Unearthed from the Han Dynasty tomb at Hantanpo in Wuwei City. It includes 78 wooden slips and 14 wooden table…
Unearthed from the Han Dynasty tomb at Hantanpo in Wuwei City. It includes 78 wooden slips and 14 wooden tablets. Judging from the traces on the slips and tablets, the slips have three binding strings, with binding done before writing; the 78 slips form a single scroll. There are two types of slips: one is 1 cm wide with notches on the sides, containing medical prescriptions for internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology and otolaryngology, as well as acupuncture techniques and taboos; the other is 0.5 cm wide without notches, containing prescriptions for treating various diseases and intractable illnesses. The tablets have two binding strings, with writing done before binding, the 14 tablets form a single scroll.
The content of the slips is rich, transcribing contemporary proven prescriptions. Over 30 complete or relatively complete medical prescriptions are preserved, covering internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, the five sense organs, acupuncture, etc. The prescriptions list nearly a hundred medicinal ingredients. Some prescriptions also detail disease names, symptoms, drugs, dosages, preparation methods, administration times, modes of application, acupuncture points, and precautions. They are important materials for studying Han Dynasty clinical medicine, acupuncture, and pharmacology.