Ge Hong: Biographical introduction and legendary stories, major works and academic contributions
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✵Ge Hong, also known as Ge Zhichuan or Bao Pu Zi, was a famous physician and world-renowned alchemist. He is the author of the books Bao Pu Zi, a treatise on alchemy and dietetics, and Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang (A Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies), which includes many valuable descriptions and records of diseases.
- 葛洪(Ge Hong).
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Brief Introduction Chinese Name: 葛洪 (Gé Hóng) Alias: 稚川 (Zhì Chuān) Popular name: 抱樸子 (bào pǔ zǐ) English Name: Ge Hong, or Ko Hung, Hong Ge (Given/Sur Name) Hometown: 晋丹陽郡句容 (Jurong county, Danyang Jun of Jin) Dates: about 283–344 A.D. Main works: 《抱樸子》(Bao Pu Zi, Pao P'u Tzu, or the Master of Preserving Simplicity),《肘後備急方》(Zhouhou Beiji Fang, or the Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergency),《神仙傳》(Shenxian Zhuan, or The Immortals' Biographies),《隱逸傳》(Yin Yi Zhuan, or Biographies of Recluses),etc. Representative works: Zhouhou Beiji Fang (Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergency) Biographical introduction and legendary stories
Ge Hong (283–344 A.D.) was a famous physician, world-renowned alchemist, and prominent Taoist priest of the Jin Dynasty. He was native to Danyang Jurong and is the author of Bao Pu Zi, a treatise on alchemy and dietetics, and Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang (A Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies), which include many valuable descriptions and records of diseases. Ge Hong's courtesy name was Zhì Chuān; his Taoist monastic name is Baopu Zi, so he is also known as Ge Zhichuan or Baopu Zi.
✧Ge Hong was an important scholar in the development of ancient Taoism. His family belonged to the Dan Yang Tao Shi aristocratic families of Taoist masters. His grandfather, Ge Xuan (葛玄 Gé Xuán, c. 164–244 A.D.) was a famous Taoist master who lived during the Three Kingdoms period. Ge Hong followed the Taoist master 郑隐 (Zhèng Yǐn) from the age of sixteen and read the classical texts such as Lun Yu (the Analects of Confucius), Shi Jing (the Book of Songs), Yi Jing (the I Ching, or the Book of Changes), and others. Ge Hong is famous for his books Bao Pu Zi (70 volumes) and Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang (4 volumes). He also wrote other ancient books, including Shen Xian Zhuan (The Immortals' Biographies), 10 volumes; Yin Yi Zhuan (Biographies of Recluses), 10 volumes; and a version of the ancient text 《西京雜記》(Xi Jing Za Ji, or the Miscellanea about the West Capital), originally written by Liu Xin during the Western Han Dynasty, it is a collection of historical anecdotes and notes.
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- 1.Ge Hong: Biographical introduction and legendary stories, major works and academic contributions
