ABSTRACT
From the minimalist Shang dynasty oracle bone inscriptions to the contemporary standardised templates, certain constants of yi’an 醫案 (case records) remain: the identification of the person seeking treatment, the date, the complaint and an assessment of cause or diagnosis. While we see the training of physicians following a master/apprentice model from the Han dynasty through the Tang, societal changes occurring from the Song onwards led to an upsurge of literate elites with an interest in medical texts, and the transformation of medical practice into an occupation suitable for the gentry. The recording of one’s medical practice became a significant part of the work of literati physicians, and during the Ming dynasty, literary flourish was a counterpart to medical prestige. During the Ming and Qing, encyclopaedias of case records emerged as a distinct genre of medical writing, and showcased the practice of eminent physicians. By the Republican Era, a more modern style of medical record keeping came into existence, with standardised templates for documenting information.
