YELLOW EMPEROR'S CANON OF INTERNAL MEDICINE (English and Chinese Version) [Paperback]

Wang Bing (Tang Dynasty) (Author), Wu LianSheng and Wu Qi (Translators) (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2002 | ISBN-10: 7504622311 | ISBN-13: 978-7504622310

Compiled roughly two thousand years ago, this great masterpiece forms the theoretical basis of Traditonal Chinese Medicine. As TCM's history developed over the millennia, nearly all significant medical works benefited from the enlightenment of this unparalleled book. Covering not only medicine but also philosophy, sociology, anthropology, military strategy, mathematics, astronomy, meteorology, ecology, The book demonstrates that even in ancient times, people accomplished scientific achievements that are applicable, relevant. and innovative even in modern times.. This book of Wang Bing (Tang Dynasty)'s compilation of the Nei Jing Su Wen Ling Shu includes Wang Bing's preface, the Su Wen (Plain Questions) in 81 chapters, and the Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot) in 81 chapters. Thought its translation is not as great as expected as some readers argued, the work no doubt should be of great use to students and practitioners alike. The juxtaposition of Chinese and English text simplifies the task of readers who wish to verify or compare an English word selection with a Chinese character.

Product Details

• Paperback: 831 pages
• Publisher: China Science and Technology Press (August 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 7504622311
• ISBN-13: 978-7504622310
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,029,227 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Englished Edition of Huang Di Nei Jing, July 25, 2006

By 

Kort Bergman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: YELLOW EMPEROR'S CANON OF INTERNAL MEDICINE (English and Chinese Version) (Paperback)

The book is a very nice looking heafty paperback which provides both the English and Chinese characters for the Ling Shu and Su Wen. Very few translations provide for the work being translated in addition to the translation so this book has great value for that simple fact to the intermediate scholar not fluent with reading Chinese characters. I would like to give my thanks to Mr. Liansheng Wu and his son Mr. Qi Wu for taking on the vastly difficult task of translation. That being said I would now like to point out where there is room for improvement.

The reader fluent in English may be constantly frustrated by the poor grammar and bewildered by the esoteric words chosen for translation such as "dross" chosen to describe the function of the Large Intestine. It looks a lot like someone sitting down with an English dictionary and finding what appear to be equivalent meanings instead of someone truly familiar with the English language and common terminology (I know this issue may never be resolved until standard nomenclature is ratified for TCM. Excuse me if you use the word "dross" often then this book is for you). The author's make use of brackets [albeit not the typical square bracket] far less liberally than Unschuld to denote the addition of information not originally found in the translated text which I like because it allows you to make your own inferences. However, the information within the brackets, which is occasionally needed to illucidate passages, serve only to give pinyinized Chinese terms which must then have their meanings looked up elsewhere and rarely add to the understanding of the passage translated. Finally, there are numerous misspellings, combined with odd word choices, and bizarre grammar making the reader work far harder to understand the translation than is necessary. I only recommend this book if it is your intent to learn the Chinese better and want to go to the effort of translating the text yourself with some guidance. That said, I have found useful passages even within this poor translation which provide deep reflection on the origin of this profound medicine.