Yuan Shufang, a Centenarian TCM Practitioner from Zhumadian, Henan: Engraving a Hundred Medicinal Formulas on Her Tombstone, Carrying on the Benevolent Heart of a PhysicianIn Yuanzhuang Village, Ldian Township, Xiping County, Zhumadian City, Henan Province, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctor named Yuan Shufang has composed a deeply moving song of a physician's benevolent heart. This song is sung through her more than eighty years of medical practice and her posthumous act of inscribing one hundred treasured TCM formulas onto her tombstone
Yuan Shufang, a Centenarian TCM Practitioner from Zhumadian, Henan: Engraving a Hundred Medicinal Formulas on Her Tombstone, Carrying on the Benevolent Heart of a Physician
In Yuanzhuang Village, Ldian Township, Xiping County, Zhumadian City, Henan Province, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctor named Yuan Shufang has composed a deeply moving song of a physician's benevolent heart. This song is sung through her more than eighty years of medical practice and her posthumous act of inscribing one hundred treasured TCM formulas onto her tombstone. She was not merely a skilled TCM practitioner, but a paragon of selfless dedication, tirelessly passing on the flame of TCM culture. This article delves into the legendary life of Mrs. Yuan Shufang, exploring her family heritage, her medical journey, and her ultimate selfless contribution, comprehensively portraying the image of this admirable female physician.
Born into a Family of TCM Practitioners, Laying the Foundation for Medical Studies
Yuan Shufang was born into a family with a generations-long tradition of TCM practice, immersed from a young age in a rich atmosphere of traditional Chinese medicine. Her grandfather was a renowned TCM doctor in the village. From childhood, she accompanied him in gathering and preparing herbs, learning TCM knowledge through osmosis. Under her grandfather's meticulous guidance, she developed a deep interest in TCM and aspired to carry on its legacy. In that era, this was undoubtedly a challenging path for a woman.
A Difficult Path to Learning, Honing the Skills of a Physician
In a turbulent era, learning TCM was no easy feat. Female practitioners were not widely accepted; society generally expected women to focus on family life. However, Yuan Shufang did not abandon her dreams. From the age of sixteen, she learned TCM from her father and uncles, memorizing tedious pharmacopeias daily and learning the properties and uses of various herbs. Her father was very strict, regularly testing her knowledge of herbs and understanding of formulas. Yuan Shufang often pored over heavy TCM texts under dim oil lamps, diligently researching the ancestral "Nine-Colored Spirit Medicine" preparation method. Her willpower and skills were greatly honed during this arduous learning process.
After years of diligent study and practice, Yuan Shufang's medical skills became increasingly refined. She began accompanying her elders to treat villagers, independently handling simple treatments at a young age. She treated every patient seriously and earnestly, earning the trust and praise of the villagers and the recognition of her elders, allowing her to take on more important treatment responsibilities. She proved with her actions that "women are not inferior to men." In an era of scarce medical resources, Yuan Shufang's superb medical skills became a blessing for the local people.
Challenges and Perseverance on the Path of Medical Practice
Yuan Shufang's journey was not without its obstacles. In the early years of the People's Republic of China, medical resources in Henan Province were scarce, and relying solely on family knowledge was far from sufficient to improve medical skills. Many TCM classics were difficult to find, and clinical data was exceedingly rare. But Yuan Shufang did not give up. She actively sought various learning opportunities, constantly improving her medical skills. She treasured every piece of experience learned from older practitioners and accumulated lessons from treating patients. She personally went into the fields to understand the growth environment and characteristics of herbs, meticulously recording the properties of each herb and using her own hands to explore a wealth of valuable practical experience.
Responding to the Call, Serving the People
In the early days of the People's Republic of China, Henan Province urgently needed a large number of medical personnel. Yuan Shufang responded to the call, opening a simple clinic in Zhumadian to provide medical services to the masses. The clinic's conditions were rudimentary, and equipment was lacking, but her superb medical skills made up for these shortcomings. She insisted on charging the lowest fees and provided free treatment to patients who could not afford it. During her years in Zhumadian, she received a constant stream of patients every day, treating each one meticulously, regardless of their illness, often working late into the night.
A Life of Ups and Downs, Deep Conjugal Love
While practicing medicine in Zhumadian, Yuan Shufang met her husband, Wang Mingzhou, who also came from a family of TCM practitioners. His father had run a clinic, Jishengtang, in Nanjing. They both dedicated themselves to the TCM cause, living a simple and happy life. After their marriage, they had seven children, including their daughter Wang Fulan and son Wang Taisheng, who also inherited the family's TCM practice. However, during a difficult period, Wang Mingzhou was imprisoned, and Jishengtang was destroyed. Yuan Shufang single-handedly supported the whole family until Wang Mingzhou was exonerated in 1979, and their family life returned to normalcy. This experience did not diminish Yuan Shufang's passion for TCM, and she continued to practice medicine, relieving the suffering of many patients.
A Dying Wish, Passing on TCM Treasures
In her later years, Yuan Shufang sensed her time was drawing near, but she still insisted on seeing patients daily. She had an unfulfilled wish: to make her life's work public, leaving behind a valuable medical legacy for future generations. She believed that the essence of TCM lies in its inheritance and practice, and that only widespread dissemination can benefit more patients. Before her death, she entrusted her son with 100 meticulously developed TCM formulas, instructing him to engrave them on her tombstone, continuing the lifeblood of TCM in this unique way.
A Tombstone of a Hundred Medicinal Formulas, Continuing the TCM Legacy
In 2007, Yuan Shufang, over ninety years old, began to organize her formulas. Despite her declining health, she persisted in organizing her notes and case histories daily. Her son, Wang Taisheng, repeatedly urged her to take care of her health, but she always said, "These formulas can save lives; they cannot be buried with me." Yuan Shufang's formulas were diverse, covering internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, and more. To ensure the accuracy of each formula, she meticulously checked each herb and preparation method, explaining the origin and usage of each formula to her family, all meticulously recorded.
In 2008, her son, Wang Taisheng, fulfilled his mother's wish, engraving the 100 formulas onto her tombstone. This simple and unadorned tombstone carries the essence of Yuan Shufang's life and her boundless love for TCM. It details her life's work and the hundred formulas, a "TCM encyclopedia" in itself.
This unique tombstone has attracted numerous TCM practitioners and scholars interested in TCM, traveling from all over the country to carefully copy the formulas, researching the combination and use of each herb. Many patients and their families have also come to the tomb, hoping to find remedies for their ailments.
A Benevolent Physician's Heart, an Unending Legacy
Yuan Shufang's story has resonated deeply within the TCM community and touched countless ordinary people. Her selfless dedication is truly admirable. Her life embodies the selflessness and dedication of a true physician, benefiting countless patients and preserving TCM culture by engraving 100 formulas on her tombstone. The highest level of a physician is not only in curing illnesses and saving lives, but also in selflessly passing on medical skills, paving a path to health for future generations. Yuan Shufang was precisely such a revered physician. Her spirit will inspire generations of TCM practitioners to continue striving for the inheritance and development of TCM.
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