• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.418-426
• /
• 2012

Murai Kinzan was a disciple of the great Ko-bang scholar, Yoshimasu Todo(吉益東洞). He was born in a family of doctors, he helped his father's medical works and together made an institution of medical education. He wrote many medical books such as "Yakuchozokuhen(藥徵續編)", "Idonisen'nenganmokuhen(醫道二千年眼目編)" and "Hogyokusantei(方極刪定)". He followed Yoshimasu Todo's theories that "All disease comes from a single poison" and criticized scholars such as Yoshimasu Nangai(吉益南涯) for modifying the theories of his teacher, Yoshimasu Todo. He was also influenced by Kagawa Shuuan(香川修庵) through his father, and learned medicine from Yamawaki Touyou(山脇東洋) through letters. Under the influence of these great scholars, he pursued empirical and practical medicine based on his own experience using "Shanghanlun(傷寒論)" and "Jinguiyaolue(金匱要略)" for reference. In "Yakuchozokuhen" and "Yakuchozokuhenhuroku", Murai Kinzan maintained the main frame of "Yakucho(藥徵)", Yoshimasu Todo's work, discussing in 5 categories. Medicines that are used popularly were written in "Yakucho" and "Yakuchozokuhen", therefore those books were discussed in 5 categories. However, "Yakuchozokuhenhuroku" were discussed only in 1 ~ 3 categories.