摘要
Chao Yuanfang was a famous physician of the Sui Dynasty.There is no record about his biography and life in official history.It is said that he served as an imperial court physician and the minister of the Imperial Health Administration from 605 to 616.Under the imperial order,he took charge of compilation of Treatise on the Causes and Manifestations of Diseases(Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun),the first book about disease causes and symptoms in history.According to the Emperor Yang Digging the Grand Canal(Yang Di Kai He Ji),a novel of the Song Dynasty,Emperor Yang appointed Ma Shumou as the head of the project.Unexpectedly when he arrived in Ningling County(now Ningling County,Henan Province)Ma fell ill with swollen limbs and chills,and couldn't sit up.At the moment,Chao was immediately sent by the emperor to help Ma.After examinations Chao believed that it was caused by invasion of the striated layer by wind.He suggested him to take steamed tender mutter with some medicinal herbs.Very soon the patient was cured.From above we know that Chao was proficient in medicine.
