Chao Yuanfang

Chao Yuanfang, chief physician to Emperor Yang of the Sui dynasty, is remembered less for his life story than for his monumental work, Treatise on the Pathogenesis and Manifestations of All Diseases. In fifty volumes, it systematically classified illnesses by cause and manifestation, laying a foundation for Chinese medical etiology.

A famous anecdote about him occurred during the construction of the Grand Canal. The supervising minister, Ma Shumou, was afflicted by a severe illness marked by joint pain, dizziness, and vomiting. Despite consultations with numerous physicians, no cure was found. After examining the patient, Chao Yuanfang instructed that tender lamb be steamed with medicinal herbs and served to Ma. Upon consuming it, Ma recovered immediately. Chao explained that the illness resulted from "wind pathogen invading the couli (interstitial spaces)," and the warm, moist nature of lamb could expel cold and reinforce healthy qi. When combined with specific herbs, the therapeutic effect was achieved through the synergy of medicine and food.

This case illustrates the core Chinese medical concept that food and medicine share the same origin—nourishment and healing can blend seamlessly. Chao’s genius lay not only in diagnosis, but in harnessing nature’s own logic to restore health.