Tracing origin of "Qinggong Maidong" production area based on analysis of literature and historical materials and identification of characteristics of Qinggong medicinal materials and cultural relics.
10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20250311.101
- Author:
Ao-Yu REN
1
;
Ting YAO
2
;
Feng-Yuan LI
2
;
Hua-Sheng PENG
3
Author Information
1. State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs,National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Beijing 100700,China.
2. Department of Palace,Palace Museum Beijing 100009,China.
3. State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs,National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Beijing 100700,China Key Scientific Research Base of Traditional Chinese Medicine Heritage (Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences), National Cultural Heritage Administration Beijing 100700, China.
- Publication Type:English Abstract
- Keywords:
Maidong;
archaeology of materia medica;
local chronicle;
origin traceability;
textual research on materia medica
- MeSH:
China;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/history*;
History, 17th Century;
History, Ancient;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history*;
History, Medieval;
History, 16th Century;
History, 18th Century;
History, 15th Century;
Plants, Medicinal/chemistry*;
History, 19th Century;
History, 20th Century;
Humans;
Materia Medica/history*;
History, 21st Century
- From:
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica
2025;50(11):2931-2937
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Maidong products are categorized into "Hang Maidong" and "Chuan Maidong". Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, "Hang Maidong" has been regarded as having superior quality, but currently, it remains in name only in the market. This article reviewed historical materia medica and local chronicles from the Ming and Qing Dynasties and analyzed the historical evolution of Maidong production areas. The history of Maidong production in Zhejiang can be traced back to the Song Dynasty, and cultivation had already developed by at least the Ming Dynasty. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was consistently used as a tribute. Ming Dynasty chronicles record "Chuan Maidong", which had already been cultivated on a large scale by the Qing Dynasty. "Hang Maidong" and "Chuan Maidong" share the same origin, with the former identifiable by the "gourd waist" shape of its tuberous root. Based on this, it can be inferred that the "Maimendong" herb illustrated in the Origins of Materia Medica(Ben Cao Yuan Shi) and the Maidong stored in the Qing Palace Imperial Pharmacy were both "Hang Maidong". The protection and development of the authentic "Hang Maidong" medicinal herb are urgently needed.
