ABSTRACT
The Song emperors’ interest in medicine was indeed historically unique, serving as the catalyst for ensuing changes in medicine. Nevertheless, if interest in medicine had not extended beyond the imperial palace, its impact would probably have been limited if not marginal. The Song scholar-officials, following the emperors’ initiatives, took personal interest in medicine. A Qing dynasty scholar, Shi Yunyu (1756-1837), encapsulates the Song scholar-official’s attitude or role toward medicine, saying:
During the Song dynasty, the gentlemen [i.e., scholar-officials] perceived caring for the people as the essence of fulfilling their duties. Officials established the Imperial Pharmacy to provide medicine for the poor. For this reason, many literati also took interest in [and wrote] medical books. For example, among the medical works [written by scholars] of this age are the Beneficial Formulas by Su and Shen and Xu Shuwei’s Original Formulary .1 This was the era when this attitude [among the literati toward medicine] began.2
