bubble_chart Description

The Sanskrit name of this book is Somaratsa (Somaratsa), and its Tibetan name is Menjie Daiweigeibu (sMan-dpvad ZLa-ba'I rGyal-po). It is the earliest extant classical masterpiece of Tibetan medicine in our country.

Regarding the origin of Yuewang Yaozhen, there are different accounts. One account states that it was brought to Tibet by the Han monk-physician Mahayana from Han Di Boji Lane Maha, and later translated into Tibetan (as recorded in the postscript of the Dege edition of Yuewang Yaozhen). Another account, based on the 113th chapter of Yuewang Yaozhen, suggests that the book originated from Mount Wutai, as recorded by Desi Sangye Gyatso. A third account claims that it originated from Chinese medicine texts. The "Mirror of the Royal Genealogies of Tibet" records that in 710 AD, a princess brought various craft and medical books. These medical books were translated into Tibetan by the Han monk-physician Mahagyinda (Mahagyinda), Tibetan physicians Khyun-Po Tsetse (Khyun-Po Tsetse), Khyun-po Dam-tshugs (Khyun-po Dam-tshugs), and RCog-la sMan-pa (RCog-la sMan-pa), among others. Yuewang Yaozhen is the most important of these translations.

Based on this, it is certain that Yuewang Yaozhen originated from Chinese medicine texts. Analyzing its content, it is based on Chinese pharmacology, incorporating Tibetan medical experience and theory, while also absorbing Indian medical content and theory.

It is estimated that Yuewang Yaozhen was likely compiled and translated in the first half of the 8th century AD. Yuewang Yaozhen exists in three different translations, with variations of 120 chapters, 115 chapters, and 113 chapters depending on the version.

Yuewang Yaozhen discusses the structure, shape, and size of brain marrow, as well as bones, limbs, spine, muscles, and the five zang-organs and six fu-organs in terms of human physiological structure. In terms of physiological functions, it emphasizes the three main factors of rlung (wind), mkhris-pa (bile), and bad-kan (phlegm), which play a major coordinating role in physiology and pathology, while qi and blood are the driving forces of life activities. In terms of disease causation, it explains that internal factors are the imbalance of the three main factors, while external factors include improper lifestyle, inappropriate living conditions, and evil spirits. Diseases are classified into two major categories: cold sexually transmitted diseases and hot sexually transmitted diseases. In diagnosis, it proposes the methods of observation, listening, and palpation. In treatment, it summarizes both internal and external therapies.

In terms of pharmacology, it records over a thousand single drugs and formulas, categorized into cold and hot properties, and corresponds to the clinical treatment of cold and hot sexually transmitted diseases. It describes more than ten dosage forms, including powder, paste, decoction, purgative formula, emetic formula, vein-relaxing agents, and butter-based medicines. Additionally, it reviews nutritional therapy through food and records the poisoning and prevention of food and drugs.

The book also contains some dross that needs to be discarded.

Yuewang Yaozhen is the foundational work of Tibetan medicine and the earliest extant ancient Tibetan medical text. It holds significant reference value for studying the origins and early history of Tibetan medicine, as well as the interrelationships between Tibetan medicine, Chinese medicine, and Indian medicine.