Clipping Board » Medical Affairs and Administration ─ Medical system, pharmaceuticals, and medical community-related reports
April 7, 2006
Researcher Luo Xiwen from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences recently visited Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine and presented the university with an English translation of the "Compendium of Materia Medica," a work that embodies 30 years of his dedication.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a national treasure of China, and in recent years, the global interest in TCM has been steadily increasing. However, the unique theories and profound language of TCM classics pose significant translation challenges, which have become one of the bottlenecks hindering the internationalization of TCM.
Luo Xiwen obtained a master's degree in law from the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in 1983 and a Ph.D. in Oriental Medical Philosophy from the Los Angeles University of East-West Medicine in 1985. He is currently a researcher at the Institute of Philosophy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a national-level expert with outstanding contributions, and enjoys special government allowances from the State Council. Influenced by renowned physicians in his early years and witnessing the life-prolonging effects of TCM on critically ill patients deemed incurable by Western medicine, Luo Xiwen truly recognized the greatness of TCM. This realization inspired him to dedicate himself to translating TCM classics, embarking on over 30 years of relentless effort.
During his studies at the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences from 1979 to 1982, Luo Xiwen translated one of the TCM classics, the "Treatise on Cold Damage." In 1985, the English version of the "Treatise on Cold Damage," with a preface by the renowned British scholar Joseph Needham, was published in mainland China. In the early 1970s, he began the English translation of the "Compendium of Materia Medica," spending 20 years on preparatory work and another 10 years on the actual translation. The translation consists of six volumes and over six million words. The work was recently published by the Foreign Languages Press.
Luo Xiwen stated that to promote traditional Chinese culture and bring TCM classics to the world, he plans to complete the translation of TCM classics from the Warring States period to the Qing Dynasty, including the "Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon," "Zhong Zang Jing," "Shen Nong's Herbal Classic," and "Thousand Golden Formulas," within 5 to 10 years. This plan has garnered national attention and support from the Ministry of Science and Technology. The "Research and English Translation Project of TCM Classics" has already been launched, encompassing not only translation but also research and dissemination. Luo Xiwen emphasized that the internationalization of TCM cannot rely solely on individual efforts; it requires collaboration from relevant government departments, the TCM community, and multidisciplinary experts. He hopes to collaborate with Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, using the university as a base to gather scholars' collective efforts to complete this project. Xu Zhiwei, the university's president, stated that Guangdong is building itself into a strong province for TCM, and the university is fully committed to advancing TCM. The university will fully support this project and welcomes Luo Xiwen to establish a studio at the International College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine.
Accompanied by Xu Zhiwei, Luo Xiwen and his delegation also visited the renowned TCM professor Deng Tietao, who gladly accepted the invitation to serve as a consultant for the project.
Source: http://www. takungpao. com/ news/ 06/ 04/ 07/ GY- 549130. htm
Translation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classics
Researcher Luo Xiwen from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences recently visited Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine and presented the university with an English translation of the "Compendium of Materia Medica," a work that embodies 30 years of his dedication.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a national treasure of China, and in recent years, the global interest in TCM has been steadily increasing. However, the unique theories and profound language of TCM classics pose significant translation challenges, which have become one of the bottlenecks hindering the internationalization of TCM.
Luo Xiwen obtained a master's degree in law from the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in 1983 and a Ph.D. in Oriental Medical Philosophy from the Los Angeles University of East-West Medicine in 1985. He is currently a researcher at the Institute of Philosophy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a national-level expert with outstanding contributions, and enjoys special government allowances from the State Council. Influenced by renowned physicians in his early years and witnessing the life-prolonging effects of TCM on critically ill patients deemed incurable by Western medicine, Luo Xiwen truly recognized the greatness of TCM. This realization inspired him to dedicate himself to translating TCM classics, embarking on over 30 years of relentless effort.
During his studies at the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences from 1979 to 1982, Luo Xiwen translated one of the TCM classics, the "Treatise on Cold Damage." In 1985, the English version of the "Treatise on Cold Damage," with a preface by the renowned British scholar Joseph Needham, was published in mainland China. In the early 1970s, he began the English translation of the "Compendium of Materia Medica," spending 20 years on preparatory work and another 10 years on the actual translation. The translation consists of six volumes and over six million words. The work was recently published by the Foreign Languages Press.
Luo Xiwen stated that to promote traditional Chinese culture and bring TCM classics to the world, he plans to complete the translation of TCM classics from the Warring States period to the Qing Dynasty, including the "Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon," "Zhong Zang Jing," "Shen Nong's Herbal Classic," and "Thousand Golden Formulas," within 5 to 10 years. This plan has garnered national attention and support from the Ministry of Science and Technology. The "Research and English Translation Project of TCM Classics" has already been launched, encompassing not only translation but also research and dissemination. Luo Xiwen emphasized that the internationalization of TCM cannot rely solely on individual efforts; it requires collaboration from relevant government departments, the TCM community, and multidisciplinary experts. He hopes to collaborate with Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, using the university as a base to gather scholars' collective efforts to complete this project. Xu Zhiwei, the university's president, stated that Guangdong is building itself into a strong province for TCM, and the university is fully committed to advancing TCM. The university will fully support this project and welcomes Luo Xiwen to establish a studio at the International College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine.
Accompanied by Xu Zhiwei, Luo Xiwen and his delegation also visited the renowned TCM professor Deng Tietao, who gladly accepted the invitation to serve as a consultant for the project.
Source: http://www. takungpao. com/ news/ 06/ 04/ 07/ GY- 549130. htm