A famous thinker once profoundly pointed out: "Civilization is moving forward in the shadow of the plague." This sentence profoundly reveals the tenacity and wisdom of China's ancient civilization in the fight against the epidemic. This land of China has nurtured a splendid culture of more than 5,000 years, and this history has also witnessed the battle between the Chinese people and countless epidemics.
According to the record of historian Deng Tuo's 1937 book "The History of China's Famine Relief", epidemics and diseases were frequent in ancient China. The specific data show that it occurred 1 time in the Zhou Dynasty, 13 times in the Qin and Han dynasties, 17 times in the Wei and Jin dynasties, 17 times in the Sui and Tang dynasties, 32 times in the Song and Song dynasties, 20 times in the Yuan Dynasty, 64 times in the Ming Dynasty, and 74 times in the Qing Dynasty, totaling 238 times.
Another scholar, Professor Wang Yuxing, provided more detailed data in his 2003 book Chronology of Epidemic Epidemics in Ancient China. He calculated that in the 2,154 years from 243 B.C. to 1911 A.D., ancient China experienced a total of 352 plagues, with a cumulative total of more than 600 plague years.
From these data, it is not difficult to see that the epidemic in ancient China was frequent and continuous, and social progress and the development of medical technology did not make the epidemic subside, but had a tendency to intensify. In this long struggle, traditional Chinese medicine has played an important role and has never been absent from the fight against epidemics.
Next, let's explore how ancient China responded to these epidemic challenges.
Traditional Chinese Medicine: The Treasure of Chinese Civilization in Epidemic Prevention
Traditional Chinese medicine, as a great treasure of Chinese civilization, has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience in the prevention and treatment of epidemics. Traditional Chinese medicine, which has been passed down from generation to generation, has provided countless valuable medical wisdom for future generations.
In ancient China, there was a clear distinction between diseases and epidemics, with non-communicable diseases being called "diseases" and epidemic infectious diseases being called "epidemics".
Archaeological data show that there were records of epidemics in China during the Yin Shang period (about 3,000 years ago), covering plague, miasma, dysentery, influenza, leprosy, etc. Ancient books such as "Shangshu", "Chinese", "Zuo Chuan" and "Shiji" are all recorded in detail.
In the Shang Dynasty, people mainly relied on witchcraft and divination to cure diseases, but there were already acupuncture and other treatment methods. The advanced sewer system found in the archaeological site of Yinxu also reflects early isolation measures.
Records from the Zhou Dynasty indicate that the "Great Disaster of Qi" in the summer of 676 BC was the earliest recorded large-scale epidemic in Chinese history. The Zhou royal family attaches great importance to epidemic prevention and control, and in addition to holding epidemic removal ceremonies, there are also officials who are specifically responsible for the epidemic. The "Classic of Mountains and Seas" of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period recorded anti-epidemic medicines.
During the Qin and Han dynasties, Chinese medicine gradually matured. The Yellow Emperor's Neijing put forward a complete theory of epidemic prevention and control, while Zhang Zhongjing's Treatise on Typhoid Fever and Miscellaneous Diseases provided detailed prescriptions and drug knowledge. Zhang Zhongjing also put forward dietary taboos in "The Golden Essentials" to prevent the spread of epidemics.
Ge Hong's "Elbow Reserve Emergency Prescription" of the Jin Dynasty recorded the treatment of smallpox, rabies, etc. Tu Youyou took inspiration from the book to extract artemisinin, which can effectively reduce malaria mortality. Books such as "Huainanzi" and "On Balance" also record the people's experience in dealing with epidemics.
In the Tang Dynasty, Sun Simiao's "Qianjin Yao Fang" proposed disinfection methods such as fumigation and pouring medicine into the well. In terms of pre-epidemic prevention, there were various methods in ancient times, such as Hua Tuo's "Tusu Wine" and Ge Hong's Laojun Shen Mingsan.
During the Northern Song Dynasty, people used methods such as burning incense and using peach charms to drive away epidemics. The firecrackers, Tu Su, and peach charms in the poem "Yuan Ri" reflect the cultural tradition of the ancients to drive away evil spirits and avoid epidemics.
During the Dragon Boat Festival, the customs of fumigating moxa smoke, bathing in moxa, and drinking moxa wine originated from the moxibustion tradition of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, reflecting the cultural symbolism of mugwort leaves in dispelling diseases and avoiding epidemics.
During the Southern Song Dynasty, in addition to distributing "Bupleurum Pharmaceutical", the imperial court also provided epidemic prevention guidance. The Ming Dynasty's "Treatise on Plague" is a collection of plague works. The Qing Dynasty's "Complete Book of Epidemic Control" put forward specific epidemic prevention measures.
Modern epidemic prevention and control has also inherited the wisdom of ancient times. Through the Internet, people can easily obtain information on Chinese patent medicines or traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, such as Lianhua Qingwen Granules, Jinhua Qinggan, Xiaochaihu Granules, etc.
In summary, traditional Chinese medicine is not only a treasure trove for the Chinese nation, but also the crystallization of the wisdom of our ancestors, which has played an important role in coping with the epidemic.
Epidemic prevention wisdom through the ages: isolation
Quarantine played a crucial role in ancient epidemic prevention strategies. Due to the limited level of medical care at that time, the poor means of information dissemination and transportation, and the relatively small population density, the epidemic was usually confined to a specific area. These conditions prompted the ancients to conclude that quarantine was an effective way to contain the spread of the epidemic.
During the Shang Dynasty, the rudiments of isolation had already appeared. In the Qin Dynasty, the Quarantine and Epidemic Prevention Law was formally established, and the Qin Law clearly stipulated the establishment of "boil houses" for the isolation of epidemic patients. This move marked the official application of the segregation law in ancient China.
During the Western Han Dynasty, in the face of the outbreak of the disease, timely isolation measures were taken to prevent further spread. In the first two years of Emperor Ping of the Han Dynasty, faced with the triple blow of plague, drought and locust plague, the imperial court used vacant houses as temporary isolation points to concentrate on treating patients with the disease and provide necessary medical support.
The Book of the Later Han Dynasty: The Biography of Huangfu Gui records that during the Han army's westward expedition, a plague broke out in the army, resulting in the death of a large number of soldiers. At that time, the officers and soldiers infected with the disease were isolated and treated in order to prevent the spread of the epidemic.
During the Jin Dynasty, the practice of self-isolation also emerged. If a courtier's family has more than three people infected, they will need to self-isolate for up to 100 days, even if they are not infected. The reason for this prolonged quarantine is the lack of advanced testing methods in ancient times, so it took longer to ensure safety.
In order to compensate for the power of the state, various medical institutions have also been established in successive dynasties. For example, the Northern Wei Dynasty set up a medical center, the Qin and Sui dynasties set up "boil workshops" for leper patients, the Tang Dynasty set up medical centers in monasteries to give medicines and publish prescriptions, and the Qing court set up "pox shelters" to isolate smallpox infected people.
These quarantine measures, which are still widely used in epidemic prevention and control in recent years, prove the enduring value of the wisdom of the ancients.
Epidemic Prevention and Control in Ancient China: The Government and the People Work Together to Fight the Epidemic
In ancient China, in the face of the outbreak of the epidemic, the official lead in organizing treatment was the main way to respond. This anti-epidemic model of public-private cooperation has been an effective response strategy since ancient times.
In the 14th year of the Eastern Han Dynasty (38 years), a large-scale plague broke out in the Huiji area, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. At that time, Taishou Zhong Liyi personally went deep into the epidemic area to provide medical assistance to the people, and his bravery and dedication are recorded in the "Book of the Later Han Dynasty: The Biography of Zhong Liyi".
In the twenty-second year of Jian'an in the Eastern Han Dynasty (217), Sima Lang, a well-known official, was infected when he went deep into the epidemic area to deliver medicine, and finally unfortunately died. This incident shows the sacrifice and dedication of officials on the front lines of the fight against the epidemic.
During the Song Dynasty, the emperor attached great importance to the civil epidemic. Song Renzong once distributed his precious medicinal materials to the people, and at the same time compiled, revised and printed a large number of medical books, and set up a "Correction Medical Book Bureau" to systematically organize and reprint important medical classics of the past dynasties, and promote medical books and prescriptions. This practice was very rare in the world at that time.
Before the Ming Dynasty, treatment was mostly performed by folk doctors organized by the government. By the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the medical system was more perfect, and the scale of the Tai Hospital expanded, becoming the backbone of the fight against the epidemic. Once the epidemic broke out, the emperor would send imperial doctors to the people for consultation and treatment.
According to the Records of Sejong, when the plague broke out in the capital in 1541, Emperor Zhu Houxi of the Ming Dynasty personally formulated the prescription "Relief Epidemic Relief Xiaoyinzi Fang" and ordered it to be distributed to the people.
In addition to medical assistance, the imperial court's anti-epidemic measures also included tax reductions and exemptions, amnesty for prisoners, opening warehouses for grain release, and distributing supplies. These measures reflect the multifaceted epidemic prevention and control strategy of the government and the people in ancient China.
Prevention First: Health and the Environment in Ancient China
Since the pre-Qin period, ancient China has begun to attach importance to epidemic prevention and the management of the sanitary environment. This idea and practice of precautionary disease runs through ancient Chinese medicine and folk customs.
The famous saying in the Yellow Emperor's Neijing, "The sage does not cure the disease, but the disease is not cured" reflects the preventive thinking of ancient Chinese medicine. This sentence emphasizes the importance of paying attention to and improving the hygienic environment before the disease occurs, so as to prevent it from occurring.
In the customs of the Han people, there is the habit of "sweeping the year". This custom is practiced in most parts of the country and is usually practiced on or around the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month. Whether it is "cleaning the house" in the north or "dusting" in the south, its core purpose is to achieve the effect of preventing diseases by thoroughly cleaning the home and removing dust and pests.
In Chinese folklore, the Dragon Boat Festival is regarded as a kind of "epidemic prevention festival" with the participation of the whole people. In this festival, every household will drink realgar wine, mugwort leaf wine, hanging calamus, burning atractylodes, etc., these customs are actually a kind of sterilization and disinfection epidemic prevention measures. During the Dragon Boat Festival, the weather gets hotter and more prone to pests, so these customs help prevent pest and disease infections.
In modern times, in addition to cleaning according to traditional customs, people often carry out daily thorough cleaning. This habit continues the ancient idea of prevention and reflects the importance of a hygienic environment in disease prevention.
Prevention and control of ancient epidemics: sterilization and disinfection and prevention of secondary transmission
In ancient China, controlling the spread of diseases and preventing secondary outbreaks of epidemics were extremely important tasks. To this end, the ancients adopted a variety of sterilization and disinfection methods to ensure that the epidemic did not spread again.
Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty mentioned in his writings the method of using steam for disinfection. This method disinfects clothing by killing germs with steam, similar to what we do today using hot water to scald or boil clothes.
A similar method of disinfection was mentioned by Jia Shanting of the Qing Dynasty in his Collection of Immortal Recipes: Prescriptions for Clearing the Plague, describing the use of the patient's clothes on an ancient cooker for steaming to prevent the spread of the epidemic.
When dealing with people who died of the plague, the ancient imperial court would also take special measures, such as giving coffins for heavy burials or adopting centralized treatment methods to prevent the further spread of the plague.
An example of this is the Song Dynasty's "Drain Garden", which was an official mass burial ground for people who had no bones or whose families were too poor to afford a funeral.
During the Song and Song dynasties, special attention was paid to epidemic prevention and treatment. The people of the Song Dynasty had already realized that boiling water could destroy pathogens, and they also realized that feces could spread diseases, so they set up special fecal collectors in the city of Hangzhou. In addition, the Song Dynasty also attached great importance to prison hygiene, requiring thorough cleaning every five days and keeping the prisoners' shackles clean.
In modern times, we have adopted similar measures to sanitize diseases after epidemics. For example, clothing, bedding, toiletries, etc., should be thoroughly cleaned or disposed of to prevent the virus from spreading again. These practices demonstrate the continuing influence of ancient wisdom in modern epidemic prevention and control.
Immunization: Historical Evolution from Ancient China to Modern Times
The history of immunization as a method of preventing infectious diseases can be traced back to the Northern Song Dynasty in China, when smallpox vaccination was first introduced.
By the middle of the Ming Dynasty, Chinese folk inoculation against smallpox had been developed. In this method, smallpox patients are ground into a powder and blown into the nostrils of healthy people, so that they can contract smallpox and gain immunity.
This technique was later brought to Europe by foreigners, leading to the invention of vaccinia inoculation in England, thus laying the foundation for the global eradication of smallpox, a deadly infectious disease.
The Ming Dynasty made significant progress in the study of infectious diseases in the history of traditional Chinese medicine, and a large number of infectious disease experts were born. On the basis of the experience of their predecessors, they published medical monographs devoted to infectious diseases such as plague, pox, leprosy, and malaria.
In the Qing Dynasty, the Kangxi Emperor attached great importance to the prevention and control of smallpox, and ordered the 49 banners and the Khalkha domains to carry out smallpox vaccination, and the vaccination effect was very significant. Emperor Kangxi also personally studied smallpox and vigorously promoted the pox method. Unfortunately, however, the Tongzhi Emperor still died of smallpox.
In modern times, advances in medical technology have made vaccination more widespread and efficient. Modern vaccinations target different groups of people, such as adults, the elderly, and children, providing a wide range of protection against the occurrence and spread of various infectious diseases.
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In the long history of mankind, plague has always been a top natural disaster, which not only threatens the life and health of individuals, but also profoundly affects the development process of human society.
The symbiotic relationship between viruses and humans has lasted for thousands of years, and over time, they have gradually become less virulent and gradually become a common condition in certain populations.
Taking today's Omicron virus as an example, according to the analysis of Academician Zhong Nanshan, its mutation rate has reached 96.4%, which is close to saturation. Most people infected with Omicron recover fully within 7 to 10 days, with relatively mild symptoms.
Judging from the actual situation of individual families, even if four people in a family of five are infected, the symptoms are not serious, most of them are fatigue, cough and headache, and most of them turn negative after five or six days. However, for older adults and people with underlying medical conditions, the effects of infection can be more severe.
As a result, we are faced with a long and arduous road to universal immunization. Nevertheless, we remain confident in the fight against the pandemic. As the nature of the virus shows, when we are strong, it becomes weak. There is reason to believe that humanity will eventually be able to overcome this pandemic.
Finally, I would like to cheer you up with a classic saying: "The four healings of life: the more good decisions, the happier the life, the stronger the ability to resist diseases, and the better the physical and mental health." ”
I wish you all good health, all the best and a happy life!