Yi Jing Hui Yuan written by Wu Jiayan: its academic features and influence on the following generations

Abstract

This paper focused on the Yi Jing Hui Yuan, written by Wu Jiayan, analysed the academic features of the book , and explored its influence on the following generations drawing on the reference of the work by Gong Tingxian. It was found that this book has many remarkable characteristics. It was rooted in Su Wen and Nan Jing academically, synthesizing theories from various medical schools. The book highlighted fitness regime, temperance and spiritual cultivation because it was deeply influenced by Taoism which was the religious belief of Wu Jiayan in his later years. The book attached equal importance to both acupuncture and herbal medicine because Wu Jiayan was deeply influence by the acupuncture theories of Dou Hanqing. The book had some creative formulae for fitness regime because Wu Jiayan was good at tonification and involved heart, spleen and kidney into consideration in his clinical experiences, for instance, taking full use of ginseng. This book and its author Wu Jiayan guided another famous clinician Gong Tingxian in his spleen-stomach theory and the application of ginseng and calomel. The academic and clinical value of this book made it widely included in books after that and had a significant impact on the following generations, while the full edition of this book has not been found up to now in China.This paper focused on the Yi Jing Hui Yuan, written by Wu Jiayan, analysed the academic features of the book , and explored its influence on the following generations drawing on the reference of the work by Gong Tingxian. It was found that this book has many remarkable characteristics. It was rooted in Su Wen and Nan Jing academically, synthesizing theories from various medical schools. The book highlighted fitness regime, temperance and spiritual cultivation because it was deeply influenced by Taoism which was the religious belief of Wu Jiayan in his later years. The book attached equal importance to both acupuncture and herbal medicine because Wu Jiayan was deeply influence by the acupuncture theories of Dou Hanqing. The book had some creative formulae for fitness regime because Wu Jiayan was good at tonification and involved heart, spleen and kidney into consideration in his clinical experiences, for instance, taking full use of ginseng. This book and its author Wu Jiayan guided another famous clinician Gong Tingxian in his spleen-stomach theory and the application of ginseng and calomel. The academic and clinical value of this book made it widely included in books after that and had a significant impact on the following generations, while the full edition of this book has not been found up to now in China.