From TCM Practice to Classic Texts: The Case of Henry C. Lu’s A Complete Translation of the Yellow Emperor’s Classics of Internal Medicine and the Difficult Classic (Nei-Jing and Nan-Jing)

Abstract

In memory of Dr. Henry C. Lu, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner, educator and translator, this article provides an overview of his masterpiece A Complete Translation of the Yellow Emperor’s Classics of Internal Medicine and the Difficult Classic (Nei-Jing and Nan-Jing) from the perspectives of book section, translation ideology and translation strategies. We then identify the features of TCM classics translated by overseas TCM practitioners and educators through analyzing exemplary characteristics of this translation. Their translations are often teaching oriented with plain and easy-to-read language, thus making TCM classics practical and applicable in clinic practice. Although these works are found in very few library collections of academic institutions, they received positive comments from readers including foreign TCM practitioners and students.