Politics of People's Republic of China (PRC) Traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional medicine in China Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative medical practice drawn from traditional medicine in China. It has been described as "fraught with pseudoscience", with the majority of its treatments having no logical mechanism of action.[1][2] Medicine in traditional China encompassed a range of sometimes competing health and healing practices, folk beliefs, literati theory and Confucian philosophy, herbal remedies, food, diet, exercise, medical specializations, and schools of thought.[3] In the early twentieth century, Chinese cultural and political modernizers worked to eliminate traditional practices as backward and unscientific.
Traditional practitioners then selected elements of philosophy and practice and organized them into what they called "Chinese medicine" (Zhongyi). The demand for traditional medicines in China has been a major generator of illegal wildlife smuggling, linked to the killing and smuggling of endangered animals.[10] History[edit] Chinese herbology. Dried herbs and plant portions for Chinese herbology at a Xi'an market The term herbology is misleading in the sense that, while plant elements are by far the most commonly used substances, animal, human, and mineral products are also utilized.
Thus, the term "medicinal" (instead of herb) is usually preferred as a translation for 药 (pinyin: yào).[2] The effectiveness of traditional Chinese herbal therapy remains poorly documented.[3] There are concerns over a number of potentially toxic Chinese herbs.[4] History[edit] Chinese herbs have been used for centuries. Among the earliest literature are lists of prescriptions for specific ailments, exemplified by the manuscript "Recipes for 52 Ailments", found in the Mawangdui tombs which were sealed in 168 BC. The first traditionally recognized herbalist is Shénnóng (神农, lit. The "superior" category, which includes herbs effective for multiple diseases and are mostly responsible for maintaining and restoring the body balance.
Raw materials[edit] Northern and southern China. Northern China and southern China[1] are two approximate regions within China. The exact boundary between these two regions has never been precisely defined. Nevertheless, the self-perception of Chinese people, especially regional stereotypes, has often been dominated by these two concepts, given that regional differences in culture and language have historically fostered strong regional identities (乡土, xiangtu, 'localism') of the Chinese people.[2] Extent[edit] Often used as the geographical dividing line between northern and southern China is the Huai River–Qin Mountains Line.
This line approximates the 0°C January isotherm and the 800 millimetres (31 in) isohyet in China. Culturally, however, the division is more ambiguous. The Northeast (Manchuria) and Inner Mongolia, areas that are often thought of as being outside "China proper", are also conceived to belong to northern China according to the framework above. History[edit] Episodes of division into North and South include: Today[edit] China. China. China ( i/ˈtʃaɪnə/; Chinese: 中国; pinyin: Zhōngguó), officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a sovereign state located in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of over 1.35 billion. The PRC is a single-party state governed by the Communist Party, with its seat of government in the capital city of Beijing.[15] It exercises jurisdiction over 22 provinces, five autonomous regions, four direct-controlled municipalities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing), and two mostly self-governing special administrative regions (Hong Kong and Macau).
The PRC also claims Taiwan – which is controlled by the Republic of China (ROC), a separate political entity – as its 23rd province, a claim which is controversial due to the complex political status of Taiwan.[16] Etymology History Prehistory Early dynastic rule Imperial China In the 13th century, China was gradually conquered by the Mongol empire. End of dynastic rule.