A Chinese Physician: Wang Ji and the Stone Mountain Medical Case Histories (Needham Research Institute Series)

Plot

A Chinese Physician is the portrait of a 16th century medical writer and clinical practitioner. Three methodologies - loosely termed socio-economic/biographic, textual analysis, and gender analysis - and a variety of sources, from hagiographical biographies to medical case histories, are used to tell three very different but complementary stories about what it was to practise medicine in 16th century China. Woven together, these stories combine to create a multi-dimensional portrayal that brings to life the very human experiences, frustrations and aspirations of a well respected and influential physician who yet struggled to win respect from fellow practitioners and loyalty from patients. In so doing, the book creates a vibrant and colourful picture of contemporary medical practice that at the same time deepens our understanding of the interrelationship between gender culture and medicine.