Study on the Classification and Publication of Dahe Materia Medica—Focusing on the Comparison with Compendium of Materia Medica

Abstract

The development of modern Japanese materia medica began with the passing of the Book Compendium of Materia Medica to Japan. With the spread and popularity of compendium of Materia Medica and the influence of Confucian thoughts such as “learning from things to know”, Ekiken Kaibara, a Confucianist, herbalist and naturalist, has become Japan’s first original materia medica natural history work - Yamato Materia Medica. Among them, there are 772 kinds collected from compendium of Materia Medica, except for the parts not owned by Japan, 203 kinds collected from other bibliographies, 358 kinds produced in Japan and 29 kinds imported from the Netherlands. A total of 1362 varieties were collected. This paper intends to analyze the origin relationship between compendium of Materia Medica and Yamato Materia Medica. The investigation of Yamato Materia Medica has important reference value for exploring the influence of compendium of Materia Medica on its eastward transmission to Japan and re examining the significance of the translation, introduction and dissemination of traditional Chinese medicine culture with traditional Chinese Medicine Classics as the carrier abroad.