[Textual research of Bencaogangmu Yizhilu]

Bencaogangmu Yizhilu was compiled by DAI Baoyuan according to Bencao Gangmu in the late Qing dynasty. Due to the limited circulation of the book, it was little studied by people in later ages. Errors could be found concerning the book's content, editions and the author's life. After in-depth research, we concluded that the author's name was Baoyuan (courtesy name Xintian and pseudonym Shouyu). He was born about in 1818 and the year of death was unclear. Compilation of the book was completed in 1885 and the book was published in 1887. Recording 2240 kinds of herbs, the book included 8 volumes, 7 of which were text and the 8(th) volume was the index. It has two editions-the Wu Yuansi added Shanfang printed edition (the 13th year of the Guangxu Period, 1887) and the copy edition of the Qing dynasty.