai Tai Mi Yao: The Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library
Explore Wai Tai Mi Yao (外台秘要), the monumental Tang dynasty medical encyclopedia compiled by Wang Tao. Discover its structure, contributions to febrile diseases, smallpox documentation, and lasting influence on East Asian medicine.
Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing: The Acupuncture Text That Saved Lives
Explore Zhen Jiu Zi Sheng Jing (针灸资生经), the Song dynasty masterpiece by Wang Zhizhong that revolutionized clinical acupuncture through evidence-based point selection and practical treatment protocols.
San Yin Ji Yi Bing Zheng Fang Lun (三因极一病证方论): The Three Causes Formulary — Revolutionizing TCM Etiology
Explore San Yin Ji Yi Bing Zheng Fang Lun by Chen Wuze, the Song dynasty text that systematically categorized disease causes into internal, external, and neither-internal-nor-external — a framework still used in TCM today.
Shou Shi Bao Yuan (寿世保元): Longevity and Health Preservation — Gong Tingxian's Guide to a Long Life
Discover Shou Shi Bao Yuan (Longevity and Health Preservation) by Gong Tingxian, a Ming dynasty classic that combined internal medicine, geriatrics, and preventive care into a practical guide for living a long and healthy life.
Ling Shu (灵枢): The Spiritual Pivot — Acupuncture's Foundation Text
Explore the Ling Shu (灵枢, Spiritual Pivot) — the second half of the Huangdi Neijing and the foundational text of acupuncture and meridian theory. Learn about its history, structure, key theories, and lasting influence on TCM.
Bencao Jing Jizhu (本草经集注): Tao Hongjing's Annotated Materia Medica — The Bridge Between Ancient and Imperial Chinese Herbal Medicine
Discover Bencao Jing Jizhu (本草经集注), Tao Hongjing's landmark 5th-century annotated revision of the Shennong Bencao Jing that reorganized 730 herbs into a classification system used for over a thousand years.
Xin Xiu Bencao (新修本草): The Tang Dynasty Imperial Materia Medica — The World's First National Pharmacopeia
Explore Xin Xiu Bencao (新修本草), the 659 AD Tang Dynasty pharmacopeia commissioned by Emperor Gaozong — the first government-sponsored materia medica in world history, with 850 entries and illustrated herb guides.