Nan-Ching: The Classic of Difficult Issues

The Nan-ching is an ancient Chinese medical classic that has been completely translated into English for the first time. It covers all aspects of theoretical and practical health care within the doctrines of the Five Phases and yinyang, and its innovative discussion of pulse diagnosis and needle treatment is particularly noteworthy. The book also includes selected commentaries by twenty Chinese and Japanese authors from the past seventeen centuries, providing insights into the processes of reception and transmission of ancient Chinese concepts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 770 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

The study of traditional Chinese medicine has garnered unprecedented attention in recent years, yet Western knowledge of it has been limited due to the lack of a comprehensive translation of a Chinese classical medical text. The present book offers a groundbreaking solution to this issue by presenting, for the first time in any Western language, a complete translation of an ancient Chinese medical classic, the Nan-ching. This remarkable translation adheres to rigorous sinological standards and employs philological and historiographic methods.

The original text of the Nan-ching was compiled during the first century A.D. by an unknown author, and since then, it has sparked a continuous flow of commentaries. Following the Sung era, it was mistakenly regarded as merely an explanatory sequel to the classic of the Yellow Emperor, the Huang-ti nei-ching. However, this volume convincingly demonstrates that the Nan-ching should be reevaluated as a significant and innovative text in its own right. It marked the pinnacle and the conclusion of the initial development phase of a conceptual system of health care based on the doctrines of the Five Phases and yinyang. As the classic of the medicine of systematic correspondence, the Nan-ching comprehensively covers all aspects of theoretical and practical health care within these doctrines in an exceptionally systematic manner.

One of the most noteworthy aspects of the Nan-ching is its innovative discussion of pulse diagnosis and needle treatment. This text stands as a pioneering work in the field of medical diagnostics and therapeutic techniques, providing valuable insights into the methods used by ancient Chinese physicians to assess and treat health conditions.

To enhance the reader's understanding of the Nan-ching, Unschuld has included selected commentaries by twenty Chinese and Japanese authors from the past seventeen centuries. These commentaries offer valuable insights into the processes of reception and transmission of ancient Chinese concepts from the Han era to the present time, shedding light on the issue of progress.

In conclusion, the present book represents a significant milestone in the study of traditional Chinese medicine. By presenting a complete translation of an ancient Chinese medical classic, it provides Western readers with a deeper appreciation of the rich heritage and wisdom of Chinese medicine. The meticulous translation, combined with insightful commentaries, offers a comprehensive and invaluable resource for scholars, researchers, and practitioners of Chinese medicine.

Weight: 1270g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 46 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520363625