Medicine Historiographic Research On Fragrant Medicines In Ming And Qing Dynasties

The research on "the spices and perfumes" used as medicine make persistent progress on historical research and study on the therapeutic basis of traditional Chinese medicinal and clinical use. But the social sciences took more attention in the Tang and Song Dynasties, which was considered golden age, Chinese made contact closely with the foreign in trade, and lack of attention in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, so the mastery of historical context is incoherency. The healthcare field took more attention in the study of "epidemic prevention with sachet" and "resuscitation-inducing aromatic herbs", as well as the traditional minority medicine.It was the Little Ice Age during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. climate change effected the disease, and the disease effected the medical practitioners. School of epidemic febrile diseases had particularities in using Aromatic Medicine. In the previous herbal literature, the classification of "fragrant grass" and "aromatic wood" was first seen in Compendium of Materia Medica, and effect the classification in the Qing Dynasty herbal books. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, not only went deep into the use of aromatic medicine experience, but also deepened the cognition,of the native plant and the exotic medicine, expanded the use of the spices and perfumes.Based on the herbal literature of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and combined with the medical records and missionary works, the research analyze the characteristics and influence of using "the spices and perfumes" in the background of society economy and culture in Ming and Qing Dynasties. Comprehensive application with the method of history and literature was used to analyze the characteristics of "the spices and perfumes" in Ming and Qing Dynasties.The "preface" introduces the circumstances and the concept of "Aromatic Medicine", and the purpose, significance and research methods of this study.The text divid into five parts, first, the circumstances of "the spices and perfumes" before Ming Dynasties. Second, how "the spices and perfumes" written in the herbal literature. Third, what is the source. And the fourth is how to use it. Fifth, the position in the social. From the logic structure, it means expose the fragrant medicine in "what" "how to use" and "how evolution" deeply.A brief review of the circumstances about "the spices and perfumes" before Ming Dynasty was given in the first part of the paper, summing up the characteristics of Aromatic Medicine. Then, the second section introduce how "the spices and perfumes" written in the herbal literature, and presentation in two parts, one is the herbal literature, another is pedigrees of "the spices and perfumes". The former introduce the "fragrant grass" and "aromatic wood" and "medicine distillate", while the later introduce the incense. The third part is the source of the "the spices and perfumes", and put greater emphasis on native and exotic. The fourth part is the clinical trials of the spices and perfumes. The fifth part analyze the social environment and ideology and culture and the attitude of the rulers would influence the use of the spices and perfumes.The first part of the paper shows the spices and perfumes used as medicine before Ming Dynasty, and summarize the characteristics of using them.The second section introduce how "the spices and perfumes" written in the herbal literature in Ming and Qing dynasties, and presentation in two parts, one is the herbal literature, another is pedigree of "the spices and perfumes". The former introduce the "fragrant grass" and "aromatic wood" and "medicine distillate", while the later introduce the incense. The aromatic medicine was divided into classes: the "fragrant grass", "aromatic wood", "medicine distillate" and flowers and so on. We can find some pedigrees of incense with the relationship of medicine, and pedigree of "the spices and perfumes" in Ming dynasty concluded the prescription of past dynasties while the remarkable characteristics in Qing dynasty was steaming the incense and take the distillate for clinical.The third part is the source of the "the spices and perfumes", and put greater emphasis on native and exotic. The exotic of the "the spices and perfumes " was the same as the previous generation. They were given to emperors as tribute, through purchasing or by other means. The native "spices and perfumes" were moschus, eaglewood, atractylodes, mint and even the camphor and menthol. Under the "ban on foreign trade" policy, the number of the exotic spices was very limited, so the great demand of spices promoted the planting of localization.The fourth part is the clinical trials of the spices and perfumes. It’s the internal history of our research. The spices and perfumes used in medical widely during the Ming and Qing dynasties, used internal or external, burning or incense ashes and so on. In addition, some research in the Ming and qing dynasties shows that it’s a process of deepening cognition of the spices in processing, decoction and medical records of the corrosion of spleen by the aroma.The fifth part analyze the social environment and ideology and culture and the attitude of the rulers would influence the use of the spices and perfumes. From external history, the factors such as social, cultural, political and economic can influenced the use of the spices.Moreover, the paper discuss some problems in the research of "the spices and perfumes" in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, such as use the incense, use "the spices and perfumes" as medicine, and use "the spices and perfumes" as intermediary, and some bad consequences.Now how to inherit and break through the tradition is a problem, as well as how to find the new ideas of traditional Chinese medicine in the predicament of modernity transformation. Since it’s not far from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and we can know more about the history from the "fragrant medicines" which is used in tradition and used as exotic. Also puts forward personal opinions on how to start the modern medicine history.Innovative points of the paper:The historical materials not only based on the "herbal" ancient books, but also extended to books of Japan and South Korea and missionaries, and summed up the characteristics and rules of application of the fragrance medicine, and also give the personal opinion about the future development of the spices.(1) Innovative points of the problem. Previous studies took more attention on Tang and Song Dynasties, and rarely on Ming and Qing Dynasties, so this study tried to fill this gap.(2) Innovative points of the historical materials, methods and vision. The historical materials not only based on the "herbal" ancient books, but also extended to books of Japan and South Korea and missionaries, to show the spices and perfumes used as medicine in Ming and Qing Dynasties. The methodological point of view, previous studies of medicine usually confirm the source of herbal from the literatures and fieldwork, and this paper also used some hermeneutic methods of anthropology.(3) Innovative points of the conclusion. The study summed up the characteristics and rules of application of the spices and perfumes used as medicine. And pointed out that "evil infect the body from the nose and mouth" was a great innovation in the Ming and Qing dynasties.