Li Shizhen
| Li Shizhen | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Herbologist and Acupuncturist | |
| Born | 1518 |
| Died | 1593 (aged 74–75) |
| Names | |
| Traditional Chinese | 李時珍 |
| Simplified Chinese | 李时珍 |
| Pinyin | Lǐ Shízhēn |
| Wade–Giles | Li3 Shih2-chen1 |
Li Shizhen (Li Shih-chen; Chinese: 李時珍; pinyin: Lǐ Shízhēn; Wade–Giles: Li3 Shih2-chen1, July 3, 1518 – 1593), courtesy name Dongbi (Tung-pi; 東璧), was a Han Chinese polymath, medical doctor, scientist, pharmacologist, herbalist and acupuncturist of the Ming dynasty. His major contribution to clinical medicine was his 27-year work, which is found in his scientific book Compendium of Materia Medica. He is also considered to be the greatest scientific naturalist of China, and developed many innovative methods for the proper classification of herb components and medications to be used for treating diseases.
The Compendium is a medical text with 1,892 entries, with details about more than 1,800 drugs (Chinese Medicine), including 1,100 illustrations and 11,000 prescriptions. It also described the type, form, flavor, nature and application in disease treatments of 1,094 herbs. The book has been translated into many different languages, and remains as the premier reference work for herbal medicine. The treatise included various related subjects such as botany, zoology, mineralogy, and metallurgy. The book was reprinted frequently and five of the original editions still exist.
In addition to Compendium of Materia Medica, Li wrote eleven other books, including Binhu Maixue (Pin-hu Mai-hsueh; Chinese: 《瀕湖脈學》; "A Study of the Pulse") and Qijing Bamai Kao (Chi-ching Pa-mai Kao; Chinese: 《奇經八脈考》; "An Examination of the Eight Extra Meridians"). He lived during the Ming Dynasty and was influenced by the Neo-Confucian beliefs of the time. He was born in what is today Qizhou,Qichun County, Hubei in July 3, 1518 AD and died 75 years later, in 1593.
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