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I learned about Hu Xishu because of my traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnostic class teacher, who was also my TCM enlightenment teacher.
Earlier in a public account article Chinese Doctors’ Day, My TCM Dream! (click the link to enter), I mentioned that his teaching method was very different from other teachers.
Because the teacher has extensive clinical experience and a great passion for TCM, he does not teach mechanically but often cites his own effective cases during class. From his speech and mannerisms, it is clear that he is a staunch and devoted TCM practitioner!
In addition, the teacher has another identity; he is a second-generation disciple inheriting from Hu Xishu.
The teacher said that besides Feng Shilun, the first-generation academic successors of Hu Xishu also included Zhang Chang’en. At first, the teacher apprenticed under Professor Zhang Chang’en, who held daytime outpatient clinics and taught several disciples at night.
However, Professor Zhang Chang’en passed away earlier, so Hu Xishu’s academic thought was mainly inherited later by Professor Feng Shilun.
Because of the TCM diagnostic teacher, the first Shanghan family I encountered in learning TCM was Hu Xishu’s; I was only a sophomore then.
Under the influence of the diagnostic teacher, I first bought Hu Xishu’s (later called Old Hu) book “Authentic Classical Prescriptions” (《经方传真》). This book is organized according to the Six Channels, using the classical prescriptions listed in Shanghan and Jinkui as the framework. The prescriptions are classified by the Six Channels, primarily structured around corresponding formulas and syndromes.
Later, I also bought two books, “Hu Xishu Shanghan Lun Lectures” and “Hu Xishu Jinkui Yaolue Lectures”, deciding to deeply research Shanghan Lun. At that time, I was still studying exterior-releasing formulas, and courses on formulas, Shanghan Lun, and Jinkui Yaolue only started in the junior year.
Therefore, my first Shanghan Lun enlightenment master was Old Hu. His understanding of Shanghan Lun was insightful yet easy to understand and very rigorous. After finishing the sections on Taiyang disease (upper, middle, and lower parts), my vision was greatly broadened. I realized that Shanghan Lun was not only one of the four great classics but also the standard for TCM clinical practice.
At the same time, I became aware that my foundation was unstable and I was unfamiliar with the original text of Shanghan Lun.
I had several close TCM friends while studying at Hubei University of TCM. We often discussed TCM academics together, sometimes chatting for one or two hours. Most of those I met were from a group at Hubei University who loved TCM and were at the leading level of TCM learning at that time.
There was an older brother who was very passionate about TCM and had already memorized the entire Shanghan Lun. He was the first in our grade to have done so.
Influenced by him, I felt it necessary to memorize this classic and decided to put down books and begin reciting Shanghan Lun. However, due to CET-4 exams, classes, and midterm exams, I stopped after six days. Whenever I squeezed time during breaks, I watched Hu Xishu Shanghan Lun Lectures. I also prepared for final exams for more than a month. In the end, sophomore year passed in a rush.
At the end of sophomore year, I went to the old campus. When classmates were all going home with backpacks and suitcases to enjoy the hard-earned summer vacation, I chose to stay at school alone. Of course, third-year students were forbidden to live on campus, but fortunately, some fourth-year students stayed for internships and graduate school exams, so I managed to sneak in.
The first few days were good, studying hard every day, but a sudden power outage disrupted my plans. Still, I persisted to stay and study during the sweltering heat, without a fan, keeping calm.
I recited Shanghan Lun in the mornings, read books in the afternoons and evenings. Before long, I self-studied the entire Shanghan Lun and Jinkui Yaolue. I remember having read Hu Xishu Shanghan Lun Lectures and Hu Xishu Jinkui Yaolue Lectures, over 1,200 pages in total, twice. During the summer, I fully memorized Shanghan Lun.
At that time, I would move a small stool in front of the JT teaching building at Hubei University of TCM to memorize Shanghan Lun. I was the only sophomore there; other students staying on campus were mostly fourth-year students preparing for graduate exams. I studied with them in front of the JT building.
At first, they all thought I was a fourth-year student also preparing for graduate school, but later they were surprised to learn I had just completed sophomore year. At that time, I met a senior who later got admitted to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.
By the beginning of junior year, I could close the book and recite from the first to the 398th original text entry of Shanghan Lun in order, taking about 40 minutes at fastest.
Also, during the sophomore summer, I treated several relatives’ illnesses with what I had learned, which deepened my enthusiasm for classical prescriptions. Although classical prescriptions use only a few herbs, if matched to the syndrome, the effect is as powerful as a drumbeat as described in the texts.
While enthusiasm was high, I read Hu Xishu Analysis of Disease Location and Prescriptions three times, Hu Xishu Shanghan Lun Syndrome Differentiation four times, Hu Xishu Collection of Medical Theories and Cases three times, Century-Old Renowned TCM Practitioner Hu Xishu four times, and Authentic Classical Prescriptions twice.
Thus, before junior year, I had read Hu Xishu Shanghan Lun Lectures seven times and Hu Xishu Jinkui Yaolue Lectures five times, so Hu Xishu’s academic thought had been deeply rooted in my heart.
I will continue to share in detail the process of my previous study of Shanghan Lun tomorrow. Thank you for following!
Note: This will be written as a series describing my learning process of Shanghan Lun in chronological order, from initial confusion to gradual deepening of understanding.
Welcome to follow, Yi Dao Cang Sang (The Sagely Path of Medicine), inherit and promote.