The Evolution of Chinese Medicine: Song Dynasty, 960–1200

Scholars often characterize the Song era as a time of change in every aspect of political, social, intellectual or economic life. More specifically it focuses on three narratives of change:

• the emperor's interest in medicine elevated the status of medicine in the eyes of the elite, leading to an increased involvement of intellectuals and the literary elite in medicine
• government officials systematically revised, printed, and promulgated earlier heterogeneous medical manuscripts belonging to various traditions
• the government established unique imperially sponsored medical institutions to handle public health and other aspects of medicine.

As the first book to study the transformation medicine underwent during the Song period this volume will appeal to Sinologists and scholars of the history of medicine alike.