Bianjaku - Henjaku

Dates of birth and death unknown. A renowned physician from the Warring States period (403-221 BC) in China, he is considered the founder of Chinese medicine. A native of Bohai County (Hebei Province). His surname was Qin and his given name was Yuejin. When he was in the state of Zhao, he was called Bian Que. His biography can be found in the Records of the Grand Historian, which says that he traveled around various places, treating feudal lords and aristocrats, and, according to the customs of each region, treating women as a leucorrhea doctor, in places where the elderly were respected, as an ear and eye numbness doctor, and in places where children were cared for, as a pediatrician. He was well versed in diagnosis, and was particularly skilled at taking pulses. Treatments included acupuncture, medicinal herbs, and compresses. The Grand Healer of the Qin state, Li, killed the skilled Bian Que.

His works are recorded in the "Geimenzhi" section of the "Book of Han" as consisting of the "Bian Que Inner Classic" in 9 volumes and the "Outer Classic" in 12 volumes, but these have been lost and no longer exist.

[Yamamoto Noriko]

"Chinese Civilization from the Perspective of Scientific History" by Kiyoshi Yabuuchi (1983, Japan Broadcasting Publishing Association)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

生没年不詳。中国、戦国時代（前403～前221）の名医で、中国医学の祖師とされる。渤海(ぼっかい)郡（河北(かほく)省）の人。姓は秦(しん)、名を越人(えつじん)という。趙(ちょう)国にいたころ扁鵲とよばれた。伝記は『史記』中にみえ、それによれば、各地を遍歴し、諸侯や貴族の治療をはじめ、土地の風俗に従って、婦人を尊重する地では帯下(たいげ)医、老人を敬愛する地では耳目痺(じもくひ)医、小児を愛護する地では小児医として治療した。診断に精通し、とくに脈診に優れていた。治療法は鍼(はり)・湯薬(とうやく)・湿布(しっぷ)などを用いた。秦(しん)国の太医令李(りき)が技術的に勝る扁鵲を殺害した。

　著作は、『漢書(かんじょ)』芸文(げいもん)志に『扁鵲内経』9巻・『外経』12巻と記載されているが、亡失して現存しない。

［山本徳子］

『藪内清著『科学史からみた中国文明』（1983・日本放送出版協会）』

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