Shi Jinmo

Shi Jinmo (Chinese: 施今墨; March 28, 1881 - August 22, 1969), former name Shi Yuqian (施毓黔), was a renowned expert and practitioner of Chinese traditional medicine. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=YNVbbhNiYs0C&pg=PA210&lpg=PA210&dq=shi+jinmo&source=web&ots=ppXqLrtuCk&sig=pXoCU9ww57PtZ6vDONT3r_GoYTE&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA210,M1 Chinese Medicine in Contemporary China, by Volker Scheid, p 210] ] His ancestral hometown was Kanshan Town, Xiaoshan, Zhejiang, and he was born in Guizhou Province.

Shi devoted his life to practice, reform and education of Chinese traditional medicine. He suggested using modern science and technology to study the traditional medicine, and advocated the integration of Chinese traditional medicine and western medical practice. Shi maintained close personal relations with some prominent political figures at that time, such as Sun Yet-Sen, Huang Xing, Yang Hucheng and Zhou Enlai.

Biography

During his childhood, Shi's mother suffered a lot of illness. At age of 13, Shi started learning traditional medicine with his uncle. In 1902, his father took him to Shanxi, and sent him into Shanxi Grand Academy (now Shanxi University). He was expelled from this school due to his dissent from the principal's campaign. From 1903 to 1906, he studied at Shanxi Judicial and Political Academy. After graduation, he was enrolled in Capital Judicial and Political Academy, and meanwhile, started his medical practice. During that time, Shi actively supported Xinhai Revolution, and devoted to social welfare. In 1912, as a delegate from Shanxi, Shi attended the inauguration ceremony of the Temporary Grand President of the Republic of China, Sun Yet-Sen. Later, he assisted Huang Xing to draft the army's military law.

Due to the ominous political atmosphere, Shi attained his belief that "if one can not be a good minister, be a good doctor", and thus concentrated on his medical practice. He broke one character in his name, Qian (黔), and adopted Jinmo (今墨) as his name, incarnating the spirit of "shared love" of Mozi and the medicinal canon of Mozi.

Shi was reviled in Cultural Revolution. His health seriously deteriorated in spring 1969, and he died on August 22 in Beijing.

References