Common Classical Chinese Medical Texts

Chinese Medicine is a rich and ancient system of health. While many classic Chinese medical texts remain untranslated, several have been translated into English, often with multiple English titles. Below is a list of some of the most common and important texts in Chinese Medicine. This list is not exhaustive, and I still have much to learn in this vast field. Many scholars have dedicated their entire lives to studying just one of these texts.

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Huáng Dì Nèi Jīng - The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon of Medicine

Written during the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD), the Huáng Dì Nèi Jīng forms the foundation of Chinese Medicine. It is also an important Taoist text. Revered by doctors, practitioners, and scholars, it is often memorized and studied extensively. The text is divided into two volumes: the Sù Wèn (Simple Questions) and the Líng Shū (Spiritual Pivot), each with 81 chapters written in a question-and-answer format. This seminal work likely evolved from a much older oral tradition, authored by multiple contributors over time.

• Sù Wèn - Simple Questions

Also translated as Essential or Plain Questions, the Sù Wèn covers the core principles, theoretical foundation, and its diagnostic methods of Chinese medical theory, making it one of the most important texts in understanding the foundation of Chinese medicine.

• Líng Shū - Spiritual Pivot

Sometimes referred to as the Miraculous Pivot, the Líng Shū is also known as the Acupuncture Classic* It focuses primarily on acupuncture points and the theory of meridians and channels in the body.

Nàn Jīng - The Classic of Difficult Issues

The authorship and exact date of the Nàn Jīng remain unclear, though it was likely written during the Han Dynasty. The text clarifies many difficult concepts from the Huáng Dì Nèi Jīng but often diverges in its interpretation, sometimes offering contradictory explanations. Despite this, the Nàn Jīng is still considered a valuable clinical resource.

Shén Nóng Bĕn Căo Jīng - Divine Husbandman’s Classic of Materia Medica

Written in the early Han Dynasty, this text is the first major compilation of medicinal herbs and is attributed to the mythical figure Shén Nóng. It classifies herbs into three categories:

• Superior: Herbs that nourish life and promote longevity.

• Middle: Herbs that prevent illness and restore health.

• Lower: Herbs that treat specific illnesses and eliminate harmful influences from the body.

This classification system laid the groundwork for herbal medicine in Chinese Medicine.

Shāng Hán Lùn - Treatise on Cold-Induced and Miscellaneous Diseases

Attributed to Zhāng Jī (Style name: Zhāng Zhòng-jǐng), this text was thought scattered and later reassembled and divided it into two volumes: Treatise on Cold Damage and Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet. These foundational texts are pivotal in the understanding of herbal medicine and disease progression within the body and are considered one of the oldest complete clinical texts in the world. The Shāng Hán Lùn organizes diseases according to the six stages of Yin and Yang, forming the basis of the Six Channel Theory, and remains essential in modern clinical practice. The Shanghan Lun consists of 398 sections and 113 herbal prescriptions. Each division guides treatment strategies using specific herbal formulas. This text remains foundational in understanding disease stages and applying appropriate therapies in Chinese medicine.

Zhēn Jiŭ Jiă Yĭ Jīng - The Systematized Canon of Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Written by Huáng-Fǔ Mì (215–286 A.D.), this compilation of acupuncture texts introduced the Spiritual Pivot as the Acupuncture Classic. It has significantly influenced acupuncture practice, particularly in Japan, where it is still widely used.

Zhū Bìng Yuán Hòu Lùn - General Treatise on the Etiology and Symptomatology of Disease

Written by Chao Yuan-fang in 610 AD during the Sui Dynasty, this text was the first to systematically classify diseases in Chinese medicine. It consists of 1,720 articles across 50 volumes, detailing the pathology of various diseases, including the world’s earliest descriptions of leprosy and methods such as suturing and tourniquets.

Qiān Jīn Yào Fāng - Essential Formulas Worth A Thousand Ducats

Written by Sūn Sī-miǎo (581–682 A.D.), this text is an encyclopedia of Chinese Medicine, summarizing medical knowledge before the Tang Dynasty. It includes the first public publication of Zhāng Zhòng-jǐng’s Treatise on Cold-Induced Diseases and provides treatments for a variety of ailments, including goiter and diabetes. Sūn Sī-miǎo is revered for his understanding of nutrition and life cultivation practices. He also identified the 13 "ghost points," which are used to treat psychological disorders.

• Qiān Jīn Yì Fāng - Supplement to Formulas Worth A Thousand Ducats

This text is a follow-up to Qiān Jīn Yào Fāng, offering further insights and practical formulas.

Lèi Jīng - The Classic of Categories

Written by Zhāng Jiè-bīn (1563–1640), this work reorganized the Inner Canon into specific categories, making it more accessible for scholars and practitioners.

Pí Wèi Lùn - Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach

Written by Lǐ Dōng-yuán (1180–1251 A.D.), this text establishes the importance of the Spleen and Stomach in Chinese medicine, offering a systematic approach to understanding disease through their functions.

Bĕn Căo Gāng Mù - The Grand Materia Medica

Compiled by Lǐ Shí-zhēn (1518–1593 A.D.), this comprehensive text on herbal medicine lists 1,892 medicinals and is considered one of the most influential works in Chinese Medicine. It has been translated into various languages and had a profound impact on both Eastern and Western herbal studies.

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This guide offers a glimpse into the most influential classical texts of Chinese Medicine, each contributing foundational knowledge that continues to shape the practice today.

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