(circa 150 – 219 AD)

Asian contemporary of Galen of Pergamon, Zhang Zhongjing was a versatile physician, surgeon, pathologist, pharmacologist and nutritionist who ranks among the greatest clinicians. Despite his burdensome chores, he was able to research and publish extensively. Although most of his publications are extinct, few translations and adaptations remain extant. His expertise spanned the entire field of medicine: as it existed in his lifetime. And, his efforts gave Traditional Chinese Medicine the pharmaceutical foundation upon which Li Shizhen was able to build (several centuries later). In addition to regular services, he would journey to battlefields (during conflicts) in order to care for wounded warriors. He also devoted his spare-time to educating up-and-coming medics on both pathogeneses and pharmacognosy. It was during one such devotion that he became the first person known to have accurately explained typhoid fever. (That was more than 1300 years before Gerolamo Cardano became the first European to understand it). Equally impressive is the legacy Zhang Zhongjing left his successors. Top among these is Shanghan Zabing Lun: a magisterial encyclopedia which focused on infectious diseases, epidemics and pandemics. Emphasizing diagnoses, remedies and healing is his Jīnguì Yàolüè. These texts were so indispensable to clinicians that ancient Japanese and Korean healers had them translated to their respective vernaculars. Even in today’s China, Japan and Korea, adherents of Oriental Medicine still appreciate these millennium-old treasures which they inherited from Zhang Zhongjing. A long list of memorials, including Traditional Chinese Medical Institute and a medical museum, are named in his memory.

 

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