The socio-political impact on Chinese medical thought during the Song-Jin-Yuan transition (c.1100-1300 AD)

Abstract

The literary works of several ruyi 儒醫(Chinese scholar-physicians) of the Song-Jin-Yuan Transition (c.1100-1300 AD) are examined both for their contribution to medical development as well as their engagement in political discourse which generated a new genre of medical literature. The essential elements of this genre are: 1) reliance upon the classical medical canon for their authority but diverging to expound upon distinct medical doctrines; 2) emphasizing the status of the ruyi as members of elite society through references to the Confucian canon or with veiled commentaries on the socio-political crisis; and 3) they are meant to serve as part of a complete yet concise system of medicine with unique approaches to etiology, diagnosis, and treatment.