Life

Very few details have been preserved about the life of Chao Yuanfang. He is referred to in old texts as a medical erudite. Historical records indicate that Chao Yuanfang lived during the final years of the Sui dynasty (581–618 CE) and the early years of the Tang dynasty (618–906 CE). During the Daye reign (605–618 CE) of the Sui dynasty he was appointed as the Academician of the Imperial Medical Academy and later promoted to the post of Court Physician.

Zhubing Yuanhou Lun

Scholarship does not agree on the authorship of the Zhubing yuanhou lun 诸病源候论 (General Treatise on Causes and Manifestations of All Diseases). The Suishu jingji zhi, a bibliography included in the official history of the Sui dynasty and compiled between 641 and 656, identifies Wu Jingxian as the author. In the Jiutangshu jingji zhi, the bibliography of the Old Book of the Tang dynasty compiled during the rule of the Later Jin dynasty 后晋 (936-946), Wu Jing is named the author of the work. The name Chao Yuanfang is first recorded as the author of the work in historical records from the Song dynasty (960–1279). Further reference to Chao Yuanfan's participation in the authoring of the book is found in an edition of the Zhubing yuanhou lun published during the Northern Song dynasty. The preface to that edition states that the work was written during the Daiye period of the Sui dynasty by the imperial physician Chao Yuanfang and others pursuant to an imperial decree. The preface further describes that the authors compiled the work by gathering the most authoritative writings from various schools of thought and studying these thoroughly. The work was then submitted to the throne in 610.

The Zhubing yuanhou lun has been integrally preserved and is divided into 50 chapters (scrolls). It discusses more than 1,700 syndromes, which are classified into 67 symptom categories of internal and external diseases. The final chapters deal with gynaecology, obstetrics and pediatrics. It is the first Chinese text that deals with etiology and symptomatology. It also discusses therapeutic methods. The therapeutic methods proposed are not the traditional medicines or acupuncture of Chinese medicine, but therapies based on such practices as diet and daoyin. Tao yin is sometimes referred to as Taoist yoga and consists of a series of exercises (mainly in lying and sitting positions, but also in standing positions) that are intended to cultivate qi, the internal energy of the body according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. The practice of Tao yin is a precursor of qigong, The Zhubing yuanhou lun prescribes 213 Tao yin exercises for 110 different symptoms. The Zhubing yuanhou lun had an important influence on the development of Chinese medicine. Its influence also extended to Japan where it formed the inspiration for the Ishinpō, the oldest surviving Japanese medical text completed in 984.

Editions

• Chinese-language edition of the Zhubing Yuanhou Lun at archive.org

事迹

大业五年（609年）八月，传闻开河督都护麻叔谋在宁陵县开凿运河，患风逆症，隋炀帝命巢元方前往探视治疗。巢元方诊断后认为是风入腠理，病在胸臆，以羊肉为药食之，药未尽即病愈。

著作

大业六年（610年）主持编撰《诸病源候论》五十卷。该书又名《巢氏病源》，是中医学现存第一部病因学专著，应用导引按摩防治疾病，对67类疾病的病因病机、证候与病情进展进行了详细记载。其中38卷、157候之末附有养生方和导引法，共载有养生方120条、导引法289条。

成就

《诸病源候论》总结了魏晋南北朝以来的医疗经验和成就，突破了前人传统的三因学说，对疾病的分类及治疗独辟蹊径，广泛而比较系统地论述了各种疾病的病源与证候，对每种疾病、证候的发生、发展和演变都做了详尽的阐释，对后世医学的发展产生了深远的影响。

注释