Introduction

Han Dynasty

Period of Discontinuity

Song Dynasty

Jin Dynasty

Han Dynasty

(206 B.C.E. - 220 C.E.)

A painting of Chinese medicine during what could have been the Han Dynasty.

Yì Xù

Yì Xù was born in the Shan Xì province. She worked at the Imperial Court, treating the Empress-Mother. Although very little is known about her life, sources argued that she was both an acupunturist and an expert at decoctions. In addition to her described medical skills, she was noted as honest, a physician of elite patients.

Chùn Yù Yàn

In contrast to the honest Yì Xù, Chùn Yù Yàn became an infamous medical figure. Yàn was born around the same time as Yì Xù, but Yàn focused on midwifery and oncology. Like Yì Xù, she treated important people but in the Royal Palace. Her story was cemented in history after she killed the Empress using a poisonous plant. Still, life records beyond her prosecution and her initial contributions to medicine do not exist.

These two most notable doctors of the Han Dynasty treated some of the most prominent women of that time. Their patients' royal lineage played a major role in their success as doctors. Royal women objected to being seen by male physicians, so women like Yì Xù stepped in to provide care. This pattern was not isolated to the royal family. It permeated throughout common people, becoming the standard medical practice.

Period of Discontinuity

(220 C.E. - 589 C.E.)

A map of the Western Jin Dynasty. The landscape of China during the time Wèì Huà Cùn was treating patients.

Wèì Huà Cùn

Rough records place Wèì Huà Cùn's lifespan somewhere between 252-334 CE. Like the physicians in the Han Dynasty, her recognition in the future was, in large part, due to her treatment of elite patients like emperors.

More of her history is known, citing that her father was a court official by the name of Wei Shu. As a court official, he was able to provide her with quality education. Her social status was also coupled with admirable financial status.

Unlike the female physicians that preceded her, some of her written works have survived. Her work, Huàng Tìng Jìng, has survived. This detailed text explains various internal organs and relates medicine to Daoism. Even so, historians posit she might not have been the sole author.

Excerpts of her work include descriptions of the cardiovascular system in extreme detail. Translators of this text note its poetic style in introducing the heart as an organ and contributor of health.

Song Dynasty

(960 B.C.E. - 1279 C.E.)

A forensic drawing that was used for medical treatment and understanding. Dated during the Song Dynasty.

During this dynasty, three separate female physicians contributed to the Chinese medical field. Zhàng Xiao Niang Zi, Feng Shi, and Li Xue were all mentioned in literary sources which proved their importance.

These women were noted because of their treatment, once again, in the imperial household. They all treated Empress-Mother in their respective lifetimes. Zi specifically was called upon to treat the Empress-Mother for what is now known as dermatology. Shi and Xue both practiced with the use of decoctions.

This dynasty is characterized by limited knowledge of women physicians in general. These three physicians' histories were arguably only preserved because of their treatment of the royal family.

Jin Dynasty

(1115 - 1234)

Bào Gu

Bào Gu existed as the most famous doctor during this dynasty. One of her most famous accomplishments was described as being "the first physician to use moxibustion." In addition to her novel techniques, her patients described her as an almost supernatural physician.

Patients and historians alike recount her role as a fairy-doctor because of her abilities to heal. Unfortunately, this description has brought with it some downsides. Becasue of this description in different sources, her contributions to medicine are more hazy. Documents that describe her skills are read critically to decipher between realistic contributions compared to fictional stories of her.

Some stories tell of her magical powers. Like many of the historical women physicians, her history was not written down or preserved. Scholars pose that her written works might have found their way into her husband's works. Her husband, Gè Hong, was also an acclaimed physician.

An excerpt from Gè Hong, the husband of Bào Gu. It is arguable that Bào Gu is responsible in some part of the medical writing in Gè Hong's written texts.

Hù Yin

Hù Yin was inspired by the work and approach of Bào Gù. Yin became the first woman to attend the Royal School of Medicine. This school was highly competitive and only permitted four students to attend each year.

She is credited with creating a clear separation between medicine and religion or philosophy. Physicians, men and women alike, practiced medicine with various philosophies in mind such as Daoism or Confucianism. On the contrary, Yin emphasized science at the forefront of medical treatment. In her treatise, Hùang Tìng Vèi Jing Wuzang Lin Fu Bu Xiè Tù, she removed the connection of medicine to philosophy.

Her treatise was written in a poetic style which follows the pattern set by Wèì Huà Cùn. This work is laden with biological descriptions and discusses preventative measures for different ailments, proving Yin's immense knowledge. Not only did her writings add significantly to medical knowledge, she introduced a new perspective on medicine: one far more concerned with science rather than philosophy.

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