38 Li Shizhen
Li Shizhen |
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Time period: 1518-1593Subject: Medicine, Pharmacology, Biology |
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Biography:Li Shizhen (李时珍）was born in 1518 in what is now Hubei province, China, during the height of the Ming Dynasty. He grew up in a family with a strong medical background. His grandfather was an itinerant doctor, a type of physician who traveled from place to place to offer diagnostic and healing services. His father was also a respected physician and scholar, who attained the rank of a subordinate medical officer of the Imperial Medical Academy. Under the influence of his family, and after multiple failed attempts on the imperial examination (which would have secured him a prestigious bureaucratic post), Li pursued the path of a doctor and practitioner. By the age 27, Li had gained recognition for his medical abilities. He was invited to be an official in the Chu Royal Court, in charge of the rituals and medical affairs. A few years later, he was recommended to the Imperial Medical Institute in Beijing as an assistant president. Li’s national recognition grew with the publication of Bencao Gangmu (Great Compendium of Herbs), a seminal work that solidified his status as one of the most influential figures in traditional Chinese medicine. His contributions are celebrated in numerous scholarly works, books, and even in popular media such as songs and films. Additionally, the Li Shizhen award（李时珍医药创新奖) is presented to doctors and researchers who make valuable contributions to traditional Chinese Medicine. |
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Summary of their contributions:Li Shizhen started the work of Bencao Gangmu (the Great Compendium of Herbs) around the age of 30. He completed the project in 1578 with the assistance of his sons and grandsons, and finally published the first edition in 1596, three years after Li’s death. This monumental monograph was an encyclopedic work in the tradition of materia medica literature, detailing qualities and origin of various substances used in making medical drugs. Specifically, it contains descriptions and illustrations of about 1,094 herbs, 444 animals, 275 mineral substances, and 11,000 prescriptions in which the material is used, including form and dosage of the prescriptions. The work also includes critical commentaries about errors in previous medical text. For example, he mentioned that the alchemical remedies made of heavy metals were quite toxic and did not prolong life, as had been recorded previously. Remarkably, Li also described processes and technologies that seem modern by today’s standards, such as distillation, use of mercury and iodine, and even smallpox inoculation. The time and effort Li has devoted in this work is incredible and admirable. Unlike many ancient medical texts, which were often commissioned and financially supported by emperors, Bencao Gangmu was largely Li’s own endeavor. He spent decades traveling to numerous regions of China collecting and testing herbs and specimens; interviewing hunters and local healers; and reading over hundreds of related medical literature. Only after he had compiled enough information did he start his own groundbreaking work. |
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Integration with the BC Secondary Science Curriculum:The work of Li Shizhen could be integrated in: Science 8
Life Science 11
Anatomy and Physiology 12
Curricular Competencies: Li Shizhen’s dedicated work also demonstrates and models many curricular competencies.
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References:Carla Nappi. (2014, March 3). Biographical sketch of Chinese pharmacologist Li Shizhen | Harvard Magazine. Harvard Magazine. https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2010/01/pharmacologist-li-shizhen-biography Dorr, S. D. (n.d.). Li Shizhen: Scholar Worthy of Emulation. Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, OR. http://www.itmonline.org/arts/lishizhen.htm Science | Building Student Success – B.C. Curriculum. (n.d.). https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/science The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). Li Shizhen | Compendium of Materia Medica, Herbalist, Naturalist. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Li-Shizhen
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