Needham Research Institute Series

<p>The history of Chinese medicine hinges on three major turning points: the formation of canonical theory in the Han dynasty; the transformation of medicine via the integration of earlier medical theories and practices in the Song dynasty; and the impact of Western medicine from the nineteenth century onwards. This book offers a comprehensive overview of the crucial second stage in the evolution of Chinese medicine by examining the changes in Chinese medicine during the pivotal era of the Song dynasty. </p><p>Scholars often characterize the Song era as a time of change in every aspect of political, social, intellectual or economic life. More specifically it focuses on three narratives of change:</p><ul> <p> </p> <li>the emperor''s interest in medicine elevated the status of medicine in the eyes of the elite, leading to an increased involvement of intellectuals and the literary elite in medicine</li> <p> </p> <li>government officials systematically revised, printed, and promulgated earlier heterogeneous medical manuscripts belonging to various traditions</li> <p> </p> <li>the government established unique imperially sponsored medical institutions to handle public health and other aspects of medicine.</li> </ul><p>As the first book to study the transformation medicine underwent during the Song period this volume will appeal to Sinologists and scholars of the history of medicine alike.</p>