Chuanya 串雅

Chuanya 串雅 "Refinement from the walking staff", also called Chuanya neiwai pian 串雅內外篇, is a medical book written during the Qing period 清 (1644-1911) by Zhao Xuemin 趙學敏 (c. 1719-1809), courtesy name Shuxuan 恕軒, style Yiji 依吉, from Qiantang 錢塘 (today part of Hangzhou 杭州, Zhejiang). Zhao compiled twelve medical texts that are known with the title Liji shi'er zhong 利濟十二種. He is also known for his supplement to the large pharmacological encyclopaedia, Bencao gangmu shiyi 本草綱目拾遺.

As the longer title says, the book is divided into an "inner" and an "outer part", with a length of 4 juan each. The book was finished in 1759 and is a written collection of practical experiences that the wandering physician (lingyi 鈴醫) Zhao Baiyun 趙柏雲 assembled over the years. The text is, however, also based on the findings presented in other books, like Jiushenghai 救生海, Baicaojing 百草鏡 or Yangsuyuan chuanxin fang 養素園傳信方.

The "Inner chapters" (Neipian 內篇) are divided into four parts. The titles follow special terms used by wandering physicians, namely "intercepting drugs" (jieyao 截藥, i.e., medicine that has quick and surprising effects, for external and internal medicine), "[finger]-tip medicine" (dingyao 頂藥, mostly emetic drugs), "stringed drugs" (chuanya 串藥, mostly laxatives), and single prescriptions (danfang 單方). Fascicle 4 contains single prescriptions for the treatment of miscellaneous diseases, surgery, accidental injuries and strange diseases. The "Outer Chapters" (Waipian 外篇) list prescriptions based on experience and touch the fields seasonal diseases, epidemics, acupuncture and moxibustion, fumigation and foments. It records the various therapies and prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, all of which are simple, convenient and inexpensive, and many of which are effective folk remedies that are not contained in general medical books. This part also expounds on methods for treating diseases of poultry and other domestic animals, as well as diseases of plants for agricultural use (published separately as Chuanya shouyi fang 串雅獸醫方).

The Chuanya is an important work for the study of traditional Chinese medicine, as it contains prescriptions and medicines that are easy to use and inexpensive. It is included in the series Zhibuzuzhai congshu 知不足齋叢書. In 1956, and 1960, respectively, the Renmin Weisheng Press 人民衛生出版 published facsimile and modern-print editions of the two parts.