Ancient China regarded medicine as a form of "benevolent governance." The Song Dynasty was a pivotal era for China's medical development. The invention of movable type printing technology greatly facilitated the mass printing of medical books and the saying "Instead of being a good statesman, you should be a good doctor." reflected the importance placed on healthcare." General knowledge of health and hygiene was promoted by the government as a national education that demonstrated benevolence and love for the people, and medical and welfare organizations such as the Anjifang and the Shiyao Bureau were set up to provide free medical treatments to the underprivileged.
In the Song Dynasty, Taoism was designated as the state religion. Since ancient times, the practices of medicine and Taoism have been closely intertwined. The emperors of the Song Dynasty highly valued the compilation of pharmacopoeias and medicinal formulas. Emperor Taizu compiled the "Kaibao Bencao," and Emperor Renzong later completed the "Jiayou Bencao." In addition to the nationally organized compilation of pharmacopoeias, the Song government established a specialized institution for editing and publishing medical books known as the Bureau of Editing Medical Books. During the Northern Song Dynasty, there were five large-scale efforts to revise and correct medical books, completing the collation and verification of nearly all medical classics before the Song Dynasty in China. The "Qingli Shanjiufang," compiled during the reign of Emperor Renzong, was specifically created by the government to combat the prevalence of witch doctors who discouraged the use of medicine. It was a concise yet informative publication that was promoted by local officials, showcasing the Song government's determination to combat witch doctors and promote medicine knowledge.
Zhu Gong, who lived in Hangzhou during the Northern Song Dynasty, wrote the book "Chongjiaozheng Huorenshu," which discussed meridians, pulse points, and analyzed various symptoms of febrile diseases. The book gained great attention from the imperial court and was published by the National Academy to be widely distributed throughout the country. It still exists in various editions, and the People's Health Publishing House has compiled and published it. The original Hangzhou edition is preserved in the Jingkang Library in Japan.
During his tenure in Hangzhou, Su Shi (also known as Su Dongpo) established the Anlefang, which can be considered as a "Huoshenshan Hospital" of the Song Dynasty. When he served in Huangzhou, a city plagued by an epidemic, his personal prescription called "Sheng San Zi Fang" played a significant role. He later passed this prescription to Pang Anshi, known as the "Medical King of the Northern Song Dynasty," and it was recorded in the book "Shanghan Zongbing Lun." To commemorate Su Shi's contribution, two bridges near the Anlefang were renamed as "Zhong'an Bridge" and "Zhongle Bridge," names that continue to be used today.
After the establishment of the Southern Song Dynasty, the Imperial Academy of Medical Officials was established to oversee medical and health regulations. The Imperial Medical Bureau was also established to manage the healthcare system nationwide. It included professors and doctors from various specialties, with a total of hundreds of staff members. They collectively compiled a large number of prescriptions that were widely promoted and used in different regions. A specialized school called "Yixue" was established to teach medical knowledge and train medical professionals. They also developed medicines and established "Huimin Drug Stores" to provide assistance to the poor and sick. Furthermore, the flourishing overseas trade of the Southern Song Dynasty led to the influx of foreign medicines, further promoting the development of medical science. The classification of medical disciplines in the Southern Song Dynasty became more comprehensive than before, and a group of specialists in various fields emerged, producing significant medical works. Notable experts in surgery included Ji Qing, Chen Ziming, and Dongxuan Jushi, and others. The "Ji Jie Gu Qiao" bridge in Hangzhou is said to be named after the bone specialist Ji Qing. Chen Ziming, an expert in both surgery and gynecology, wrote the book "Furen Daquan Liangfang," which is the earliest extant specialized treatise on traditional Chinese medicine for gynecology and obstetrics. It is hailed as a brilliant gem in the treasure trove of Chinese medicine.
The Southern Song Dynasty also witnessed the formal establishment of forensic medicine in China. During the reign of Emperor Xiaozong, an outstanding forensic scientist named Song Ci pioneered the field of "forensic identification," and his compilation "Xiyuan Jilu" is recognized as the world's first forensic medicine monograph. The methods described in the book, such as washing corpses, artificial respiration, splint fixation of fractures, examining injuries in sunlight with umbrellas, as well as using silver needles to test for poisons and using alum to neutralize arsenic, all align with modern medical concepts. Song Ci's "identifying paternity by dripping blood" method represents the earliest recorded concept of blood types in Chinese history.