Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c6.33.3

v1.c6.33.3

A large quantity of Indian medical prescriptions and skills (such as Indian massage methods and ophthalmological gold needle techniques etc) were preserved in Sun Simiao’s *Bei ji qian jin yao fang* (*Valuable Prescriptions for Emergency*) and *Qianjin yi fang* (*Supplement to Invaluable Prescriptions for Ready Reference*), Wang Tao’s *Wai tai mi yao fang* (*Medical Secrets from the Royal Library*), Tanba Yasuyori’s (Japan) *Ji xin fang* (*Essence of Medical Prescriptions*) and in several other works written by Chinese physicians of later generations. They have preserved innumerable Indian medical prescriptions and methods of treatment (for example, India’s method for anesthesia and golden needle for ophthalmology). These provide an important testimony to exchanges in the medical field between India and China. Knowledge of Indian medicines also spread to China through Persia and Arabia. For example, in the Tang Dynasty, Sanlejiang (three forces liquid) syrup “via Persia” originated from three fruit medicines (‘harītakī’, ‘terminalia billerica’ and ‘amlaphala’) in India. There were multiple Indian medicines and prescriptions in the Islamic medicine book named *Hui hui yao fang* (*Prescriptions of Hui*) which was translated in the late Yuan Dynasty and the early Ming Dynasty. Particular attention must also be paid to the exchanges in medical sciences through a third country providing the bridge.