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Shennong Bencao Jing, also known as Shennong Bencao, abbreviated as Bencao Jing, Benjing, is a work of material medica. "Shennong" is his nickname, but the specific author is unknown. This book summarizes many medicinal experiences during the Warring States Period, and was continuously copied and supplemented by physicians in the Qin and Han Dynasties. The original work was lost in the early Tang Dynasty, and its contents are scattered in Jingshi Zhenglei Beiji Bencao. There are many editions circulating today, including Sun Xingyan and in the Qing Dynasty. Sun Fengyi's edition is more popular, and the Japanese edition of "DCT> Mori Ritsuki's Shennong Bencao Jing.

Shennong Bencao Jing Generally consists of three volumes, with a "preface", which is a general introduction to pharmacology. Each of the three volumes is an explanation of medicines classified into three categories: upper, middle and lower. Each medicine is recorded in turn with its name, nature and flavor, main symptoms, alias of the medicine, growth environment, etc. It is the earliest extant pharmacological monograph in my country, with rich content, reflecting the achievements of pharmacology before the Eastern Han Dynasty in my country. The specific performance is:

1. Proposed a three-category classification of drugs Benjing contains a total of 365 kinds of drugs, including 252 kinds of botanical drugs, 67 kinds of animal drugs, and 46 kinds of mineral drugs. In the classification of drugs, a three-grade classification method of upper, middle and lower categories was proposed. "One hundred and twenty kinds of Chinese materia medica are for the king, and they are mainly responsible for nourishing the life." "One hundred and twenty kinds of Chinese materia medica are for the ministers, and they are mainly for nourishing the nature." "One hundred and twenty five kinds of Chinese materia medica are for the ministers, and they are mainly for treating diseases." "Three grades combined, three hundred and sixty-five kinds."
2. Discusses the basic theory of Chinese materia medica
   1. Discussed the principle of combination of medicinals "monarch, minister, assistant and envoy".
   2. Proposed the "Seven Emotions Harmony" of drugs, which includes seven types of combinations of medicinals: single line, mutual reinforcement, mutual assistsnce, mutual restraint, antagonism, mutual inhibition, and mutual suppression.
   3. Discussed the nature, taste, collection and processing of drugs: pointed out that Wuwei (sour, salty, sweet, bitter, pungent), four properties (Hanre warm and cool), poisonous , non-toxic, related to drug processing and dosage form.
   4. Proposed the principles of medication, medication requirements and medication methods according to the cause and location of the disease, etc.
3. The efficacy and indications of the medicines are recorded in relatively detail: the main diseases and syndromes recorded in the book include more than 170 diseases in various departments such as internal medicine, external medicine, pediatrics, throat and ears, teeth, and eyes. In terms of medicinal value, most of the drugs in the book have high clinical efficacy, such as Ginseng and Astragalus to nourish qi, Chinese Angelica and Rehmannia to nourish blood, Ephedra and Cinnamon Twig to relieve symptoms, and mirabilite and Rhubarb to relieve diarrhea. Rhizoma, Aconite Lateral Root and Evodia Fruit to remove cold, Coptis Rhizome and gypsum to clear away heat, etc. are still used today.

Shennong Bencao Jing is a classic pharmaceutical work in my country. It not only laid the foundation for ancient Chinese pharmacology, but also had a profound impact on the development of pharmacology in later generations. Later medical scientists continued to add content on this basis, forming numerous materia medica works. Shennong Bencao Jing is still a precious early Chinese materia medica document worthy of in-depth study.