Ishinpō

The Ishinpō (医心方, Ishinhō, literally "Heart of Medicine Methods") is the oldest surviving Japanese medical text. Compiled by Tamba Yasuyori (丹波康頼) in 984 CE during the Heian period, it is a comprehensive collection of medical knowledge derived primarily from earlier Chinese sources, many of which are now lost in their original form.

The Ishinpō consists of 30 volumes, covering a vast range of medical topics, including:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Diagnosis and prognosis
• Internal medicine
• Surgery
• Gynecology and obstetrics
• Pediatrics
• Ophthalmology
• Dentistry
• Pharmacology and materia medica
• Diet and hygiene
• Acupuncture and moxibustion

Because it preserves extensive excerpts from ancient Chinese medical texts that no longer exist in China, the Ishinpō is considered a crucial resource for the study of the history of medicine, not only in Japan but also in China and East Asia more broadly. It provides valuable insights into the medical practices and theories prevalent in the region during the early medieval period. The text reveals a complex interaction between traditional Chinese medical knowledge and its adaptation within the Japanese cultural context.

The Ishinpō is a testament to the scholarship of Tamba Yasuyori and the importance of preserving medical knowledge. Its detailed descriptions of diseases, treatments, and medical procedures offer a unique window into the past and continue to be studied by scholars and practitioners today.