Li Dongyuan: Biographical introduction and legendary stories, major works and academic contributions
✵Li Gao: He is also known as Li Mingzhi, or Li Dongyuan (1180–1251 A.D.), a disciple of the herbalist Zhāng Yuánsù. He held the viewpoint that diseases, apart from external changes, were mainly caused by internal injury to the spleen and stomach (i.e. by intemperance in drinking and eating or overwork) and advocated cures involving the regulation of the spleen and the stomach and the nourishment of the original Qi. He is considered to be the founder of the School for Strengthening the Spleen and Stomach, and his masterpiece is the book Pi Wei Lun (the Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach).
李東垣 (Lǐ Dōngyuán).
Brief Introduction
Chinese Name:
李杲 (Lǐ Gǎo)
Alias:
明之 (Míng Zhī)
Popular name:
東垣老人 (Dōng Yuán Lǎo Rén)
English Name:
Li DongYuan, or DongYuan Li (Given/Sur Name)
Hometown:
Zhu Li of Zhen Ding
Dates:
about 1180-1251 A.D.
Main works:
Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (the thesis differentiation between endogenous hurt and exogenous affection) in 3 volumes, Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in 3 volumes, Yong Yao Xiang Fa (Rules for the Use of Herbs) in 1 volume, Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in 3 volumes, Yi Xue Fa Ming (Inventions of Medicine) in 1 volume, Huo Fa Ji Yao, Dong Yuan Shi Xiao Fang (Effective Prescriptions verified by Dong Yuan) in 9 volumes,etc.
Representative works:
Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (the thesis differentiation between endogenous hurt and exogenous affection), Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in 3 volumes, Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in 3 volumes, Dong Yuan Shi Xiao Fang (Effective Prescriptions verified by Dong Yuan), in 9 volumes, etc.
Biographical introduction and legendary stories
Li Dongyuan (1180 or 1182–1251 A.D.), a disciple of the herbalist Zhang Yuansu (張元素 Zhāng Yuánsù), held the viewpoint that diseases were mainly caused by endogenous injury to the spleen and stomach, apart from exogenous affections. He advocated treatment by regulating the spleen and stomach and nourishing the Yuan Qi (the acquired Qi). He is considered the founder of the School for Strengthening the Spleen and Stomach. His masterpiece is the book Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach).
Li Gao's alias is Ming Zhi (明之Míng Zhī). He was from Zhu Li in Zhen Ding. The Zhen Ding area was known as the Dong Yuan Kingdom in the early years of the Han Dynasty. In his later years, he self-titled himself Dong Yuan Lao Ren (東垣老人 Dōng Yuán Lǎo Rén). Later, folks called him Li Dongyuan. He was the ancestor of the School of Invigorating the Earth. Astronomically wealthy, Li Gao followed the herbalist Zhang Yuansu and took him as a master. Zhang Yuansu was a famous herbalist of the Yi Shui School and the creator of the TCM theory of the spleen and stomach. He proposed the importance of the spleen and stomach. His major works, which have survived until today, are known including the following: Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (The Thesis Differentiation Between Endogenous Hurt and Exogenous Affection), Pi Wei Lun (The Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach), Yong Yao Xiang Fa (The Methods and Principles of Prescription Applications), Yi Xue Fa Ming (Inventions of Medicine), Lan Shi Mi Cang (The Secret Book of Orchid Chamber), and Huo Fa Ji Yao, etc.
Li Gao studied Confucian classics with famous Hanlin Academic Confucian scholars Wang Ruoxu (王若虛Wáng Ruòxū) and Feng Shuxian (馮叔獻Féng Shūxiàn) when he was a young age. He had a large circle of friends, all of whom were virtuous people. However, he did not befriend playboys or good-for-nothings from wealthy families. He was known as a famous Confucian scholar at the age of 22. When he was young, Li did not have the will to save people. He studied medicine only for self-health maintenance. However, when he was 20 years old, his mother fell seriously ill. He consulted local physicians who gave different diagnoses and treatment methods and prescribed various herbal remedies. However, his mother's disease never relieved, and his mother passed away. Because he knew only Confucianism and not how to treat her, Li had to witness the passing of his mother and felt great sorrow because he did not know how to treat her. So, he swore to become a student of a good herbalist when he met one. At that time, there were two famous herbalists in the area: one was the herbalist Li Wansu (about 1120-1200 A.D.), who lived in Hejian and was very old and sick; the other was the herbalist Zhang Yuansu, who lived in Yishui and was well-known because he treated Liu Wansu's cold-induced disease. When the scholar Li heard about the herbalist Zhang Yuansu, he traveled 400 miles from his hometown to Yishui and offered "gold and silk" to take him as his teacher. He spent many years studying hard and learned a lot from Zhang Yuansu, basically mastering the academic thoughts and techniques for diagnosing and treating patients. He then said farewell to his teacher, Zhang Yuansu, and returned to his hometown to help folks. All the patients he treated, even those with difficult miscellaneous diseases, experienced positive effects. From his youth, Li Gao formed the character of honesty, keeping his promises, treating folks with manners and politeness, being cautious with friendships, never teasing others, caring about his reputation and integrity, and enduring molesting from prostitute ladies.
Major works and academic contributions
In his 30s, Li Gao's father used his connections to get him an official position in the Jin court. He bought an official position at Ji Yuan (in present-day Henan province), but Li Gao did not serve as a herbalist. He only helped relatives and friends with urgent cases. During this period, an epidemic disease called "Da Tou Tian Xing" (massive head scourge), characterized by swelling and redness of the face, spread. Its symptoms were red swolling on the face and head and obstruction of the throat. Many physicians of that time looked through ancient herbal classics and could not fin any descriptions of this disease. They usually prescribed purgatives for treatment, but they were ineffective. Patients suffered from diarrhea repeatedly and died one by one. Although these conditions persisted, physicians did not acknowledge their treatment failures, and the patients' relatives did not object. However, Li Dongyuan believed that patients were dying unjustly. He started to study this disease repeatedly, from the symptoms to the pathogenesis. He finally detected and found the pathogenesis, also found a prescription. Once patients took the prescription, positive results were achieved. He engraved the prescription on a wooden board and hung it where crowds gathered. Those patients who took the prescriptions recovered. The locals misunderstood and thought the recipe was given by immortals, so thet engraved it on a stone tablet. To avoid the coming of war and chaos, Li Dongyuan immigrated to Bian Liang city. While he was there, he treated many official patients, and the results were very good, so he became widely known. After returning from the central plains of China, Li Dongyuan lived in the Dongping and Liaocheng areas and practiced medicine for six years. In 1244 A.D., Li Dongyuan returned to his hometown Zhending. By then, he was 64 years old. After many years of moving around during the war, his physical condition had weakened, except for his clinical practice and saving people. He wrote down his many years of clinical experience and created a theory that disorder of the spleen and stomach caused by internal injury was the main focus. Later, he finished his book Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (Differentiation of Endogenous and Exogenous Injury). In his late years, around age 70, Li compiled his later works, Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in three volumes and Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in three volumes, as well as some parts of his theses and records from his practice. Before he passed away, Li Dongyuan left his manuscripts and academic writings to his disciple, Luo Tianyi (羅天益 Luó Tiānyì), and told him, "These books are not for Li Mingzhi, or Luo Qianfu. They are for the people and future generations. Take care of them and don't let them be forgotten. Publish them and make them useful." Later, his disciple, Luo Tianyi, edited and compiled, published his books Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in three volumes, Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in three volumes. He also used the book Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) as the basis and supplemented it with DongYuan's academic articles and records. He compiled this literature into the book Dong Yuan Shi Xiao Fang (Effective Prescriptions Verified by Dong Yuan). The surviving books by Li Dongyuan are Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (The Thesis Differentiation Between Endogenous Hurt and Exogenous Affection), Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in three volumes, Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in three volumes, Mai Jue Zhi Zhang (Countings of the Pulse Knacks), Huo Fa Ji Yao, Yi Xue Fa Ming (The Inventive Elaborations on the Medical Science) in 1 volume. Several other ancient books have been attributed to him, including Dong Yuan Mai Jue (Pulse Formula of Dong Yuan), Shi Wu Ben Cao (Food Tonic Materia Medica), and Zhen Zhu Nang Zhi Zhang Bu Yi Yao Xing Fu (Supplement Herb Properties handbook in Verse of the Pearl Bag), but the authorship is doubtful. There is also a lost book, Shang Han Hui Yao (The Essentials of the Cold-Induced Diseases), which was also attributed to him. His major works, whose authorship has been confirmed, are briefly introduced below:
The book Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (The Thesis of Differentiation Between Endogenous Hurt and Exogenous Affection) was compiled from 1231 to 1247 A.D. and is divided into three volumes. In TCM theory, the author emphasized the importance of the spleen and stomach viscera among all the Zang and Fu viscera. In diagnosis, he distinguished between endogenous hurt and exogenous affection, correcting physicians of his time who had mistakenly identified the endogenous hurt as exogenous affection. In treatment methods and prescriptions, he developed the therapeutic method of "sweet and warm tonic to eliminate great heat" and created prescriptions such as buzhong yiqi decoction. He also identified the special effects of the three methods of perspiration, emesis, and purgative in treating endogenous hurt and proposed the principles of "prescriptions for four seasons", and "prescriptions for time", among others.
The three-volume book Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) provides a systematic exploration of endogenous injury from the spleen and stomach viscera. Compiled after Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (The Thesis Differentiation Between Endogenous Hurt and Exogenous Affection), it was finished around 1249 A.D. Its theory is based on the ancient book Nei Jing (The Inner Cannon), and it also quotes theses and discussions from the ancient herbalists Zhang Zhongjing, Sun Simiao, and Qian Yi. Sixty-three prescriptions are listed, followed by four articles under the titles "Pi Wei Jiang Li Fa", "She Yang", "Yuan Yu", and "Xing Yan Jian (Sayings from Reflections)," among others. The first volume contains seven articles that systematically explain the physiological functions of the spleen and stomach, the exterior and interior relationship of the spleen and stomach viscera, and the pathological developments and transmission of deficiency and excess. It also quotes relevant original discussions from the Nei Jing (the Inner Canon) and offers related viewpoints. The second volume contains twelve articles that explain treatment principles and methods for various syndromes resulting from the endogenous injury to the Spleen and Stomach viscera. It summarizes the pathological relationships between the spleen and stomach viscera and the other four Zang-viscera, as well as the four major treatment methods. The third volume addresses the residual questions, the relationship between the Stomach and the five Zang-viscera and the nine orifices, and the relationship between the Spleen and Stomach viscera and Yin and Yang in the sky and land. The book symbolizes the establishment of the spleen and stomach theory. It provides further interpretations of related theories from Nei Jing (the Inner Canon), and supplements the syndrome differentiation and treatment of endogenous and miscellaneous syndromes from herbalist Zhang Zhongjing.
Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) is a three-volume book that provides proof of Dongyuan's main theory from practical records. The book's name comes from the sentence, "Cang Zhu Ling Lan Zhi Shi (hide it in the orchid chamber room)," which is recorded in Nei Jing·Suwen (The Inner Cannon·the Plain Questions). Compiled from 1249 A.D. until his late year, the book was edited and published 25 years later by his disciple, Luo Tianyi. Its main content is about specific applications of the spleen and stomach theory in various clinical departments. It contains over 280 prescriptions, and most of which were created by Li Dongyuan himself.
The nine-volume book Dong Yuan Shi Xiao Fang (Effective Prescriptions Verified by Dong Yuan) has similar content to the three-volume book Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber). It contains supplementary prescriptions and effective records. The prescriptions reflect the thoughts of Li Dongyuan, and the records are representative and prove Li Dongyuan's theory and the correctness of his prescriptions. Its writings and forms of literature are stricter than that of Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber).[edited]
Li Dongyuan proposed a specific viewpoint about the treatment values of the spleen pertaining to earth at the middle energizer. He inherited this viewpoint about the spleen and stomach from his master, Zhang Yuansu. Some of his patients were officials who ate a lot of greasy and surfeit flavor, which could easily hurt their spleens and stomachs. Some of his patients are poor people who suffered from eating disorder, hunger, anxiety, and sorrow during wartime, which could also easily hurt their spleens and stomachs. Therefore, he believed that the new social reality required a new analysis based on the characteristics of patients instead of references to ancient recipes. All of these conditions became the starting point and driving force for him to create the spleen and stomach theory. His spleen and stomach theory is similar to a related theory recorded in Nei Jing (The Inner Canon of Huangdi). It states, "The stomach Qi supports life; dying without stomach Qi." The shared part between them is an emphasis on the functions of the stomach Qi. Additionally, Li Dongyuan classified internal diseases into two broad categories: exogenous affections and endogenous injuries. This classification has strong implications for diagnosis and treatment. Regarding endogenous injury, he believed that the endogenous hurt of the spleen and stomach is the most common type and offered three reasons. Li Dongyuan proposed that different methods should be applied to treat excess syndromes. He emphasized the treatment principle of syndrome differentiation and proposed treating deficiency syndromes with tonification methods and excess syndromes with purgative methods. This makes his theory complete and consistent with the relevant viewpoint, "supplement the middle energizer and tonify," of herbalist Zhang Zihe (張子和 Zhāng Zǐhé). The theory of Li Dongyuan was inherited and developed by his disciples, Wang Haogu (王好古Wáng Hǎogǔ) and Luo Tianyi. Wang Haogu absorbed Li Dongyuan's pharmaceutics theory and took its clinical applications seriously. He was also enlightened by his endogenous hurt and the spleen-stomach pathogenesis theory, and established the Yin Syndrome theory. Luo Tianyi might have inherited Li Dongyuan's spleen-stomach theory in its entirety, and enriched it with his classification and outline of spleen and stomach endogenous hurt and related clinical application experience. His academic thoughts had a significant influence on later herbalists, particularly those of the warm-recuperation school.
Herbalist Li Dongyuan had specific viewpoints on women's diseases and extensive experience. Most of his works are recorded in his book, Lan Shi Mi Cang (The Secret Book of Orchid Chamber). His major achievement in gynecology was establishing a therapeutic model for women's diseases based on pathogenesis. This model includes ①.the sinking of Qi due to spleen deficiency, ②.Yin-fire attacking the earth, ③.dampness invading the lower energizer. He also provided detailed discussions about the main pathogenesis and various causes or pathogenic reasons that lead to different kinds of women's diseases due to different pathogens.
For morbid leucorrhea, Li Dongyuan proposed that it is mainly related to spleen and stomach Qi deficiency and Yin-fire. The clinical symptoms are represented by dampness invasion of the lower energizer and last a long time. He also explained the main pathogenesis that causes dampness invasion of the lower energizer. Li Dongyuan treated cases of morbid leucorrhea caused by long-term Qi-dropping, Yin-fire developed cold syndrome. Therefore, most cases of morbid leucorrhea developed into a deficiency, deficiency-cold, or exhaustion syndrome. He provided detailed explanations of the pathogenesis of various types of leucorrhea: ①.The leucorrhea of deficiency; ②.the leucorrhea of deficiency-cold; ③.the leucorrhea of exhaustion; ④.the syndrome of uterine bleeding and morbid leucorrhea.
In the treatment of women's diseases, Li Dongyuan proposed the theory of elevating Yang and discharging fire. His theory on specific characteristics of herbs and prescription applications was unique and surpassed that of previous generations of herbalists. He revealed truths that had never been proposed by his predecessors. He developed a treatment theory for: ①.amenorrhea caused by fire burning and blood exhaustion; ②. amenorrhea caused by long-term weakness or deficiency of the spleen and stomach, physical weakness, collapse of Qi and blood; and ③. amenorrhea caused by long-term deficiency of the spleen and stomach, deficiency of Qi and blood, collapse of the Middle Qi, hyperactivity, and uterine collateral fire.
In general, Li Dongyuan's theory mostly came from ancient books, particularly the Nei Jing (the Inner Canon), and absorbed the theories of Zhang Zhongjing, Qian Yi, Wang Shuhe, and Sun Simiao. It was also influenced by theories of his master, Zhang Yuansu, and herbalist Liu Wansu.Li Dongyuan's spleen and stomach theories were well-known.
On February 25, 1251 A.D., Li Dongyuan passed away. He was buried in his hometown of Huang Lin County. His tomb was reserved and stands in the west corner of A Dang village in A Dang Township in Huang Lin County. A stone tablet stands in front of the tomb. The engraved markings read: “Master of the Qibo and Huangdi classics, reviver of the dead, famous herbalist who shared morality with the native people. Fame spread from south to north and east to west.” This inscription is meant to memorialize and praise his achievements.
The schools of He Jian and Yi Shui were regarded as two of the most significant academic schools in TCM history. They inherited traditions and established new grounds for later generations. Li Dongyuan was respected as the pillar of the Yi Shui School. He learned from Zhang Yuansu, but he had a greater influence on later generations. Later, herbalist Zhu Danxi (朱丹溪 Zhū Dānxī) was a third-generation disciple of the He Jian School. Some of his academic thoughts came from the enlightenment of Li Dongyuan. Since the Ming Dynasty, other famous herbalists include Xue Lizhai (薛立齋Xuē Lìzhāi), Zhang Jingyue (張景嶽Zhāng Jǐngyuè), Li Zhongzi (李中梓Lǐ Zhōngzǐ), Ye Tianshi (葉天士Yè Tiānshì). They all showed respect for Li Dongyuan's academic thoughts and developed some of his academic thoughts. Other herbalists, such as Gong Tingxian (龔廷賢Gōng Tíngxián), Gong Juzhong (龔居中Gōng Jūzhōng), Zhang Zhicong (張誌聰Zhāng Zhìcōng), were also influenced by Li Dongyuan's academic thoughts. Although his followers clearly knew that putting undue emphasis on spleen and stomach could be biased, Li Dongyuan's academic theory was still respected as a milestone in the history of TCM. He is recorded in TCM history as a great herbalist.
References:
1.Li Dongyuan: Biographical introduction and legendary stories, major works and academic contributions
✵Li Gao: He is also known as Li Mingzhi, or Li Dongyuan (1180–1251 A.D.), a disciple of the herbalist Zhāng Yuánsù. He held the viewpoint that diseases, apart from external changes, were mainly caused by internal injury to the spleen and stomach (i.e. by intemperance in drinking and eating or overwork) and advocated cures involving the regulation of the spleen and the stomach and the nourishment of the original Qi. He is considered to be the founder of the School for Strengthening the Spleen and Stomach, and his masterpiece is the book Pi Wei Lun (the Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach).
Li Dongyuan (1180 or 1182–1251 A.D.), a disciple of the herbalist Zhang Yuansu (張元素 Zhāng Yuánsù), held the viewpoint that diseases were mainly caused by endogenous injury to the spleen and stomach, apart from exogenous affections. He advocated treatment by regulating the spleen and stomach and nourishing the Yuan Qi (the acquired Qi). He is considered the founder of the School for Strengthening the Spleen and Stomach. His masterpiece is the book Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach).
Li Gao studied Confucian classics with famous Hanlin Academic Confucian scholars Wang Ruoxu (王若虛Wáng Ruòxū) and Feng Shuxian (馮叔獻Féng Shūxiàn) when he was a young age. He had a large circle of friends, all of whom were virtuous people. However, he did not befriend playboys or good-for-nothings from wealthy families. He was known as a famous Confucian scholar at the age of 22. When he was young, Li did not have the will to save people. He studied medicine only for self-health maintenance. However, when he was 20 years old, his mother fell seriously ill. He consulted local physicians who gave different diagnoses and treatment methods and prescribed various herbal remedies. However, his mother's disease never relieved, and his mother passed away. Because he knew only Confucianism and not how to treat her, Li had to witness the passing of his mother and felt great sorrow because he did not know how to treat her. So, he swore to become a student of a good herbalist when he met one. At that time, there were two famous herbalists in the area: one was the herbalist Li Wansu (about 1120-1200 A.D.), who lived in Hejian and was very old and sick; the other was the herbalist Zhang Yuansu, who lived in Yishui and was well-known because he treated Liu Wansu's cold-induced disease. When the scholar Li heard about the herbalist Zhang Yuansu, he traveled 400 miles from his hometown to Yishui and offered "gold and silk" to take him as his teacher. He spent many years studying hard and learned a lot from Zhang Yuansu, basically mastering the academic thoughts and techniques for diagnosing and treating patients. He then said farewell to his teacher, Zhang Yuansu, and returned to his hometown to help folks. All the patients he treated, even those with difficult miscellaneous diseases, experienced positive effects. From his youth, Li Gao formed the character of honesty, keeping his promises, treating folks with manners and politeness, being cautious with friendships, never teasing others, caring about his reputation and integrity, and enduring molesting from prostitute ladies.
In his 30s, Li Gao's father used his connections to get him an official position in the Jin court. He bought an official position at Ji Yuan (in present-day Henan province), but Li Gao did not serve as a herbalist. He only helped relatives and friends with urgent cases. During this period, an epidemic disease called "Da Tou Tian Xing" (massive head scourge), characterized by swelling and redness of the face, spread. Its symptoms were red swolling on the face and head and obstruction of the throat. Many physicians of that time looked through ancient herbal classics and could not fin any descriptions of this disease. They usually prescribed purgatives for treatment, but they were ineffective. Patients suffered from diarrhea repeatedly and died one by one. Although these conditions persisted, physicians did not acknowledge their treatment failures, and the patients' relatives did not object. However, Li Dongyuan believed that patients were dying unjustly. He started to study this disease repeatedly, from the symptoms to the pathogenesis. He finally detected and found the pathogenesis, also found a prescription. Once patients took the prescription, positive results were achieved. He engraved the prescription on a wooden board and hung it where crowds gathered. Those patients who took the prescriptions recovered. The locals misunderstood and thought the recipe was given by immortals, so thet engraved it on a stone tablet. To avoid the coming of war and chaos, Li Dongyuan immigrated to Bian Liang city. While he was there, he treated many official patients, and the results were very good, so he became widely known. After returning from the central plains of China, Li Dongyuan lived in the Dongping and Liaocheng areas and practiced medicine for six years. In 1244 A.D., Li Dongyuan returned to his hometown Zhending. By then, he was 64 years old. After many years of moving around during the war, his physical condition had weakened, except for his clinical practice and saving people. He wrote down his many years of clinical experience and created a theory that disorder of the spleen and stomach caused by internal injury was the main focus. Later, he finished his book Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (Differentiation of Endogenous and Exogenous Injury). In his late years, around age 70, Li compiled his later works, Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in three volumes and Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in three volumes, as well as some parts of his theses and records from his practice. Before he passed away, Li Dongyuan left his manuscripts and academic writings to his disciple, Luo Tianyi (羅天益 Luó Tiānyì), and told him, "These books are not for Li Mingzhi, or Luo Qianfu. They are for the people and future generations. Take care of them and don't let them be forgotten. Publish them and make them useful." Later, his disciple, Luo Tianyi, edited and compiled, published his books Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in three volumes, Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in three volumes. He also used the book Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) as the basis and supplemented it with DongYuan's academic articles and records. He compiled this literature into the book Dong Yuan Shi Xiao Fang (Effective Prescriptions Verified by Dong Yuan). The surviving books by Li Dongyuan are Nei Wai Shang Bian Huo Lun (The Thesis Differentiation Between Endogenous Hurt and Exogenous Affection), Pi Wei Lun (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) in three volumes, Lan Shi Mi Cang (Secret Book of Orchid Chamber) in three volumes, Mai Jue Zhi Zhang (Countings of the Pulse Knacks), Huo Fa Ji Yao, Yi Xue Fa Ming (The Inventive Elaborations on the Medical Science) in 1 volume. Several other ancient books have been attributed to him, including Dong Yuan Mai Jue (Pulse Formula of Dong Yuan), Shi Wu Ben Cao (Food Tonic Materia Medica), and Zhen Zhu Nang Zhi Zhang Bu Yi Yao Xing Fu (Supplement Herb Properties handbook in Verse of the Pearl Bag), but the authorship is doubtful. There is also a lost book, Shang Han Hui Yao (The Essentials of the Cold-Induced Diseases), which was also attributed to him. His major works, whose authorship has been confirmed, are briefly introduced below:
Li Dongyuan proposed a specific viewpoint about the treatment values of the spleen pertaining to earth at the middle energizer. He inherited this viewpoint about the spleen and stomach from his master, Zhang Yuansu. Some of his patients were officials who ate a lot of greasy and surfeit flavor, which could easily hurt their spleens and stomachs. Some of his patients are poor people who suffered from eating disorder, hunger, anxiety, and sorrow during wartime, which could also easily hurt their spleens and stomachs. Therefore, he believed that the new social reality required a new analysis based on the characteristics of patients instead of references to ancient recipes. All of these conditions became the starting point and driving force for him to create the spleen and stomach theory. His spleen and stomach theory is similar to a related theory recorded in Nei Jing (The Inner Canon of Huangdi). It states, "The stomach Qi supports life; dying without stomach Qi." The shared part between them is an emphasis on the functions of the stomach Qi. Additionally, Li Dongyuan classified internal diseases into two broad categories: exogenous affections and endogenous injuries. This classification has strong implications for diagnosis and treatment. Regarding endogenous injury, he believed that the endogenous hurt of the spleen and stomach is the most common type and offered three reasons. Li Dongyuan proposed that different methods should be applied to treat excess syndromes. He emphasized the treatment principle of syndrome differentiation and proposed treating deficiency syndromes with tonification methods and excess syndromes with purgative methods. This makes his theory complete and consistent with the relevant viewpoint, "supplement the middle energizer and tonify," of herbalist Zhang Zihe (張子和 Zhāng Zǐhé). The theory of Li Dongyuan was inherited and developed by his disciples, Wang Haogu (王好古Wáng Hǎogǔ) and Luo Tianyi. Wang Haogu absorbed Li Dongyuan's pharmaceutics theory and took its clinical applications seriously. He was also enlightened by his endogenous hurt and the spleen-stomach pathogenesis theory, and established the Yin Syndrome theory. Luo Tianyi might have inherited Li Dongyuan's spleen-stomach theory in its entirety, and enriched it with his classification and outline of spleen and stomach endogenous hurt and related clinical application experience. His academic thoughts had a significant influence on later herbalists, particularly those of the warm-recuperation school.
For morbid leucorrhea, Li Dongyuan proposed that it is mainly related to spleen and stomach Qi deficiency and Yin-fire. The clinical symptoms are represented by dampness invasion of the lower energizer and last a long time. He also explained the main pathogenesis that causes dampness invasion of the lower energizer. Li Dongyuan treated cases of morbid leucorrhea caused by long-term Qi-dropping, Yin-fire developed cold syndrome. Therefore, most cases of morbid leucorrhea developed into a deficiency, deficiency-cold, or exhaustion syndrome. He provided detailed explanations of the pathogenesis of various types of leucorrhea: ①.The leucorrhea of deficiency; ②.the leucorrhea of deficiency-cold; ③.the leucorrhea of exhaustion; ④.the syndrome of uterine bleeding and morbid leucorrhea.
On February 25, 1251 A.D., Li Dongyuan passed away. He was buried in his hometown of Huang Lin County. His tomb was reserved and stands in the west corner of A Dang village in A Dang Township in Huang Lin County. A stone tablet stands in front of the tomb. The engraved markings read: “Master of the Qibo and Huangdi classics, reviver of the dead, famous herbalist who shared morality with the native people. Fame spread from south to north and east to west.” This inscription is meant to memorialize and praise his achievements.
