Encyclopedia

Traveling across the country and through 22 years of meticulous photography, over 30,000 photos were taken, from which more than 3,000 images of medicinal herbs were selected. This collection accurately and comprehensively presents the authentic medicinal herbs’ characteristics, colors, patterns, and textures.

NT$8000

About the Author

Mr. Zhang Xianzhe is a professor at the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at China Medical University. Born in Citou Township, Yunlin County, he graduated from the Department of Pharmacy at China Medical University. After completing his military service, he returned to the university as an assistant professor, lecturer, associate professor, and eventually, professor. He has published 41 journal articles and 57 conference papers. He has also led 19 research projects funded by the National Science Council, the Department of Health, and the Council of Agriculture. Publications in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): (A) As a single or first author: 11 books. (B) As a second author or more: 5 books. (C) Participated in editing 2 TCM works published in Mainland China and Hong Kong. Service to the University’s Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine:

Established 18 teaching lightboxes for Chinese medicinal herbs, featuring over 1,300 types of herbs.
Developed a unique mnemonic method for Chinese medicinal formulas; the English translation will serve as a shortcut for Western scholars studying TCM formulas.
Published the “Authentic Medicinal Materials Atlas” in 6 large A4 volumes, creating a sensation both domestically and internationally.
Developed a “Computer Analysis Program for TCM Classics and Literature,” funded personally to hire computer engineers to create the analytical program.

After Retirement: Mr. Zhang continued to assist various international organizations, including: Paradium Publication in the United States Major TCM colleges in the United States A TCM teaching improvement group The Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Management Board, as an editor for herbal standards Hong Kong Baptist University Khon Kaen University in Thailand He also collaborated with several American TCM experts to translate his renowned work, “Authentic Medicinal Materials Atlas,” into English. Utilizing his expertise in Chinese medicine and fluent English, he continued to serve the public and contribute to society, expanding TCM education abroad. Despite retirement, he remains an active scholar.

Book Introduction:

During the Cultural Revolution in Mainland China many years ago, there was a significant loss of traditional knowledge and experience regarding high-quality authentic medicinal materials. This period of upheaval and social change led to a deterioration in the preservation and transmission of traditional practices, including the identification and use of authentic medicinal herbs. The loss was considerable as traditional expertise and resources were disrupted, impacting the continuity and quality of herbal medicine knowledge.

Taiwan, with its deep-rooted heritage in the He-Luo traditional Chinese medicine culture, has been fortunate to preserve this knowledge thoroughly. Scholar Zhang Xianzhe, from his youth to old age, dedicated over thirty years to interviewing, investigating, and photographing, collecting this invaluable knowledge and documenting it. He has used photographs to record history, ensuring that this precious information is preserved for future generations.

To prevent the loss of this valuable identification knowledge, the author has dedicated over thirty years to exploring the transmission of traditional Chinese medicine experience and identification. He traveled extensively across regions, conducting field investigations and interviews at traditional medicine pharmacies, gathering information from experienced practitioners and elderly informants, and collecting scattered oral and observational knowledge passed down through generations. He meticulously recorded the secret techniques and essential tips for identifying high-quality medicinal materials, including nuanced distinctions, key methods, and terminology that are traditionally passed down from masters to apprentices.

He hired professional photographers and, over 22 years, took meticulous photographs. From over 30,000 images, he selected more than 3,000 to showcase the sharp, accurate characteristics, colors, textures, and details of the medicinal materials.