Zhang Yuansu (張元素)

Overview

Zhang Yuansu was a Physician.

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Jiegu	潔古	Jiegu

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 1115 to AD 1234 金世
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passages 55, 81
AD 1150 to AD 1230 金代易人張元素以醫名燕趙間
Strongly inferred · History of Yuan 203, passage 121

Key source chapters

History of Jin, Chapter 131 Volume 131 Biographies 69: Huan Zhe, Liang Chong, Song Gui, Pan Shouheng, Fang Ji, Liu Wansu, Zhang Congzheng, Li Qingsi, Ji Tianxi, Zhang Yuansu, Ma Guizhong, Wu Zhen Son: Kang, Li Mao, Hu Dexin 6 passages
History of Yuan, Chapter 203 Volume 203 Biographies 90: Medicine and Divination, Arts and Crafts 1 passage

Career and standing

physician 醫
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passage 84; History of Yuan 203, passage 121

Places and affiliations

Polity Jin 金 · Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passages 6, 55
At Yi 易
Directly stated · History of Yuan 203, passage 121
At Yizhou 易州
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passage 81
At Yan-Zhao region 燕趙間 · Relation Active in
Directly stated · History of Yuan 203, passage 121

Learning and skills

Subject jinshi examination in classical exegesis 經義進士 · Age 27 · Outcome Failed for temple name taboo
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passage 83
Subject childhood licentiate examination 童子舉 · Age 8
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passage 82

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Liu Wansu (劉完素)
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passages 86-88, 90-92

Events and relationships

Diagnosed and cured Liu Wansu of cold damage
Medical · Physician · With Liu Wansu (劉完素)
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passages 85-93
Relation Teacher of · Person Li Gao (李杲)
Directly stated · History of Yuan 203, passage 121

Assessments and attributes

Assessment celebrated physician in Yan-Zhao · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Yuan 203, passage 121
Assessment rejected ancient formulas; circulating qi differs across ages · Mode self-report Speaker Zhang Yuansu (張元素)
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passage 94

References in the histories

History of Jin, Chapter 131Volume 131 Biographies 69: Huan Zhe, Liang Chong, Song Gui, Pan Shouheng, Fang Ji, Liu Wansu, Zhang Congzheng, Li Qingsi, Ji Tianxi, Zhang Yuansu, Ma Guizhong, Wu Zhen Son: Kang, Li Mao, Hu Dexin · 6 passages

Open chapter

金世，如武禎、武亢之信而不誣，劉完素、張元素之治療通變，學其術者皆師尊之，不可不記雲。 Under the Jin, men such as Wu Zhen and Wu Kang proved trustworthy and true, while Liu Wansu and Zhang Yuansu were masters of adaptive treatment. All who learned from them revered them as teachers — and they must be recorded.

張元素 Zhang Yuansu

張元素，字潔古，易州人。 Zhang Yuansu, styled Jiegu, was from Yizhou.

元素往候，完素面壁不顧，元素曰：「何見待之卑如此哉。」 Yuansu went to call on him. Wansu turned to the wall and ignored him. Yuansu said, "Why do you treat me with such contempt?"

元素曰：「子誤矣。 Yuansu said, "You are wrong.

完素大服，如其言遂愈，元素自此顯名。 Wansu was deeply impressed. He followed the prescription and recovered, and from that day Yuansu's name spread.

History of Yuan, Chapter 203Volume 203 Biographies 90: Medicine and Divination, Arts and Crafts · 1 passage

Open chapter

杲幼歲好醫藥，時易人張元素以醫名燕趙間，杲捐千金從之學，不數年，盡傳其業。 From childhood Gao loved medicine. Zhang Yuansu of Yi was then the most celebrated physician in the Yan-Zhao region; Gao paid a thousand in gold to study under him and within a few years had mastered his entire art.