From 'Elbow' to 'Fingers': The Metaphorical Tradition in Titles of Traditional Chinese Medical Classics (4th-14th Century)
Abstract：This article focuses on the evolution of metaphorical expressions in the titles of ancient to late medieval Chinese medical texts. Unlike the frequent use of hand-related metaphors (such as enchiridions, manuals, and handbooks) in European history to denote specific literary genres, Chinese medical texts exhibit a diverse range of bodily metaphors. Hand-related metaphors were rarely used in the early medieval period but were soon replaced by metaphors related to fingers and palms. Based on the development of Chinese manuscript and printed medical texts from the 4th to the 14th century, this study conducts a diachronic analysis of the formation and evolution of various metaphors in medical book titles. These metaphors not only reveal important information about changes in the textual genres of medicine but also provide strong evidence for the profound changes in the management of Chinese medical literature. With the increasing number of manuscripts and printed books, the classification of medical texts became increasingly complex. To facilitate readers' learning, medical writers at the time introduced many innovations in text structure, which are reflected in the titles of books through creative genre names, descriptive terms, and the use of metaphors.
Keywords：Song-Yuan-Ming periodChinese medical textsmetaphorlearning medicine through booksgenre
Publication Date：2025-02-20
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 56-61 )