Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c6.s2.t3.90

v1.c6.s2.t3.90

There are numerous references to Jīvaka in later Chinese works both historical and medical. For example, in the history of Sui Dynasty, a section is attributed to Qi Po. In a contemporary medical compendium viz Zhu bing yuan huo lun, 諸病源候論 (a complete discussion of the origins and symptoms of diseases) written by Chao Yuan Fang in CE 610, some medical treatise of Qi Po (Jīvaka) are mentioned. Sun Simiao, a well-known medical writer of the time, known as the “king of pharmaceutics” writes: “A great medicine man of India, Jīvaka has said that all things under heaven have medicinal efficacy.” His two compilations Beiji Qianjin Yaofang 備急千金要方 (Emergency medicinal formulae worth a thousand pieces of gold) and its supplement Qianjin Yifang 千金翼方 (Supplement to the medicinal formulae worth a thousand pieces of gold), there are medical prescriptions attributed to Qi Po.