Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c4.s2.68

v1.c4.s2.68

A medical doctor Sun Simiao (about 581~682 CE) wrote *Qian Jin Yao Fang* and *Qian Jin Yi Fang* the former included recipes compiled by him on the basis of historical documents and private prescriptions in the year 652 CE, and the latter was composed 30 years later on the basis of his medical practice. In the preface of *Qian Jin Yao Fang*, Sun cited medical theories in Buddhist texts, thinking that people would not fall ill if four elements inside their bodies i.e. earth, water, fire and wind were coordinated while lack of coordination would lead to illness. The *Qian Jin Yi Fan* had a number of Indian prescriptions, some of which used Indian medicinal herbs. Wang Tao (mid-7^th^ century CE) was another medical doctor who adopted the “four elements” theory and included many Indian prescriptions.