"Said Wen Jie Zi · Department Of The Ministry Of Grass" In The Study Of Famous Names

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to systematically and comprehensively review and analyze from multiple perspectives the words related to materia medica in Shuo Wen Jie Zi-Cao Bu,according to the three-level classification(i.e.best,better and inferior)provided by the Shen Nong's Classic of the Materia Medica(Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing),the classification based on natural attributes provided by the Grand Compendium of Materia Medica(Ben Cao Gang Mu),and classification based on functions provided be the Clinical Pharmacy.By exploring the relationship between the names and the corresponding materia medica and analyzing the inconclusive materia medica from the perspective of Chinese medicine,this study aims to exam and identify the words that people are easily feel confused,find out the close relationship,and understand the development of the application of names of materia medica in ancient and modern society.By doing this,this study may reduce the language barriers of reading Chinese ancient books,improve the understanding and use of ancient medical books,and provide a useful reference for the clinical application of the herbal medicine.Methods1.The bibliography research method:A literature research was conducted based on "China Grand Compendium of TCM Classics(Zhongguo Zhongyi Guji Zongmu)" for the representative books with significance in their times.The selected works were analyzed.Electronic literature search was conducted in relevant literature databases from their inception to present to collect and analyze related documents.2.Comparative study method:This study mainly selects the two types of literature to support the explanation of words in "Shuo Wen Jie Zi Cao Bu." The first type of literature is the ancient and modern dictionary books,such as "Er Ya" "Shuo Wen" "Guang Yun" "Ji Yun""Kangxi Dictionary" "Wang Li Ancient Chinese Dictionary" and "Modern Chinese Dictionary".The second type is the ancient and modern literature on materia medica,including Shen Nong's Classic of the Materia Medica(Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing),Materia Medica Arranged According to Pattern(Zheng Lei Ben Cao),the Grand Compendium of Materia Medica(Ben Cao Gang Mu),and Chinese Materia Medica(Zhong Hua Ben Cao).3.Textual research method:For those ambiguous characters and confusable group characters in Shuo Wen,explanations were given through exploring the earliest sources,the reasons why the names were given,the relationships between the names and the corresponding materia medica,and synonyms of herbal nouns.4.Statistical methods:Descriptive and correlational analyses were conducted to identify the association between the meanings of the words in "Shuo Wen Jie Zi·Cao Bu" in the perspective of herbal medicine and the materia medica in ancient times(represented by Shen Nong's Classic of the Materia Medica(Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing)and the Grand Compendium of Materia Medica(Ben Cao Gang Mu)and modern times(represented by"Clinical Pharmacy").5.Interdisciplinary research method:Using linguistics and bibliography research methods,we conducted interdisciplinary comprehensive analyses for the interpretation of words in "Shuo Wen Jie Zi·Cao Bu",considering the perspectives of botany and Chinese medicine.The close integration of these methods and the critical interpretation of ancient texts(Xun Gu)also highlight the characteristics of "Chinese medicine".Results1.A total of 80 herbal medicines identified in "Shuo Wen Jie Zi·Cao Bu" are recorded in the Shen Nong's Classic of the Materia Medica(Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing).There are 36,30,and 14 best,better and inferior herbal medicines,accounting for 45.0%(36/80),37.5%(30/80),and 17.5%(14/80),respectively.The best herbal medicines identified in "Shuo Wen Jie Zi·Cao Bu" are not only account the largest percentage of the 80 herbal medicines recorded in Shen Nong's Classic of the Materia Medica(Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing),but also represent 30%(36/120)of all of the best herbal medicine recorded in Shen Nong's Classic of the Materia Medica(Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing).2.A total of 184 words representing 138 herbal medicines identified in "Shuo Wen Jie Zi·Cao Bu" are recorded in the Grand Compendium of Materia Medica(Ben Cao Gang Mu)written by a famous doctor Li Shizhen.Many herbal medicines use different names for the same herbal medicine;several words in "Shuo Wen Jie Zi·Cao Bu" stand for the same herbal medication;however,it is rare to see one word in "Shuo Wen Jie Zi·Cao Bu" stands for multiple herbal medications.There are a total of 1,892 kinds of herbal medications recorded in the Grand Compendium of Materia Medica(Ben Cao Gang Mu),consisting of 16 chapters and 60 categories.Relevant words identified "Shuo Wen Jie Zi·Cao Bu" stand for herbal medicines in five of these chapters,including grass,grain,vegetable,fruit and wood.Of which,the total number of words identified "Shuo Wen Jie Zi·Cao Bu" standing for herbal medicine in the Grand Compendium of Materia Medica(Ben Cao Gang Mu),the total number of words in the department,the percentage of words in the total number of medicines in the department,and the percentage of words in the total number of medicines is 121,92,20.31%,66.67%.Most of the words identified "Shuo Wen Jie Zi·Cao Bu" stand for herbal medications in the chapter of grass,followed by the vegetable and fruit,and then grain and wood.3.A total of 88 words recorded in 101 times were identified in "Shuo Wen Jie Zi·Cao Bu"which stand for 78 herbal medications in the "Clinical Pharmacy".It accounts for 16.28%(78/479)of all herbal medicines in "Clinical Pharmacy".4.Among the words identified in "Shuo Wen Jie Zi·Cao Bu"standing for herbal medicine recorded in Shen Nong 's Classic of the Materia Medica(Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing),the Grand Compendium of Materia Medica(Ben Cao Gang Mu)and Clinical Pharmacy,the majority are those representing herbal medicines in the Grand Compendium of Materia Medica(Ben Cao Gang Mu).Conclusion1.The majority of words identified in "Shuo Wen Jie Zi·Cao Bu" represent herbal medicines in the grass chapter of the Grand Compendium of Materia Medica(Ben Cao Gang Mu),followed by the vegetable chapter.The findings indicate that many herbaceous plants were used as medicine and some vegetable plants were used as both food and medicine at that time.With deeper understanding of the meaning of herbal names and the knowledge of medicinal plants,these plants are gradually listed as herbal medicines and included in the texts of materia medica.2.The number of words identified in "Shuo Wen Jie Zi·Cao Bu" representing herbal medicines recorded in the "Clinical Pharmacy" is not consistent with the actual number and the total number of corresponding herbal medicines.The underlying reason is mainly due to the fact that one word can represent more than one herbal medication,or multiple words represent the same herbal medication.As for the phenomenon of "one word can represent more than one herbal medication",there are three situations:first,the meanings and definitions of some words are broad,and they can refer to more than one herbal medication;second,the word itself can be a generic name for a class of herbal medications;third,one herbal medication has been differentiated into several herbal medications.3.The words in "Shuo Wen Jie Zi·Cao Bu" have not only the meanings and definitions given by the author Xu Shen,but also often have other meanings associated with herbal medicine recorded in ancient dictionaries and texts of materia medica.