Chapter 1 The Origin and Inheritance of Chen Mushan's Gynecology School
The origin of Chen Mushan's Gynecology can be divided into two stages. The first stage is Chen's Aristocratic Family of Chinese Medicine from late Tang Dynasty to North Song Dynasty;the second stage of Chen Mushan's Gynecology starts from South Song Dynasty till now.
Chen Mushan's Gynecology School can be traced back to Dr. Chen Shiliang in Bianliang in late Tang Dynasty. It originated from Dr. Chen Yi in Lin'an (now Hangzhou) in South Song Dynasty, and was enriched and broadened by the later generations of Chen's family. The school has collected innumerable medical essences of Tang and Song Dynasties as well as modern Chinese medicine. Over a thousand year's clinical practice it has cultivated numerous tremendous Chinese medicine physicians. The school has gradually been divided into Qiantang, Shimen, Haining, Tongxiang, and others.
Chen Mushan's Gynecology is proficient in classic works and knowledgeable to many other specialties. The existing well-known representative works of Chen's family are: Chen Su'an Fu Ke Bu Jie (《陈素庵妇科补解》) which was written by Dr. Chen Yi in Song Dynasty, and supplemented by Dr. Chen Wenzhao (陈文昭) in Ming Dynasty; the book Jin Zhai Yi Yao (《荩斋医要》) was written by Dr. Chen Jian (陈谏), the 16th generation successor, now is still kept in the Japanese Cabinet Library. Chen Mushan's Gynecology enjoys a high academic reputation and historical cultural value in the history of Chinese medicine gynecology and local medicine due to its long inheritance, wide distribution and great influence.
Dr. Chen Shiliang, the Founder of Chen's Family Chinese Medicine
Dr. Chen Shiliang, the founder of Chen's family Chinese medicine, has been on record ever since late Tang Dynasty. Living in Bianliang in late Tang Dynasty (now Kaifeng in Henan Province), he was famous for his wonderful medical skills and exceptional experience. He was also a government of ficer of Chinese medicine as well as the author of the book Shi Xing Ben Cao (《食性本草》). In 895 A.D., under the emperor's order, he wrote the book Sheng Hui Fang(《圣惠方》), but unfortunately it got lost. Later it was referred to by books of Jia You Ben Cao(《嘉祐本草》) and Zheng Lei Ben Cao (《证类本草》). The successors of Chen Shiliang are Chen Tianyi (陈天益), Chen Mingyu (陈明遇) and Chen Yuanzhong (陈元忠), who also became famous TCM physicians. Chen's family continued their clinical practice throughout the years; Dr. Chen Yi has become one of the predominant successors.
Chen Yi, the Recognized Golden TCM Doctor
Chen Mushan's Gynecology was originated from Dr. Chen Yi in South Song Dynasty. In 1127 A.D., the Song emperor Gao Zong relocated its capital to Lin'an in southern China (Now Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province). Dr. Chen Yi once treated Lady Wu, the emperor's imperial concubine, and achieved a great effect. As a reward, the emperor granted Dr. Chen Yi an imperial wooden fan and a title of “Golden TCM Doctor”, and promoted him the royal medical of ficer, in charge of educational medical affairs of Imperial Academy. And he wrote books of Chen Shi Mi Lan Quan Shu (《陈氏秘兰全书》), Su An Medical Essentials (《素庵医要》), etc.
Due to the imperial wooden fan bestowed by the emperor, Chen's Gynecology began to be known as Chen Mushan's Gynecology from that day on. The skills were handed down from generation to generation. The fan was engraved later on as a reminder of the Song Dynasty emperor's kindness and recognition of Chen's Gynecology.
Chen Mushan's Gynecology Passing down Thousands of Years
Chen Mushan's Gynecology has passed down their skills and experience from generation to generation for over a thousand years. The descendants of Dr. Chen Yi who took medicine as their profession were Dr. Chen Jingfu (陈静复) and Chen Qingyin (陈清隐) in South Song Dynasty;and after Yuan Dynasty, were Dr. Chen Yufeng (陈玉峰), Dr Chen Yifang (陈仪芳), Dr. Chen Mingyang (陈明扬), Dr. Chen Nanxuan (陈南轩), Dr. Chen Dongping (陈东平) and Dr. Chen Hengya (陈恒崖). Dr. Chen Jingfu and Chen Qingyin handed down their skills to descendents as well as carved the wooden fan. Dr. Chen Yufeng was once also a government medical of ficer of the imperial envoy. Until Yuan Dynasty, he resigned and became a TCM practitioner. Dr. Chen Lin (陈林) and Dr. Chen Chun (陈椿) were sons of Dr. Chen Hengya. Dr. Chen Lin was employed by the Imperial Academy of Medicine in 1460 A.D. Dr. Chen Mo (陈谟), the grandson of Dr. Chen Hengya, was the medical ambassador in Shuntian Fu (now Beijing). While Dr. Chen Ding (陈鼎) and Dr. Chen Nai (陈鼐), sons of Dr. Chen Mo, were also medical practitioners in the Imperial Academy of Medicine. Dr. Chen Chun (陈椿) have sons of Chen Zan (陈赞), Chen Jin (陈谨), Chen Yan (陈言) and Chen Jian.
In Ming Dynasty (1522—1566 A.D.), in Qiantang (now Hangzhou of Zhejiang Province),Dr. Chen Jian, son of Dr. Chen Chun, the 9th generation successor of Dr. Chen Yi, was well versed in medicine. He treated many kinds of difficult and rare diseases and wrote the book Jin Zhai Yi Yao, to hand down his knowledge to the later generations.
Dr. Chen Yinquan (陈引泉) and Dr. Chen Yinchuan (陈引川), grandsons of Dr. Chen Jian, both carried on the medical profession of Chen's family. Dr. Chen Yinquan once treated Zhang Han's wife (Zhang Han was an of ficer) in critical condition with Gu Feng San (孤凤散, which is intended for talkativeness by nature, but reluctance to talk and eat after childbirth) and achieved remarkable effects.
In Ming Dynasty (1573—1615A.D.) in Shimen (now Tongxiang in Zhejiang Province), Dr. Chen Xie (陈谢) was famous for his wonderful skills and rich experience. He was well-known as the best gynecologist in Shimen and its neighbourhood, and wrote the book Nü Ke Mi Yao (《女科秘要》), which was available to his family instead of to other people.
In the early Qing Dynasty, Dr. Chen Mengxiong (陈梦熊) was knowledgeable to classic books and followed in his father's footsteps, working as a doctor. His son, Chen Deqian (陈德潜)was also a good doctor enjoying high reputation for his rich experience.
Dr. Chen Shannan (陈善南), the 20th generation successor of Dr. Chen Yi (1821–1850 A.D.),enjoyed a high reputation for his Chen Mushan's Gynecology. He revised and supplemented the book Chen Shi Nü Ke Mi Yao (《陈氏女科秘要》). His son, Dr. Chen Yinan (陈宜南) followed in his footsteps, being a doctor.
Dr. Chen Weimei (陈维枚), son of Dr. Chen Yinan, the 22nd generation successor, was familiar with various classic books, and many other family medicines. Moreover, Dr. Chen Weimei was famous for his outstanding medical achievements and made Chen Mushan's Gynecology a household word. He was praised as “a doctor of 800 years’ inheritance”, and enjoyed the same reputation as Dr. Ge Zanchu (葛赞初), Dr. Yao Menglan (姚梦兰) and Dr. Jin Zijiu (金子久) in the Hang Jia Hu regions (the regions of Hangzhou, Jiaxing and Huzhou).
Dr. Chen Weimei handed down his experience to his younger generation as well including his nephew Chen Shaowu and his grand nephew Sun Xiaozhu (孙筱竹).
The 23rd generation successor, a native of Youchedai, Xiangzhuang Village, Gaoqiao Town, Tongxiang City of Zhejiang Province, Dr. Chen Shaowu was trained intensively by his uncle Dr. Chen Weimei. Moreover, Dr. Chen Shaowu was insatiable of learning and rigorous in clinical practice. He read Chen Shi Nü Ke Mi Yao intensively written by Dr. Chen Shannan and many other classic books. He himself had a collection of over a hundred classic books, on which he wrote comments.
Dr. Chen Shaowu not only enlightened his descendants with the saying “if one wants to be an excellent doctor, he must firstly equip himself with high moral quality”, but also set an example personally by helping poor people regularly, giving free medicine and treatment to the people in need.
He was rich in both medical knowledge and clinical experience, and enjoyed high reputation in Shanghai and Hangzhou for his excellent medical skills. He always reminds his apprentices about this: “As a medical doctor, you must always remember ancient mottos; in clinical practice, you must encourage yourself to be brave, but on the other hand you should be very careful and precise in prescription; you should fully concentrate when taking the pulse and consulting patients since medicine can treat diseases, but on the other hand, it could be harmful for people's health; it is just like walking on a thin ice, so you must be highly alert; as a medical practitioner, your first aim is to restore the patient's health, and the final goal is to maintain health and promote longevity; as a learner, you should learn the precious experience from your ancestors, but avoiding being limited to it; you must not name formulas randomly at your own will; you must not self-boast and denigrate others.” Dr. Chen said efficiency comes from diligence, malpractice is due to neglect, and an unskilled practice can kill people like using an invisible knife. Malpractice is just like a blind man riding on a blind horse, and its risks are inexpressible.
Dr. Chen Shaowu accumulated abundant clinical experience in gynecology and internal medicine, especially in treating menstrual and leucorrhea disorders. With the help of plant herbs and medical minerals, he could always restore people's health, therefore he was praised as having the miraculous power to bring back the dying to life.
Dr. Chen Shaowu kept four volumes of medical manuscripts, of which, the Volume of Menstrual Diseases (《月经病篇》) was reedited by Dr. Chen Xueqi, and was published by Hua Bao Zhai Ancient Books Publishing House.
Dr. Chen Dakun (1926–1991 A.D.), son of Dr. Chen Shaowu, was trained at home since his childhood. When he was 8 years old, he was taught by Mr. Zhang Kebiao (章克标), and had good knowledge of literary works. At the age of 12, he followed his father to have clinical training of Chinese medicine. At the age of 15, he followed Wu Haoran (吴浩然), a notable Chinese medicine physician and the follower of Dr. Fei Boxiong (费伯雄) to have 3 years' clinical internship.
Dr. Chen Dakun read many classic gynecological books such as Chen Su'an Fu Ke Bu Jie, Fu Qingzhu Nü Ke (《傅青主女科》), etc., he learned widely from others, rather than just limit himself to one theory, his treatment could always achieve great effects.
In 1980s, Dr. Chen Dakun published several academic essays in Chinese medicine periodicals, such as “Academic Experience of Chen Mushan's Gynecology”, “Dysmenorrhea and Amenorrhea”, “Dr. Chen Shaowu's Clinical Experience of Metrorrhagia and Metrostaxis”,“Clinical Experience of Postpartum Emergent Diseases”, “Treating Metrorrhagia by Nourishing Water and Benefiting Liver”, etc. The academic papers systemically summarized years of experience of Chen Mushan's Gynecology, which benefited greatly to the later medical practitioners and patients. Dr. Chen Dakun had practiced medicine for over 50 years, received thousands of patients at home day and night, therefor he was praised highly for his great medical skill and personal quality.
Dr. Chen Xuexi (1952–), and Dr. Chen Xueqi (1958–) are sons of Dr. Chen Dakun. Dr. Chen Xuexi specializes in internal medicine and gynecology, and treats patients from Tongxiang and Haining.
The 25th generation successor, the younger son of Dr. Chen Dakun, Dr. Chen Xueqi started clinical practice under his father's guidance when he was fifteen. In 1982, he entered Zhejiang Chinese Medical University to have a 5-year full time study. After graduation, Dr. Chen followed Li Xueming, a notable TCM practitioner, and Chen Huilin, a TCM physician of Shanghai School of Chen's Gynecology for clinical internship. He has accumulated abundant clinical experience in gynecology and internal medicine.
Over a thousand years, the torches of Chen Mushan's Gynecology have been passed down from generation to generation continuously; numerous medical talents have been trained and Chen Mushan's Gynecology School becomes more advanced and prosperous. And now Dr. Chen Xueqi has another 6 trainees.