The Great Physician of Jiangnan

Jiangnan’s Great Physician is a full-length historical novel. Spanning nearly a century, from 1860 to 1945, it realistically tells the story of four generations of renowned physicians at Qing Yu Tang, one of the pharmacies in the saying, “Qing Yu Tang in the south, Tong Ren Tang in the north.” They uphold the family rules, “Practice with harmony, benevolence, and virtue; serve the world with a compassionate heart and a wise mind,” and the ancestral teaching, “Heal suffering with a kind heart and skilled hands; pass down the ancient methods and make good medicine.”

The novel focuses on the medical skill, compassion, virtue, and integrity of three generations: Zhang Bentai, Zhang Renhai, and Zhang Renshan. It highlights the strength of character that Zhang Renhai and Zhang Renshan develop under their grandfather’s guidance and influence. In particular, during the War of Resistance Against Japan, Zhang Renshan, with help from his elder brother Zhang Renhai, matches wits with the Japanese invaders and their Chinese collaborators, ultimately preserving The Orthodox Manual of External Medicine, a national treasure written by the renowned Ming dynasty physician Chen Shigong. In short, through the benevolence, compassion, and patriotism of four generations of the Qing Yu Tang family, the novel portrays the exemplary character of the nation’s greatest physicians.