Customer Reviews

Nan-ching--The Classic of Difficult Issues (Comparative Studies of Health Systems and Medical Care)

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The Nan Jing is a fundamental book in the study of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
A lot of books of TSM were translated, but often the translation is not correct or definitively wrong or bizarre.
In this case we have a monumental work with a unique coincidence of positive situations.
The author of the revision is Paul Unshuld, a giant of the study of TCM.
Absolutely no doubt on the knowledge of the language and the understanding of the text.
The original text is present in the book and Paul added the main commentary at the text written by the most famous studious of TCM of all ages.
If you love TCM and you want to understand all subtle questions of this fine art, this is a book you must have.
A concentrate of Chinese TCM, language and culture like no other book.

This book is the most profound, deep work that has ever been done on this book. As practitioners of Chinese medicine we allways read and give attention to the two books of the Huang Ti Nei Ching,the Su Wen and the Ling Shu. The nan Ching is a must for every Chinese Medicine practitioner. This book gives many aspects that made me think again on theories and practical aspects that I use every day as teacher and practitioner.
It is pointless to mention the vast knowledge and contribution that Pro. Unsculd bring to the field, saying that it is allways has been great to read his books.

what i like about this particular version is:
1) it includes the original chinese text
2) the commentaries are a compilation of different authors' explanations
3) and it includes a critics point of view as well.
the author stands in a neutral ground which allows one to make up his/her own mind.

As I cannot read chinese, let alone classical chinese, I can't state, directly, that this is a good translation. But, probably neither can you, an Amazon customer seeking info on this book.
Indirectly, though, this translation has what you expect on such a kind of work, be it on NanChing or a book of the Bible: available historical context, information on the framework of translation, how the book was read and understood by different people plus translator's notes.
This book is a must for those interested in Oriental Medicine and it's classics.

Unschuld is a scholar, a genuine translator that doesn't leave much to the imagination. His understanding of the cultural contexts (as there are many) in which TCM grew are un-matched in terms of written text. Get his books, if not for the honest look he takes at TCM, but for the fact that his works are the bread and butter of TCM. The gross ignorance of the classics among so called "Doctors of TCM" in the western world is amazing. Don't guess about TCM, either learn to read Chinese or get good translations of the classics. Not pocket translations at a American grade five reading level. If we expect people to view us as Doctors, we should study like one.

If your professors don't quote the classics, they don't understand TCM. If you haven't read them you're really limiting your potential.

book came in excellent condition, on time, as expected.