200- y- o medical text discovered

A previously- unknown medical text dating back nearly two centuries was revealed to the world Sunday that experts say may provide insight into the evolution of traditional Chinese medicine.

The manuscript includes around 650 entries detailing prescriptions and treatments of serious diseases, such as cancer and other tumors, experts announced at a press conference in Beijing.

Written in 1810 by Wang Bichang, renowned royal practitioner of the Qing Dynasty ( 1644- 1911) Jiaqing Emperor, the unpublished manuscript is believed to have been part of the Liaofuji, a classic tome on treatment and medicine.

Yao Boyue, a professor at Peking University specializing in ancient texts, attested to the documents’ authenticity.

“The paper texture, handwriting and revisions show that it is a manuscript by Wang,” said Yao.

The text was discovered in January as part of an initiative by the China Association of Collectors to seek out imperial medical texts from the Ming ( 1368- 1644) and Qing dynasties owned by private collectors.

It has an estimated value of 210 million yuan ($ 30.5 million), said Tuo Xiaotang, former manager at China Guardian Auctions Co., Ltd.

But the newly found manuscript is signifi cant for the study of traditional Chinese medicine, according to Zheng Jinsheng, PhD supervisor at Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

“The prescriptions should be checked one by one to contribute to the current development of traditional Chinese medicine,” said Zheng at the conference.