Medical History Of Ethnic Groups In Beijing Area In The Yuan Dynasty

The Capital of the Yuan Dynasty was Dadu(Khanbaliq.now Beijing).This is the first time that Beijins become the center of politics,economy and culture of China.The cultural exchanges and communications between different ethnic groups made Beijing as a central place of multicultural integration and collision in the Yuan DynastyThe object of the study is the situation,communication and development of various medicine from different culture of ethnic groups happen in Dadu of the Yuan Dynasty.In order to express this subject clearly,the modern expression and definition,that is "Beijing Area" and "Ethnic Medicine" are borrowed in the title.The materials from ancient medical books,historical records,corpora,chorography,literary sketches and Yuan dramas in the Yuan Dynasty,as well as related medical relics were collected and analyzedBefore the Yuan Dynasty,Beijing area,as the frontier or border,was an important region between Central Plains and the northern minorities in different historical periods.Exchanges of medical knowledge and medicines were occurred in this region.Beijing area once become the political center of northern China during the Liao and Jin Dynasties.In 1271,the Yuan Dynasty was established by Kublai,and Dadu was become the Capital in 1272.The social structure and political system of the Yuan Dynasty was formed during the reign of Emperor Kublai,which compiled the traditional official system of the Central Plains in the preceding Dynasties with the traditional Mongolian official system.Religions,especially Islam and Tibetan Buddhism,showed their important influence on the politics,economy and culture of the Yuan Dynasty.Doctors were paid attention by the government in the Yuan Dynasty according to the rules of the Household Register System.As a national system,the medical administration system reflected the function of Capital,but not a regional function,of the Yuan Dynasty existed as a national medical management system.However,the absorption and inteeration of different medicine of ethnic groups were manifested by the establishment and changes of Central Medical Institutions,for example,improving the Rank of Tai yi yuan(Imperial Academy of Medicine)and increasing its affiliated institutions.The Institutions of Moslem medicine established,including Guang hui si(Moslem Medical Office)and Hui huiyao wu yuan(Moslem Pharmacy),reflecting the attention of the government for the Moslem medicine.A new duty,managing the articles of tribute was added to the Yu yao yuan(Imperial Dispensary).The establishment of the system of Sacrifice to Three Emperors for medical education,etc.In the Yuan Dynasty,Mongolian medicine,Moslem medicine,Tibetan medicine and Traditional Chinese medicine gathered in Dadu and showed their own characteristics and their exchanges with each other,which indicated in the contents of Yin shan zheng yao(Principles of Correct Diet),Hui hui yao fang(Moslem Formularies),Yu yao yuan fang(Formularies of Imperial Dispensary)and Shi yi de xiao fang(Effective Formulae Handed Down for Generations).In addition,the cultural relic and tomb remains,the changes on the rules for the mortem examiners and prison doctors,the related medical contents in the Yuan dramas,new diet habits of nobleman,imperial bathroom and toilets,capital city drainage system and new funeral ways all reflected the characteristics of medicine of ethnic groups from the other side.Through the study of medical history of ethnic groups in Beijing area in the Yuan Dynasty,the urban characteristic of the City,inclusiveness and concordance,can be understood further and deeply.