Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica)
The Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) is a monumental pharmacological work compiled over 27 years by the Ming Dynasty physician and naturalist Li Shizhen, completed in 1578. Comprising 52 volumes, it documents 1,892 medicinal substances (including 374 newly added), provides 11,096 ancillary formulas, and contains 1,160 illustrations. This work systematically summarizes Chinese pharmacological knowledge prior to the 16th century while also encompassing fields such as botany, zoology, mineralogy, chemistry, and astronomy. It is not only a landmark in the history of Chinese medicine but is also celebrated as an "encyclopedia of ancient China," exerting a profound influence on the global history of natural sciences.
Content Structure & Scientific Classification
1. A Systematic "From Minute to Vast, From Common to Precious" Categorization: Abandoning the traditional three-grade (Superior, Medium, Inferior) classification, it pioneered a revolutionary system organizing substances into 16 natural categories (e.g., Waters, Fires, Soils, Metals & Minerals, Herbs, Grains, Vegetables, Fruits, Woods, Utensils & Clothing, Insects, Scaled Creatures, Shelled Creatures, Birds, Beasts, Humans). This structure reflects advanced evolutionary thinking and scientific classification.
2. Clear Hierarchical Framework: It employs a rigorous "group by category, list under headings" format. Each main category serves as a "Gang" (纲, guiding principle), with subcategories as "Mu" (目, specific headings). Each individual entry is then detailed under eight standardized sections: "Explanation of Names," "Collected Explanations" (habitat & morphology), "Correction of Errors," "Preparation Methods," "Properties & Flavors," "Indications," "Expounding" (pharmacological insights or new theories), and "Ancillary Formulas."
Core Academic Contributions & Features
1. Synthesis of Preceding Pharmacological Knowledge: It systematically references and critiques over 800 historical medical texts and documents for each entry, striving for accuracy and verifying facts, granting it immense philological value.
2. Emphasis on Practical Investigation & Fieldwork: Li Shizhen traveled extensively to collect specimens, identify materials, and consult with farmers, fishermen, and woodcutters, ensuring the authenticity and scientific reliability of his records.
3. Correction of Errors & Establishment of New Theories: The dedicated "Correction of Errors" section rectifies numerous mistaken records from earlier texts regarding names, origins, properties, and effects of substances.
4. Integration of Multidisciplinary Knowledge: Descriptions extend beyond medicinal use to include detailed morphology, habits, and ecological environment, preserving a vast repository of ancient natural science data.
First published in 1593 (Jinling edition), the Bencao Gangmu quickly spread to Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and beyond. It was later partially translated into Latin, French, German, English, Russian, and other languages. Charles Darwin cited it in his work, referring to it as "an ancient Chinese encyclopedia." It remains a cornerstone for TCM clinical practice, education, and research while also providing invaluable data and inspiration for the global development of pharmacology and plant taxonomy. In 2011, the Bencao Gangmu was inscribed, alongside The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, into UNESCO's Memory of the World Register, recognizing it as a shared cultural heritage of humanity.
