bubble_chart Description

Xie Li-heng (1880–1950), also known as Xie Guan, styled himself as the Old Man of Chengzhai in his later years. He was from Luoshuwan, Wujin, Jiangsu. His great-uncle Xie Lansheng and grandfather Xie Baochu were both renowned physicians in Menghe. Xie inherited his family's medical knowledge from a young age, mastering texts such as the *Neijing*, *Nan Jing*, *Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases*, as well as materia medica and formulary books. He was also skilled in classical literature and well-versed in the study of Confucian classics, history, and geography. After the First Sino-Japanese War (1894), he enrolled at the Zhiyong Jingshe (formerly Longcheng Academy) to study modern subjects. He studied medicine under the famous Suzhou physician Ma Peizhi. In 1901, he graduated from Soochow University. By 1905, he was teaching at the Liangguang Superior Normal School. Around 1911, he twice worked at the Commercial Press, editing books on geography and medicine. He served as the principal of the Shanghai Chinese Medicine Specialized School and the Chinese Medicine University affiliated with the Shenzhou Medical Association. He also held positions in academic organizations such as the Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine Association and the Central Chinese Medicine Institute. In 1929, when the Central Health Committee of the Nationalist government passed a resolution to abolish Chinese medicine, Xie was unanimously chosen by the Chinese medicine community as the chief representative to protest in Nanjing. After several months of efforts, the authorities were forced to withdraw the ban.

Xie was widely respected in the medical community for his vast knowledge and profound scholarship. In 1917, when Ding Ganren and others founded the Shanghai Chinese Medicine Specialized School, Xie was the first to be invited as its principal. He designed the curriculum, wrote lecture notes, and personally taught many students, including notable figures like Qin Bowei and Zhang Zanchen. Throughout his life, he remained humble and eager to learn, never hesitating to seek advice from others. As Chen Cunren wrote in his *Biography of Mr. Xie Li-heng*: "He was always willing to engage with anyone in the field who had something valuable to offer, regardless of whether they were Confucian physicians, hereditary physicians, or even itinerant doctors. He diligently inquired and discussed with them, never willing to overlook any opportunity for learning."

Xie authored numerous works, including *Chinese Medical Talks*, *Chinese Materia Medica Talks*, *Chengzhai Medical Cases*, and *Chengzhai Miscellaneous Writings*, all of which have been published. Among these, *On the Origins and Development of Chinese Medicine* is considered his magnum opus. In this book, he comprehensively discusses major medical texts, schools of thought, and the history of various medical disciplines throughout Chinese history, highlighting the relationship between Chinese medicine and Confucianism. He advocated that medical practitioners should have a broad understanding of natural and social sciences. Xie also edited the *Great Dictionary of Chinese Medicine*, which had a profound impact on the field. The dictionary referenced over 3,000 ancient and modern medical texts, including works from Japan and Korea. He spent eight years meticulously revising and refining the entries, resulting in a work with 37,000 entries and over 3.5 million characters. Xie also placed great emphasis on compiling formulas and promoting health preservation techniques. In 1925, he published *Effective Home Remedies*, a book based on his accumulated knowledge and clinical experience. It was divided into six categories: hygiene, internal medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, and emergency care.