Yang Jie was a native of Sizhou (present-day Xuyi, Jiangsu). He came from a family of physicians and once served as a court physician. Yang was known for his remarkable efficacy in treating illnesses. It is said that Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty suffered from a spleen disorder and was cured by taking Middle-Regulating Decoction prepared with ice. At the time, the theory of the five movements and six climates was prevalent, but Yang opposed the practice of prescribing medicine based solely on this theory. During the Chongning era (1102–1106), when prisoners were executed in Sizhou, the prefect Li Yixing ordered physicians and artists to dissect the chests and abdomens of the condemned, examine their zang-fu organs, and create detailed illustrations. Yang Jie used these illustrations to compare with ancient texts and also referenced the drawings by Yan Luozi. He compiled and revised the material, adding diagrams of the twelve meridians, and authored the Huanzhong Tu (also known as Cunzhen Tu) in one volume. Unfortunately, this work has been lost.