Important People and Events Related to Kampo Medicine

Person Birth/Death; Chinese Dynasty Events and Importance to Kampo

Zhang Zhongjing ~150-221 A.D. Han Dynasty Revered as the most astute physician in the history of Chinese medicine. He completed his works, later divided into Shanghan Lun and Jingui Yaolue, around 200 A.D. His formulas are considered flawless by many Kampo practitioners.

Tao Hongjing 452-536 A.D. Six Dynasties He revised the Shennong Bencao Jing, creating three categories of herbs (upper, middle, and lower), their implications were to strongly influence the early years of Kampo.

Sun Simiao 581-682 A.D. Sui and Tang Dynasties Considered to be the God of Medicine, Sun Simiao was the most influential physician to have lived just prior to the introduction of Chinese medicine to Japan. He produced two key works on herbal medicine: Qianjin Yaofang and Qianjin Yifang.

Jian Zhen ~690-760 A.D. Tang Dynasty Jian Zhen, a Buddhist priest knowledgeable in medicine, introduced the Chinese tradition to Japan in 753. He may be regarded as the founder of Kampo, as his work led to great appreciation for the value of traditional Chinese medicine in Japan.

Yasuyori Tamba 912-995 A.D. Northern Song Dynasty He produced the Ishimpo in 984, a medical text in 30 scrolls, which became the fundamental text of Kampo; it presents traditional Chinese medical theory and knowledge from the Han through to the Tang Dynasty period.

Chen Shiwen ca. 1060-1130 Northern Song Dynasty He and his colleagues compiled the Taiping Huimin Hejiju Fang (1110) under orders of the Chinese Emperor. It is the source of numerous valuable formulas that are still in use today in both China and Japan. It is second only to the works of Zhang Zhongjing as a source for Kampo formulas.

Sanki Tashiro 1465-1537 Ming Dynasty This Buddhist priest physician went to China (1486-1498) and learned the methods developed during the Jin-Yuan period, especially influenced by Li Gao and Zhu Danxi, which he then taught upon returning to Japan. His efforts led to the founding of the Goseiha School of Kampo.

Dosan Manase 1507-1594 Ming Dynasty Studied medicine under Sanki Tashiro, then returned to his home in Kyoto to establish the Keiteki-In Medical Center; helped found the Goseiha School; sometimes called the Dosan School.

Gensaku Manase 1549-1631 Ming Dynasty Helped spread the teachings of the Goseiha School of Medicine along with Genya Okamoto, Doju Nagasawa, Gyuzan Katsuki, Futei Fukui, and Gensen Tsuda.

Gong Tingxian 1522-1619 Ming Dynasty Gong Tingxian published Wanbing Huichun in 1587; known as the last major source of Kampo formulas from China.

Saramata Takera 1573-1614 Ming Dynasty Wrote the first text on abdominal diagnosis in Japan, Essentials of Abdominal Diagnosis (sometimes this book is attributed to his descendent Sarayoshi Takera, with publication in 1706).

Geni Nagoya 1628-1696 Qing Dynasty Considered the founder of the Kohoha School; he was influenced by Ming Dynasty physicians such as Zhang Jingyue.

Gonzan Goto 1659-1733 Qing Dynasty Influenced formation of the Kohoha School; two of its most active members, Shutoku Kagawa and Toyo Yamawaki were trained by him.

Shuan Kagawa 1683-1755 Qing Dynasty A student of Gonzan Goto; he wrote two books Ippondo-Gyoigen (Handbook of Medicine) and Ippondo-Yakusen (Handbook of Herbal Drugs). He strongly argued against speculative theories and arbitrary classifications, throwing out the Six Disease Stages concept from the Shanghan Lun.

Toyo Yamawaki 1705-1762 Qing Dynasty Student of Gonzan Goto and active member of the Kohoha School; he was the first ddoctor in Japan to carry out a human corpse dissection, with results published in the book Zoshi (Explanation of Internal Organs). This work disproved the traditional theory of five organs and six viscera which was relied upon by the Goseiha School.

Todo Yoshimasu 1702-1773 Qing Dynasty Criticized the speculative approach of the Goseiha School; stressed abdominal palpation therapy, and the use of strong purging methods. He believed that all diseases came from one poison that could affect different sites to produce various symptoms.

Genetsu Kagawa 1700-1777 Qing Dynasty Produced a book on obstetrics, Sanron, strongly influencing obstetrics from that time onwards.

Genken Taki 1795-1857 Qing Dynasty Participated in revival program for reconstituting old texts; leading to printing of Ishimpo in 1859, known as the Ansei version.

Sugita Genpaku 1733-1817 Qing Dynasty His book, Kaitai-shinsho (New Book of Anatomy, 1774), derived from a Dutch text, helped to introduce Western medicine into Japan; it become the dominant medical system within 100 years.

Seishu Hanaoka 1760-1835 Qing Dynasty Studied the Kohoha School under Nangai Yoshmasu; also studied surgery and used Kampo for anesthetic in surgical treatments; he created a school of combined Kampo and Western medicine. Sengen Wuda dates not available Qing Dynasty Translated Western texts on internal medicine, producing Selected Essentials of Western Theory of Internal Medicine in 1792.

Sohaku Asada 1815-1894 Qing Dynasty While he was a practitioner, smallpox vaccination was introduced, leading to decline in Kampo; the Meiji Government restricted entry of Kampo practitioners into medical profession in 1875. Asada helped form the Onchi-sha Association to oppose the restrictions.

Kyushin Yumoto 1876-1941 Researched Kampo remedies and worked to revive Kampo through publications and teachings, focusing on the Kohoha School. His book, Kokan Igaku, influenced many 20th Century doctors.

Wada Keijuro not available His book Ikai-no-tettsui (Iron Hammer of the Medical World; 1910), stressed the clinical value of Kampo and inspired many doctors to look at this medical system.

Kenzo Okumura 1884-1961 He taught Kampo to several medical students from China University. Those students formed a study group; one of the students, Ken Fujihira (1914-1998) taught Katsutoshi Terasawa, who now teaches Kampo at Toyama Medical University.

Jusha Tsumura not available Founded Tsumura Juntendo in 1893 and established the Tsumura Research Institute for Pharmaceutical Science and the Tsumura Herbal Garden in 1924. Tsumura Juntendo would become the largest supplier of Kampo in Japan.

Tadanao Nakayama not available His book Kampo-igaku-no-shin-kenkyu (New Study of Kampo Medicine; 1927) inspired Keisetsu Otsuka and others to take up Kampo.

Onzu Nagakura not available Established the Nagakura Pharmaceutical Company, which developed the process for scientifically prepared dried herb extracts.

Toyoji Naito 1889-1978 Established the Naito Museum of Pharmaceutical Science and Industry in 1971, providing historical information about medicine in Japan. The museum has over 6,000 books, including many ancient scrolls.

Keisetsu Otsuka 1900-1980 Studied herbal medicine under Kyushin Yumoto; started Kampo practice in 1931, founded the Oriental Medicine Research Center at the Kitasato Institute and founded the Japanese Society for Oriental Medicine.

Shiro Hosono 1899- Medical doctor who began study of Kampo in 1934 under Soguru Nietsuma; clinical director and organizing member of the Japanese Society for Oriental Medicine. Established the Hosono Clinic in Kyoto.

Domei Yakazu 1905- He practiced Kampo for over 50 years, became Director of the East Asia Medical Association of Japan, and wrote numerous articles and books on Kampo. He has been the main proponent of the Goseiha School in modern Japan, which is continued now by his son Keido Yakazu (1933-).

Takahide Kuwaki 1916- Well-known clinician and lecturer in Japan, he had been Vice President of the Oriental Medicine International Institute for many years.

Hong-yen Hsu 1917-1991 First Director of the Bureau of Drug Control (Taiwan), founder of Sun Ten Laboratories, Brion Research Institute, Oriental Healing Arts Institute, and Brion Herbs Corporation. Learned Kampo from Keisetsu Otsuka. His son, Chau-shin Hsu, helped translate and edit books and articles on Kampo and manufacture Chinese herb extracts (he is currently in charge of manufacturing in the U.S.).

Arichi Shieru 1922- Studied Kampo under Hosono Shiro; became Professor at the Institute of Oriental Medicine, Kinki University.

Toyohiko Kikutani 1933- He was Director of the Japan Society for Oriental Medicine, lecturer at Showa University, and superintendent at Kikutani Hospital.

Katsutoshi Terasawa 1944- Current Director of the Japan Society for Oriental Medicine, Professor at Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University.

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