The History and Compilation of Zhang Zhongjing’s Wu Zang Lun

People who have studied acupuncture and Chinese medicine recognize Zhang Zhongjing as the author of two seminal texts that are among the most influential in Chinese medical history: the Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders (Shāng Hán Lùn, 伤寒论) and Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet (Jīn Guì Yào Lüè, 金匮要略). However, what is less well-known is that Zhang Zhongjing authored several other texts, all of which were lost over time, with the sole exception of the Five Viscera Theory (Wǔ Záng Lùn, 五藏论). This was discovered in 1900 in a hidden library of China’s Mogao Caves of Dunhuang by a Taoist priest named Wang Yuanlu.

The History and Compilation of Zhang Zhongjing’s Wu Zang Lun stands as the first comprehensive work in English detailing the history and compilation of Zhongjing’s Five Viscera Theory (Wǔ Záng Lùn, 五藏论). It uses storytelling to illuminate the historical context of the eight versions of this book that were discovered: five versions found in Dunhuang and three versions from Zhejiang China, Korea, and Japan respectively. By exploring the origin and development of these versions, this book not only delves into Traditional Chinese Medicine but also intertwines fascinating elements of humanities, history, and geography. The reader is offered insight into the Dunhuang manuscripts’ background and the significance of Zhongjing’s contributions to medical literature.

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