圖經衍義本草

Tú jīng yǎn yì běn cǎo 圖經衍義本草

Illustrated and Extended-Meaning Materia Medica

compiled by 寇宗奭 (Kòu Zōngshì, 1116); revised by 許洪 (Xǔ Hóng, fl. 1208)

The full materia-medica compilation by Kòu Zōngshì 寇宗奭 — the main text of the Běn cǎo yǎn yì 本草衍義 tradition, preserved in 42 juàn in the Daozang. Original compilation 1116; revision by Xǔ Hóng 1208. Preserved in the Zhèngtǒng Dàozàng as DZ 769 / CT 769 (Dòngshén bù, Líng tú lèi 洞神部靈圖類). This is the most comprehensive Sòng-era medical-pharmacological work in the Daoist Canon.

About the work

Significance

Kòu Zōngshì’s Běn cǎo yǎn yì — refining and extending the earlier Jīng shǐ zhèng lèi běi jí běn cǎo 經史證類備急本草 of Táng Shèn wēi 唐慎微 — is one of the most important Northern-Sòng pharmacological works. Its inclusion in the Daoist Canon (as DZ 769 with 42 juàn of comprehensive materia-medica knowledge) reflects the integration of medical-scientific knowledge with Daoist yǎng shēng 養生 practice.

Structure

The 42 juàn are organised systematically:

1. Introduction and general principles (covered in the separate DZ 768 / KR5c0164).
2. Mineral and metallic substances — alchemical materia medica.
3. Plant substances — organised by type (herbs, trees, fruits, vegetables, grains).
4. Animal substances.
5. Human substances (minor traditional category).
6. Miscellaneous and reference material.

Illustrated component

The title Tú jīng 圖經 signals the illustrative-diagrammatic character: the work is accompanied by illustrations of the materia medica substances, aiding identification in field collection and pharmacy compounding. This is the Sòng continuation of the Táng illustrated-pharmacopoeia tradition.

Dating

Original composition 1116 (Kòu Zōngshì); revision 1208 (Xǔ Hóng). Frontmatter gives 1116–1208 as the composition window. Dynasty: 宋.

Translations and research

• Unschuld, Paul U. Medicine in China: A History of Pharmaceutics. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1986. For the Běn cǎo tradition.
• Needham, Joseph. Science and Civilisation in China, vol. 6 (Biology and Biological Technology), parts 1–6. Cambridge University Press, various years. Extensive treatment of Chinese pharmacology.

Links

• Kanseki Repository KR5c0165
• Companion introduction: KR5c0164.
• Author: 寇宗奭.
• ctext.org: 圖經衍義本草