一切經音義 29.14

29.14

King of physicians 醫王 (fanqie: yi + ji; the Zhouli says: “The Chief Physician governs the administration of medical matters, gathering medicines to cure the diseases of the myriad people.” In antiquity, Shaman Peng first practiced medicine [yi 醫]; the character yi 毉 originally derived from you 酉, or from wu 巫 to make 毉, which is also used; the Shuowen says: “An artisan who cures disease; physicians use alcohol to administer drugs, hence it derives from you 酉; 酉 is the ancient graph for alcohol [jiu 酒]”).