Chinese Medicine Doctors: Zhang Zhongjing (AD 150-219)

Zhang Zhongjing (张仲景) lived from AD150—219 and was a Han Dynasty physician. He is one of the most eminent Chinese physicians and is often referred to as the Chinese Hippocrates. Zhang Zhongjing established medication principles and summed up the medicinal experience up until that time, thus making a great contribution to the development of traditional Chinese Medicine.

Shang Han Za Bing Lun

He is best known for his book “Shang Han Za Bing Lun”. Not only did it contain over 100 effective formulas (many of them still used today), but the text implied a theoretical framework that led to hundreds of books analyzing, explaining, and reforming it. Today, the book is recognized as the originator of Chinese medical prescription books, as well as the most influential clinical classic.

 

Another section of “Shang Han Za Bing Lun” is best known for some of the formulas, such as the gynecological remedy Tang-kuei and Peony Formula [Danggui Shaoyao San] which is today applied to infertility, disorders during pregnancy, prevention of miscarriage, and post-partum weakness.

 His Life and Learning

During Zhang Zhongjing time warlords were fighting for their own territories, and many people were infected with fevers that often led to death. Very saddened by this Zhongjing decided to research and learn from earlier medical literature such as “Huangdi Neijing” and find a solution to the problem. After several decades Zhongjing finished his work “Shang Han Za Bing Lun” which became a corner stone in Chinese medicine history.
Zhang Zhongjing’s work spread to many Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Mongolia