Shennong ben cao jing
The Shennong Bencaojing ( Chinese 神農 本草 經 / 神农 本草 经 , Pinyin Shénnóng Běncǎojīng , W.-G. Shen 2 -nung 2 Pen 3 -ts'ao 3 Ching 1 - "Medicinal herbs classic according to Shennong") is a Chinese book about agriculture and Medicinal plants. The authorship was ascribed to the mythical Chinese great emperor Shennong , who lived around 2800 BC. Chr. To have lived; it would therefore be the oldest known book on agriculture and medicinal plants. In fact, the work is likely to be a lot younger; most researchers suspect it was written between 300 BC. BC and AD 200. The original book is no longer preserved and is said to have consisted of three volumes that presented various medicinal and medicinal plants .
- The first volume dealt with 120 drugs that are non-toxic and invigorating for humans and that can be taken over a long period of time without causing harm. They are called heavenly (上品 shàng pǐn). For this purpose u. a. the glossy Lackporling , ginseng , jujube , the orange , the cinnamon cassia , the safflower and the liquorice calculated
- Volume 2 was devoted to 120 other drugs that affect body functions and are sometimes toxic. Their toxicity depends on the dosage. They are called human (中 品 zhōng pǐn). These include ginger , peonies , the tiger lily , the potted fern Polypodium amoenum and the snake cucumber .
- Finally, the third volume presented 125 specific medicines that have a violent effect on the body's functions and, because of their toxicity, must not be taken for long periods of time. These substances are called earthly (下品 xià pǐn). These include the rhubarb , various Eisenhut types, and also the seeds of peach .
In his Description de l'Empire de la Chine (Description of the Chinese Empire) published in 1735/36 , the Parisian Jesuit Jean-Baptiste Du Halde published a translation of parts of the introduction to the Shennong bencao jing into French.
When the Russian doctor Emil Bretschneider toured China in the 19th century, he noticed that Shennong's descriptions of plants and their effects were still being followed in daily practice.
literature
- Schneebeli-Graf R (1992): Useful and medicinal plants of China - Botanical reports and pictures from China , Thomae, Frankfurt am Main.
- Du Halde JB (1736): Description geographique, historique etc. de la Chine , Paris
- Li Shizhen (16th century): Běncǎo Gāngmù - "The book of healing herbs"
Individual evidence
- ↑ Joseph Needham . Science and civilization in China . Volume 6, part 1, p. 235: "The old translations in Du Halde (1) vol 3, pp. 444ff, ... are not, as sometimes thought, of the whole of Ben jing ... but of its preface as reproduced by Li Shi Zhen in the Ben Cao Gang Mu ... "
- ↑ You dump. Description geographique, historique, chronologique, politique, et physique de l'Empire de la Chine et de la Tartarie Chinoise. Henri Scheurleer, Vol. 3, The Hague 1736, p. 539 f. (Digitized version)
- ↑ You dump. Detailed description of the Chinese Empire and the great tartarey. Johann Christian Koppe, Volume 3, Rostock 1749, p. 478 f. (Digitized version)