Compendium of Materia Medica Cultural Project
Background
A precious Chinese cultural heritage, the "Compendium of Materia Medica" plays an important role in the history of medicine, humanities and sciences in the world. It is the most voluminous and comprehensive medical encyclopedia ever written in the ancient history of Chinese medicine. The author, Li Shizhen, is one of the greatest pharmaceutical scientists in ancient China.
The "Compendium of Materia Medica" was listed on the Memory of the World Programme of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in 2011. This does not only testify to the international significance of this medical masterpiece, but also demonstrates its important influence on the development of world civilization and will also spur the internationalisation of Chinese medicine.
To celebrate in 2018 the 500th anniversary of the birth of Li Shizhen, the School of Chinese Medicine (SCM) of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has embarked on a “Compendium of Materia Medica” Cultural Project (the Project). In order to foster the development of internationalisation and standardisation of Chinese medicine while inheriting the cultural heritage of the masterpiece, SCM will collaborate with overseas/mainland institutions, professional groups, experts and scholars to organise a series of activities to promote Chinese medicine culture and elevate the international status of Chinese medicine in both the medical and academic arenas.
Compendium of Materia Medica Cultural Project
- Produce a documentary series on the Compendium of Materia Medica.
- Produce Discussing Materia Medica with Zhongzhen.
- Produce The Chinese Materia Medica for Us All.
- Publish popular science books, including the Herbal World series.
- Organise the Compendium of Materia Medica Reading Club with the participation of renowned scholars from around the world.
- Organise large-scale public events and seminars featuring experts and scholars from home and abroad.
- Set up a WeChat account for sharing knowledge of the Compendium of Materia Medica and bencao with the public regularly.
- Launch a podcast consisting of 200 talks on health wisdom in Compendium of Materia Medica.
- Stage an exhibition titled "Voyage of Bencao—People and Stories of Chinese Medicine Along the Belt and Road".
- Deliver a video lecture in celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the birth of Su Song.
