Ben Cao Gang Mu, Volume 9: Fowls, Animals & Human Substances

The Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica), written by Li Shizhen (1518–1593), is the most comprehensive encyclopedia of traditional Chinese medicine. Volume 9 translates Chapters 47–52, focusing on fowls, domestic and wild animals, and human substances. This concluding volume highlights the breadth of Li’s vision — from the practical and symbolic roles of birds and mammals to the rare and sometimes controversial uses of human materials in traditional medicine.

Why It’s Tough Enough for Tough Kraut
• Birds & Beasts in Medicine: This volume records the medicinal uses of chickens, ducks, and other fowls, along with larger domestic and wild animals.
• Complex Human Substances: Li Shizhen included entries on human-derived remedies, capturing both the medical realities and cultural practices of his time.
• UNESCO-Registered Legacy: The Ben Cao Gang Mu, recognized in 2011, preserves this vast panorama of substances and their role in human health.
• Closing the Compendium: As the final volume in the series, it completes Li’s monumental work, spanning plants, minerals, animals, and beyond.

Proven Finishing Touches
• Final Chapters of a Masterpiece: Chapters 47–52 bring together the animal world and human physiology within the broader TCM framework.
• Trusted Translation: Paul Unschuld’s edition offers annotated English commentary alongside the Chinese text for full accessibility.
• Valued for Completeness: Readers appreciate how this volume ties the series together, offering the final pieces of Li Shizhen’s encyclopedic vision.

Why We Love It
At Tough Kraut, we admire how this final volume shows the uncompromising thoroughness of Li Shizhen’s work. Nothing was excluded — from fowl in the barnyard to the human body itself, all were studied for their medicinal potential. It’s a reminder that resilience means understanding every element of life around us, even the ones that may feel difficult or controversial. Volume 9 closes the compendium with a sense of awe at nature’s complexity.

Get Yours Now
Ready to complete the journey through the Ben Cao Gang Mu? Volume 9 is available through University of California Press and on Amazon in your region.

Specifications
• Title: Ben Cao Gang Mu, Volume 9: Fowls, Domestic and Wild Animals, Human Substances
• Author: Li Shizhen (1518–1593)
• Translator/Editor: Paul Unschuld
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Series: Ben Cao Gang Mu (9 volumes, 10 books)
• First Draft Completed: 1578 (Ming Dynasty)
• UNESCO Registration Year: 2011
• ISBN: 978-0520379923