Li shizhen and the spirit of investigation of things and the extension of knowledge

Abstract

Li Shizhen was a Ming Dynasty physician and was greatly influenced by the New-Confucian beliefs of the time. Although Ben Cao Gang Mu (《本草纲目》Compendium of Materia Medica) is a monograph on medicine, its purpose is “to investigate things.” The best way to get to know historical figures is to restore facts.

Keywords

• ben cao gang mu (《本草纲目》compendium of materia medica)
• li shizhen
• neo-confucianism