[A discussion on Zhang Cigong's materia medica]

Zhang Cigong's Materia Medica, being compiled by the author after learning and studying exogenous cold disease and herbology for several decades, printed in 1949 with a capacity of 150,000 Chinese characters, is a book of practical and clinical significance, featuring adoration on the theory of cold pathogenic disease, preferential practical use, integration of Chinese and western medicine, pursuit of origin and evolution, discussion on the compatibility of drug application. It emphasizes the application of drugs utilized in Shang han lun (Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Disease) and advocating the ideas of absorbing extensively ancient and modern theories from various schools, especially consulting the pharmacology of Chinese and the west, embodying the author's advocacy of "developing the classical ideas and integrating new knowledge", "overcoming one's weak points by learning from others' strong points and making effort in inheriting and developing the science of traditional Chinese medicine". However, this book also bears some incorrect points which are not overall and comprehensive enough in the understanding of drugs, and thus, should be properly accepted and rejected.