Forgotten Traditions of Ancient Chinese Medicine: A Chinese View from the Eighteenth Century (Paperback)

by Paul U. Unschuld (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

Review
".Unschuld's is a very useful work and much-welcomed effort. It should be included in any library interested in Chinese history or Chinese medicine." -- The Journal of Asian Studies

"Clearly we have come a long way from the muddled and mystical translations of medical works that appeared when Chinese medicine was just beginning to revive in the United States and Europe." -- China Review International

"It is a scholarly undertaking well worth the reading time to gleam gems of holistic healing philosophy still applicable today. Definitely for the serious student of Chinese medicine." -- The American Herb Association

"Reading the text we have the privilege of learning from a superb physician sharing the experiences of a lifetime's work. These insights are supported by Unschuld's careful annotation and translation. Highly recommended to anyone interested in Oriental medicine." -- TAS Journal

"This is a timeless text by a physician-scholar and medical writer which carries such inherent universality in its thought that the reader may easily feel like the author's contemporary colleague. Will serve as a frequent reference source and provide excellent teaching material in the field." -- The AAMA Review

"Those interested in the history of Chinese medicine and science will certainly want to read this (and any) work by Paul U. Unschuld." -- Foster's Botanical and Herb Reviews

Product Description
Here is a text for scholars, for students of Chinese language and culture, and for those clinicians (particularly herbalists) who recognize a relationship between their clinical skill and their understanding of Chinese thought. The author, Hsu Ta-Chun, wrote in the 18th century immediately prior to the introduction of Western science and medicine to China. He achieved recognition and influenced the history of medicine because the medicine he championed was pristine in logic and method. In any period, or any culture, Hsu would have been a remarkable thinker. A literate, broadly skilled scholar, he practiced medicine as an expression of personal and social responsibility. Even with his articulate and profound attachment to classical ideas, he was able to recognize progress in medicine, while retaining an ability to critically examine popular ideas and modern physicians. He could both recognize others for their accomplishments, and scathe with uncompromising prose those whom he felt corrupted the art of medicine. He was a conservative who understood the practical necessities of patient care.

In his extensive prologue Unschuld includes a detailed analysis of Hsu's work. We learn that Chinese medicine does differ from Western medicine, offering a holistic view of disease and the human who suffers. However, we also learn that Hsu and his European contemporaries would not have regarded one another as strangers. Hsu's 100 essays are broad and fascinating. The scope of these essays gives us a view of Chinese medicine that is whole and inclusive. His discussions of illness, pathoconditions, formulas, and substances are often more lucid than the explanations offered by modern texts. Some are of particular interest to historians, philologists, and philosophers; others are of direct interest to clinicians. By speaking his opinions clearly and reporting on an art with which he was deeply intimate, Hsu has bequeathed us a richly detailed vision of Chinese medicine at its height. The essays read well and demonstrate that rigorous scholarship can draw back the curtains of time, language, and preconceived notion to reveal the mind and thought of an exceptional individual. By carefully selecting terms that are suitable for the variety of circumstances in which a Chinese character is used, Unschuld helps us to refine our understanding of important Chinese concepts.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 403 pages
• Publisher: Paradigm Publications (MA) (November 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0912111569
• ISBN-13: 978-0912111568
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,519,764 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Forgotten Traditions of Ancient Chinese Medicine, February 4, 2001

By A Customer

This book is a translation of a text from 1757 by Hsu Ta-ch'un, translated by Paul U. Unschuld.

This book will be of particular interest to those who have a background in traditional Chinese medicine and are knowledgeable with TCM terminology. It is not a book recommended for beginners wishing to study TCM.

The book is fascinating, delving deeper into the mysteries of TCM classifications and diagnosis and will be difficult for anyone trained in TCM to put down.

The chapters are short, to the point and full of ancient wisdom. One chapter I enjoyed deals with asking the patient for his/her preferences and aversions, what gives them joy or misery, etc. This will further enable the trained practitioner to diagnose the nature of the patient's illness. Fascinating reading.

This is not an herbal material medica and if anyone is looking for such a book I would not suggest this. It's more for diagnosis and understanding the nature of illnesses rather than specific herbs and formulas.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great translation of a great book, March 12, 2006

By	ChMedDoc (East) - See all my reviews

Unschuld has created a wonderful translation of a great classic. This text presents the often cutting style of the physician Hsu Ta-ch'un. This is not a clinical manual in the sense that there are no point prescriptions or formulas. For those who understand the theories behind such "prescriptions," the concepts will be enlightening. For scholars of the medicine, the criticisms of the "four schools" and the appearance of the original Chinese text will be valuable. The often critical style of Hsu Ta-ch'un is still highly relevant today, as he spends a good amount of time criticising "lesser" physicians.

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable TCM Commentary by an 18th Century Physician-Scholar, May 21, 2009

By	Zoopeda (Dalian, P.R. China) - See all my reviews

I am currently in my 2nd year of a classical Chinese medicine program and just came across this translation. First, I should say that Xu Ling Tai's calls for physicians to return to the classics (Nei Jing, Shang Han Lun, Nan Jing, Huai Nan Zi)--not for philosophical purposes but, in fact, to increase the efficacy of Chinese medicine--echos those of my most revered and respectable teachers. Xu's insights reveal extensive medical knowledge and clinical wisdom, as well poignant social commentary of the time. Xu is highly educated and extremely opinionated, which makes for an interesting read. This translation is surprisingly easy to read--written in a colloquial style and translated by a master of Chinese medical language. I appreciate the publisher's decision to include both the Chinese and English texts for comparison's sake. My only disappointment on this front has been the use of Wade-Giles instead of the standard Pin Yin transliteration. Otherwise, if you're looking for a collection of 100 concise essays by an 18th century physician-scholar, covering anything from 'how to counsel your patient's family,' 'what to do about the price of ginseng,' and 'why smaller formulas and ancient prescriptions elicit better clinical results,' you really ought to check this one out!