Shen nong ben cao jing
Encyclopedia
The Shénnóng Běn Cǎo Jīng is a Chinese
book on agriculture and medicinal plants. Its origin has been attributed to the mythical Chinese emperor
Shennong
, who was said to have lived around 2800 BC
. Researchers hypothesize this is a compilation of oral traditions written between about 300 BC and 200 AD
. The original text no longer exists but is said to have been composed of three volumes containing 365 entries on medicaments and their description.
, jujube, the orange
, cinnamon
from China, cirse fields or the liquorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis
) .
The second volume was devoted to 120 therapeutic substances intended to treat the sick, but more or less toxic. In this category, we find the ginger
, peonies and cucumber
. The substances of this group are described as "human."
In the last volume there are 125 entries corresponding to substances which have a violent action on physiological functions and are usually poisonous. Rhubarb
, different pitted fruits and peaches are among those featured.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
book on agriculture and medicinal plants. Its origin has been attributed to the mythical Chinese emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
Shennong
Shennong
Shennong , which names mean "Divine Farmer", but also known as the Emperor of the Five Grains , was a legendary ruler of China and culture hero reputed to have lived some 5,000 years ago...
, who was said to have lived around 2800 BC
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
. Researchers hypothesize this is a compilation of oral traditions written between about 300 BC and 200 AD
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
. The original text no longer exists but is said to have been composed of three volumes containing 365 entries on medicaments and their description.
Content
The first treatise included 120 drugs harmless to humans, the "stimulating properties": reishi, ginsengGinseng
Ginseng is any one of eleven species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, belonging to the genus Panax of the family Araliaceae....
, jujube, the orange
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
, cinnamon
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...
from China, cirse fields or the liquorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis
Glycyrrhiza uralensis
Glycyrrhiza uralensis, also known as Chinese liquorice, is a flowering plant native to Asia, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine.- Medicinal uses :...
) .
The second volume was devoted to 120 therapeutic substances intended to treat the sick, but more or less toxic. In this category, we find the ginger
Ginger
Ginger is the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale, consumed as a delicacy, medicine, or spice. It lends its name to its genus and family . Other notable members of this plant family are turmeric, cardamom, and galangal....
, peonies and cucumber
Cucumber
The cucumber is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, which includes squash, and in the same genus as the muskmelon. The plant is a creeping vine which bears cylindrical edible fruit when ripe. There are three main varieties of cucumber: "slicing", "pickling", and...
. The substances of this group are described as "human."
In the last volume there are 125 entries corresponding to substances which have a violent action on physiological functions and are usually poisonous. Rhubarb
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a group of plants that belong to the genus Rheum in the family Polygonaceae. They are herbaceous perennial plants growing from short, thick rhizomes. They have large leaves that are somewhat triangular-shaped with long fleshy petioles...
, different pitted fruits and peaches are among those featured.