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February 17, 2016 at 7:48 pm #46044Michael WinnKeymaster
12 May, 2014
Ancient bamboo medical books uncovered in China belonged to legendary Bian QueLast year, archaeologists unearthed 920 bamboo strips at a construction site in the south-western city of Chengdu in China, containing recipes for treating ailments that date back 2,000 years. The bamboo strips, which were once widely used as a writing material, were reportedly found along with other relics of the Western Han Dynasty, which came to power in 260 BC. Archaeologists speculated that the traditional Chinese remedies may have been written by the successors of Bian Que, reported to be Chinas earliest known physician. Now further testing has confirmed that the texts were written by Bian Que himself, according to a news report in ecns.cn. Translation work has also revealed the remarkable contents of these ancient medical manuscripts.
Experts say the works are based mainly on studies of determining disease by taking the patient’s pulse. Other practices mentioned include internal medicine, surgery, gynaecology, dermatology, ophthalmology as well as traumatology. In addition, 184 tiles are related to the medical treatment of horses, considered by the experts as one of the most important veterinarian works in ancient China.
The bamboo strips were found, along with many other precious relics, within four Western Han Dynasty (206 BC 24 AD) tombs located in the town of Tianhui. Among the finds were four models of looms, nine medical books, 50 inscribed wooden tablets, 240 lacquer wares, jewellery, and tomb figures. Out of the nine medical books, some have been verified to be the long lost medical treatises written by the physician Bian Que. In addition, archaeologists also uncovered a 14-centimeter long figurine with major acupoints marked out. It is believed to be a key to deciphering the origin of acupuncture treatment.
Figurine with acupoints
The figurine with acupoints marked out. Credit: ecns.cn
According to Chinese legend recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian, Bian Que was gifted with remarkable abilities from a deity. The story states that he was given a packet of medicine which gave him the ability to see through the human body. He thereby became an excellent diagnostician with his x-ray like ability. It is said that he pioneered pulse-taking, used anaesthesia and even performed an organ transplant.
One legend stated that once, while visiting the state of Guo, Bian Que saw people mourning on the streets. Upon inquiring what their grievances were, he got the reply that the heir apparent of the lord had died, and the lord was in mourning. Sensing something afoot, he is said to have gone to the palace to inquire about the circumstances of the death. After hearing of how the prince “died”, he concluded that the prince had not really died, but was rather in a coma-like state. Using his acupuncture, he was said to have brought the prince back to consciousness. Prescribing the prince with medicine, the prince healed within days.
Whether there is factual basis to the legends or not, Bian Que is known to have been a remarkable physician who was centuries ahead of his time. The discovery of his ancient remedies is an incredibly rare and important find.
By April Holloway
Read more: http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/ancient-bamboo-medical-books-china-belonged-legendary-bian-que-076899#ixzz40TYe9L4v
Follow us: @ancientorigins on Twitter | ancientoriginsweb on FacebookFebruary 20, 2016 at 10:24 pm #46045russellnParticipantlet’s hope the important books get translated into English to reveal the underlying medical cosmology and practice. The impression I get is that the important texts forming the basis of the old TCM from 1-3 centuries BCE mostly have not. The book I mentioned on this forum Qi Source of Life by Gregory Williams has some translations from these texts via translations from Japanese! From his website:
Right from the very beginning, technique must be based on spirit (Spiritual Axis 8)
The Book,Qi the Source of Life, is a poetic verse journeying through TCM ideas into the mystical world of Qigong Taiji. Based on the authors own 2000-yr old Chinese medical translations from old Japanese to English, the book connects the two worlds of Chinese medicine with Taiji Qigong meditation. By joining the yinyang & 5 elements through the triple heater system with the 8 extraordinary meridians of Taiji spirit, Qi Medicine & Meditation merge into one, treating self becoming meditation, treating other becoming medicine.
The book is colourfully illustrated, showing concepts and 8 Extraordinary meridians.
February 21, 2016 at 10:01 pm #46047Michael WinnKeymasterRusselln,
You might enjoy the book just translated by Livia Kohn, available as ebook from Three Pines Press.Daoism Excavated: Cosmos and Humanity in Early Manuscripts, by Wang Zhongjiang (2015)
February 22, 2016 at 12:02 am #46049russellnParticipantthanks, will do that.
February 22, 2016 at 1:26 am #46051russellnParticipantcomment: had a look at that. Seems not to add much of anything except scholars getting timelines of these texts sorted, which is good. Nothing like the Original Tao material which was very revealing in terms of actual practice.
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