Bencao gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) -113 Academic Year
This course is provided by the NYCU College of Medicine.
This course focuses on Li Shizhen’s Bencao gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) from the Ming dynasty. It introduces the historical background of the text, Li Shizhen’s life, editorial principles, classification system, and scientific framework, followed by guided readings of sections on Minerals (water, fire, earth, metals, and minerals)； Plants (herbs, grains, vegetables, fruits, woods, implements, and utensils)； Animals (insects, scaled creatures, shellfish, birds, beasts and human section), etc. Emphasis is placed on textual analysis, species classification, the duality of food and medicine, medical culture, and the history of natural knowledge. Through selected materia medica entries and research papers, students will understand the significance of the Bencao gangmu in East Asian medical history, natural history, pharmaceutical education, and modern health sciences.
Textbook：
本草綱目；明 李時珍 著；蔡東湖 重編
ISBN 978-626-01-6040-1 (精裝) 2026年
ISBN 978-626-01-6041-8 (平裝) 2026年
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| Instructor(s) | 中醫學系 蔡東湖老師 |
|---|---|
| Course Credits | 1 Credits |
| Academic Year | 113 Academic Year |
| Level | Graduate Student |
| Prior Knowledge | None |
| Related Resources | Course Video |
| Week | Course Content | Course Video |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesson 1: Introduction to the Bencao gangmu Course | Watch Online |
| 2 | Lesson 2: Li Shizhen, Linnaeus, and Darwin Lesson 3: Li Shizhen’s Thousand-mile Quest for a Preface Lesson 4: Memorial Submission of the Bencao gangmu | Watch Online |
| 3 | Lesson 5: Bencao gangmu as an Ancient Encyclopedia Lesson 6: Scientific Framework of Volumes 1–4 of the Bencao gangmu | Watch Online |
| 4 | Lesson 7: Volumes 5–7 of the Bencao gangmu: Water, Fire, and Earth Sections Lesson 8: Volumes 8–11 of the Bencao gangmu: Metals and Minerals Sections 1–5 | Watch Online |
| 5 | Lesson 9: Volumes 12–14 of the Bencao gangmu: Herb Sections 1–3 Lesson 10: Glycyrrhiza (Licorice) Lesson 11: Angelica sinensis (Danggui) Lesson 12: Paeonia lactiflora (Shaoyao) | Watch Online |
| 6 | Lesson 13: Volumes 15–18 of the Bencao gangmu: Herb Sections 4–7 Lesson 14: Volumes 19–21 of the Bencao gangmu: Herb Sections 8–12 Lesson 15: Volumes 22–25 of the Bencao gangmu: Grain Sections 1–4 | Watch Online |
| 7 | Lesson 16: Volumes 26–28 of the Bencao gangmu: Vegetable Sections 1–5 Lesson 17: Volumes 29–33 of the Bencao gangmu: Fruit Sections 1–6 Lesson 18: Volumes 34–37 of the Bencao gangmu: Wood Sections 1–4 Lesson 19: Volume 38 of the Bencao gangmu: Implements and Utensils Section | Watch Online |
| 8 | Lesson 20: Volumes 39–42 of the Bencao gangmu: Insect Sections 1–4 Lesson 21: Volumes 43–44 of the Bencao gangmu: Scaly Animals Sections 1–4 Lesson 22: Volumes 45–46 of the Bencao gangmu: Shelled Animals Sections 1–2 Lesson 23: Volumes 47–49 of the Bencao gangmu: Bird Sections 1–4 Lesson 24: Volumes 50–51 of the Bencao gangmu: Animal Sections 1–4 Lesson 25: Volume 52 of the Bencao gangmu: Human Section 1 | Watch Online |
| 9 | Lesson 26: Research Paper on the Human Section of the Bencao gangmu | Watch Online |
| 10 | Lesson 27: Research Paper on Textual Analysis of the Fire Section of the Bencao gangmu | Watch Online |
| 11 | Lesson 28: Research Paper on Superior-grade Donkey-derived Materia Medica in the Bencao gangmu | Watch Online |
| 12 | Lesson 29: Research Paper on Danggui as an Essential Medicine for Women in the Bencao gangmu | Watch Online |