| Being the main form and method of prevention and treatment in Chinese Medical clinic, formula embodies the essence of syndrome differentiation and treatment. It was invented by doctors through the ages, reflecting their academic thought and characteristics. The formation and evolution of formula is a long historical course, during which its achievements and characteristics evolved.People set great affection on digging, sorting and inventing formula since ancient times, but neglect to review the developmental history of formula and formulas rationally. So it has practical importance to grasp the principles and characteristics of formula, and understand the scientific connotation and mechanism of compound formula, by digging and sorting formula information through the ages, and exploring the developmental level, thread, characteristics, and rule of formulas.In the Ming Dynasty, the political situation was stable, and feudal economy was well-developed. Owing to the fine social environment, such as developed socially productive force, thriving economy, advanced culture and education, medicine made great progress. Meanwhile, medicine was promoted by advanced science and technology, international exchange, and frequent wars in different ways. Medical and pharmacal development in the Song-Jin-Yuan and Ming Dynasties promoted the range and depth of formulas evolution. So this paper studies on the achievements and characteristics of formulas in the Ming Dynasty. And the author hopes that this research can contribute to the basic research and clinic application of modern formulas.This paper expounds the achievements and characteristics of formulas in the Ming Dynasty from 7 main aspects, viz. initial perfection of formulas classification;diversity of formulas nomenclature;new development of formula composition;the development of general formula and new characteristics of formula variation;the creation of new distinctive formulas;the development of pharmaceutics and new characteristics of preparations in the Ming Dynasty;the achievements and characteristics of important remedy books in the Ming Dynasty. Besides, discussions are made on some issues of formulas history, trying to analyze the achievements and characteristics in the Ming Dynasty from internal and external history, together withpersonal opinions on the improvement of studies on history of formula. Initial Perfection of Formulas ClassificationFormulas classifications according to preparation and composition emerged in the Ming Dynasty besides classifications inherited from the previous dynasties. Zhang Jiebin established "eight tactical arrays for new formula", and "eight tactical arrays for old formula", which developed classification according to action. The co-characteristic of these classifications was that begin to study formula from its internal nature. As only one classification couldn't include all the formulas, emerged comprehensive classification which combined classifications according to cause, pattern, position, preparation or action emerged. The pioneering work of this simple comprehensive classification by doctors in the Ming Dynasty provided thought for Wang Ang in the Qing Dynasty.Diversity of Formulas Nomenclature"Everything has a form, as form has a name." The formation of formula brings out nomenclature. Name can not only distinguish formulas, express the inventor's thinking style and emotion, but also reflect connotation of a formula. There were many remedy books and formulas in the Ming Dynasty, so the nomenclature of formula was diverse, and comprehensive nomenclature emerged too. Generally speaking, the nomenclature of a formula was based on its composition, action, preparation, usage, or shape, maybe influenced by religious culture, philosophical thought, allusion or legend.New Development of Formula Composition TheoryThe theory of formula composition developed gradually in the Ming Dynasty with the theoretical development of medicinal composition and channel entry on the basis of classical formula composition theory achieved by the/loctors in the Jin-Yuan Dynasties. The expression of the theoretical development of formula composition had three aspects: firstly, classical principles of "sovereign, minister, assistant, and courier" and medicinal nature were expanded;secondly, the principles of "yin-yang and five phases", and "root and tip" were explored;thirdly, comprehensive principle was used extensively, which was one characteristic of the theoretical development offormula composition.Development of General Formula and Characteristics of VariationThe name "general formula" was recorded in many medical books in the Ming Dynasty. The contents in some books already had characteristic of general formula although not pointing out general formula clearly. All these reflected that the doctors in the Ming Dynasty paid great attention to general formula. Medical books in this period recorded many general formulas, and discussed on the connotation and action of general formula, such as Jian Ming Yi Gou (Concise Medical Problems), Tai Yi Yuan Qi Xiao Liang Fang Da Quan (A Complete Collection of Effective Prescriptions by Imperial Hospital), Ming Yi Za Zhu (Random Records of Doctors in the Ming Dynasty), Yi Xue Zheng Zhuang (Genuine Medical Commentary), and Shenrou Wu Shu (Shenrou s Five Books).Comparing to previous dynasties, the characteristics of general formula in the Ming Dynasty were simple, mild, and easy to vary and use. As to the preparation of general formula, the characteristic in the Ming Dynasty was that the medicinals in the remedy often changed, so pill, powder, drink or decoction were generally used. Old remedies with many medicinals were eliminated except for some supplementing formula. The other characteristic was that denotation of concept was expanded.New characteristics of formula variation emerged in the Ming Dynasty. Many doctors discussed on the theory of formula variation with special chapter, such as Liu Chun, Li Shizhen, and Wang Liangcan. On the other hand, the level of formula variation in the Ming Dynasty surpassed previous dynasties, and the form was diverse, such as varying according to syndrome, cause, channel, four seasons, or six qi.The Invention of New Distinctive Formulas"Formula is invented under the direction of treating method, treating method can govern formula." The clinical departments in the Ming Dynasty developed gradually on the basis of medical achievements in the previous dynasties. The doctors in the Ming Dynasty comprehended diseases more deeply, brought about new treating thought, directing medicinal using and formula composition, so emerged new prescriptions. Some prescriptions were distinctive, such as Zhang Jiebin's regulating and supplementing yin-yang formula, Miu Xiyong's regulating the spleen and stomach formula, Wang Qishi's curing vacuity taxation formula, and Wu Youxing's curing epidemic disease formula.Zhang Jiebin invented fostering yin to nourish yang formula represented by Zuo Gui Yin (Left-Restoring Beverage) and Zuo Gui Wan (Left-Restoring Pill), and banking up yin to foster yang formula represented by You Gui Yin (Right-Restoring Beverage), and You Gui Wan (Right-Restoring Pill) by yin-yang principle of formula composition.Miu Xiyong paid great attention to regulating the spleen and stomach. His regulating the spleen and stomach formula was sweet, moist, clear, and magic, and taking care of both spleen and kidney. He invented Zi Sheng Wan (Life-Promoting Pill), and Pi Shen Shuang Bu Wan (Spleen-Kidney Supplementation Pill). His thought of creating formula exerted an important influence on the development of formula in the Qing Dynasty, and many doctors praised him highly, such as Ye Gui and Wu Cheng.Wang Qishi proposed boosting qi with warmth and sweetness method to cure yang vacuity-taxation, nourishing the heart and spleen, securing the kidney qi with his Yang Xin Gu Ben Wan (Heart-Nourishing and Root-Securing Pill), Huan Yuan Dan (Origin-Returning Elixir), and Gu Ben Shen Qi Wan (Root-Securing Kidney Qi Pill). He cured yin vacuity-taxation by clearing and preserving the lung method with his Qing Jin Gan Jie Tang (Metal-Clearing Licorice and Platycodon Decoction), Second Qing Jin Gan Jie Tang (Second Metal-Clearing Licorice and Platycodon Decoction), Jiao Yuan Qing Jin Tang (Ass Hide Glue and Aster Metal-Clearing Decoction), Jiao Yuan Xi Jiao Tang (Ass Hide Glue, Aster and Rhinoceros Horn Decoction), Jia Wei Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang (Supplemented Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia Decoction), Qing Re Yang Yin Tang (Heat-Clearing Construction-Nourishing Decoction), Bai Bu Qing Jin Tang (Stemona Metal-Clearing Decoction).Wu Youxing was good at curing warm epidemic disease. He created Da Yuan Yin (Membrane-Source-Opening Beverage) to open the membrane source in the early stage. When in exterior-interior passage stage, he created San Xiao Yin (Three Dispersers Beverage). He recommended Qing Zao Yang Ying Tang (Dryness-Clearing Construction-Nourishing Decoction) for the advanced stage, and San Jia San (Triple-Armored Powder) for "Host-Guest Intersection" caused by visiting evil obstructing the blood. His curing epidemic formula aroused the formation of warm disease formula in the Qing Dynasty, such as using pear, lotus root, or sugarcane juice to cure yin damage after epidemic disease set form for Wu Tang's Wu Zhi Yin (Five Juices Beverage) and Xue Li Jiang (Snow Pear Juice). San Jia San (Triple-Armored Powder) provided thought for creating San Jia Fu Mai Tang (Triple-Armored Pulse-Restorative Decoction). Da Yuan Yin (Membrane-Source-Opening Beverage) was developed into many similar formulas.Many other formulas also enriched the content of clinical formulas, such as Chen Shi gong's surgical formula, Sheng Hua Tang (Engendering Transformation Decoction) in gynecology, Wan Quan's pediatric formula, Fu Renyu's ophthalmologic formula, and dietary therapic formula by Gao Lian and Gong Tingxian.Development of Pharmaceutics and Characteristics of PreparationThe development of pharmaceutics tended to perfection. Doctors represented by Li Shizhen and Miu Xiyong discussed on the theory of medicinal processing deeply and established basis for1 the improvement and development of preparation. Cutting decocting pieces were widely used, that made decoction main preparation again. Doctors in the Ming Dynasty paid great attention to decoction and medication, many discussions had practical importance. Li Shizhen and Zhang Jiebin researched on dosage of old formulas from respective knowledge and clinical practice.The formula preparation in the Ming Dynasty developed and improved gradually on the basis of previous dynasties. Ben Cao Gang Mu (Herbal Foundation Compendium) recorded over 30 preparations including almost all the preparations used today except for injection, microcapsula, and dripping pill. Moreover, the processing technique, beautiful outlook developed with standard preparation.The paste for oral use tended to perfect development in the Ming Dynasty. Firstly, the name form as "so-and-so paste" was established. Secondly, the preparation method was fixed, that was multiple decoctions with water, then condensing physic liquor, and adding honey finally. Thirdly, the paste was used widely in clinic with amount increased. Fourthly, the main effect of paste was enriching and supplementing, and emerged the paste prepared according to people or pattern.The application of medicinal wine surpassed other dynasties previously. Firstly, many kinds of medicinal wine were recorded by medical books. Secondly, new prescriptions of medicinal wine presented continuously, being composed of mild and blood-supplementing yin-nourishing medicinals. Thirdly, medicinal wine was used as daily drink not only in the palace but also among the people.The Achievements and Characteristics of Important Remedy BooksThe editing and publication of remedy books was flourishing in the Ming Dynasty. But most of these books only inherited and summarized medical knowledge in the previous dynasties, without development and new ideas through the author's researching. Although, the content in some remedy books not to be ignored contributed to the development and popularity of formulas. The theoretical research of formula developed to a high level and emphasized on regularity, that was indicated by the publication of Pu Ji Fang (Universal Salvation Formulary), Yi Fang Kao (Medical Remedies Researched), Xin Fang Ba Zhen (Eight Tactical Arrays for New Formulas), Gu Fang Ba Zhen (Eight Tactical Arrays for Old Formulas), Xiao Qing Nang (A Concise Collection of Magic Formulas) and Zu Ji (Formulas' Source Traced).Meanwhile, the publication of remedy books on a specific topic broadened the scope of remedy books.The publication of Pu Ji Fang (Universal Salvation Formulary), which was the biggest remedy book in ancient China, indicated that formulas made progress in range in the Ming Dynasty. The research of formulas became an independent field lifting out of affiliation to the diagnose and treatment of diseases, with the publication of Yi Fang Kao (Medical Remedies Researched), Gu Fang Ba Zhen (Eight Tactical Arrays for Old Formulas), Xin Fang Ba Zhen (Eight Tactical Arrays for New Formulas), Xiao Qing Nang (A Concise Collection of Magic Formulas) and Zu Ji (Formulas' Source Traced).In summary, the formulas in the Ming Dynasty surpassed the previous dynasties in range and depth. The main achievements of formulas were initial perfection of formulas classification and composition, continuous invention of new distinctive formulas, steady increment of remedy books. The main characteristics were diversity of formulas nomenclature and variation, emphasizing on the theoretical research, wide application of preparations.Discussion and SummaryThe developmental history of formulas is one important part of specific history in Chinese Medicine, but in a relative weak condition for a long time. So the author studied on the achievements, characteristics and history of formulas in the Ming Dynasty with prof. Zhu Jianping's direction. Discussions are made on some relevant issues of formula history after comprehensively analyzing the reasons which influenced the developmental history of formulas in the Ming Dynasty.Influence of Social and Cultural Environments on the Development of FormulasLike other natural science, the development of formulas was influenced by social and cultural environments inevitably. Brief discussions are made on the influence of political and economic environments, scientific and technical development, philosophic and cultural thought.Influence of Cold Damage School on the Development of FormulasThe research on Shang Han Lun (On Cold Damage) inherited the past and gave enlightenment to the following generation in the Ming Dynasty. Great masters of cold damage school had different opinions and methods on research. Among which, themethod "Systematized Patterns by Formula" had a certain influence on research on Zhang Ji's formula compositing rule and the development of formulas in the Ming Dynasty.The significance of this method is not only on analyzing the formulas in Shang Han Lun (On Cold Damage), but also on the logical connotation of theory, method, formula and medicinal. It can also indicate specific corresponding relation and connection between formula and pattern, and contribute to research on formula classification and theory.On Promoting the Developmental History of FormulasThe object of research on developmental history of formulas includes the formation and evolution, theoretical and prepared development of formula. At present, such kind of specific research seems to be weak, so the author encountered many new problems and difficulties during research and makes discussions on some issues worthy of thinking. The author hopes that scholars can strengthen the research on literature, nominal standardization, and traditional preparations of formula in the future.This paper studied on the achievements, characteristics, and developmental rules of formulas in the Ming Dynasty. Many aspects are not dealt with for limit of knowledge and time, that is to say, the completion of this paper is just a beginning of this research, with a great deal of work to be done in the future. It is the author's wish that deep exploration can be done in this field and this study can contribute to the basic research and clinic application of formulas. |
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