Classical Chinese Medical Texts: Learning to Read the Classics of Chinese Medicine

by Richard L. Goodman

Classical Chinese Medical Texts: Learning to Read the Classics of Chinese Medicine is the first introduction to classical Chinese that focuses solely on medical texts. The selections that make up the chapters range from the late Han to the Qing dynasties, a period spanning over 1,500 years. All of the lessons are covered in a concise yet detailed manner, making this book suitable for self-taught learners and classrooms alike. The extensive vocabulary lists, detailed grammar notes, example sentences, and clear writing make this book accessible to all levels of Chinese language learners.

180 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2009

Reviews

[David Munez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has completely changed the way I view the study of Chinese medicine. Before, I was convinced that learning a few characters, understanding some of the issues in the terminology debate, and reading translations of medical texts was good enough. After studying this book (continuously), I have found that my prior knowledge was not enough.

Classical Chinese Medical Texts takes readers through a variety of medical texts. Each chapter has the perfect amount of new vocabulary items and (amazingly) selects texts so that the most important characters are repeated. The grammar explanations are clear, and are made clearer through example sentences. The book is laid out well enough that anyone who is willing to spend some time with it will be able to read the classical texts within.

I cannot recommend this book enough. This book is perfect for practitioners who feel they want to take their understanding to the next level,for scholars who wish to read beyond poetry and Meng Zi, and is so clear that anyone who is looking for thorough grammar explanations will benefit.

For anyone who has attempted to learn this language before and failed, give this book a try before you give up. Classical Chinese is not as difficult as you might think!