When Chinese Medicine Encountered the State: A Study of the Institute of National Medicine, 1931-1949

When Chinese Medicine Encountered the State examines the development and transformation of traditional Chinese medicine during a pivotal period in modern Chinese history. The book focuses on the Institute of National Medicine in Nanjing from 1931-1949, tracking how traditional medical practices adapted to meet new scientific and political demands. The narrative follows key figures at the Institute as they worked to legitimize Chinese medicine within a modernizing state system. Through archival research and institutional analysis, Lei traces the complex negotiations between traditional practitioners, state officials, and Western-trained doctors. The study illuminates how Chinese medicine practitioners reimagined their field to survive in an era of scientific scrutiny while maintaining connections to historical practices. Their efforts involved redefining core concepts and creating new institutional frameworks. This historical analysis reveals broader themes about the interaction between tradition and modernity, and the role of medicine in nation-building. The book demonstrates how medical knowledge becomes intertwined with state power and professional identity during periods of rapid social change.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Sean Hsiang-lin Lei's overall work: Readers in academic circles value Lei's detailed research and analysis of Chinese medicine's transformation during modernization. Reviews highlight his balanced treatment of the tension between traditional Chinese medicine and Western biomedicine. What readers liked: - Clear explanations of complex historical dynamics - Use of primary sources and archival materials - Thorough documentation and academic rigor What readers disliked: - Dense academic writing style that can be difficult for general readers - Heavy use of specialized terminology - Limited accessibility for non-specialists On Google Books, "Neither Donkey Nor Horse" has received positive reviews from academic readers, though specific ratings are limited. The book is frequently cited in academic papers and dissertations focused on Chinese medical history. Public review platforms like Goodreads and Amazon show minimal ratings from general readers, suggesting the work primarily reaches an academic audience. One academic reviewer noted: "Lei provides an invaluable contribution to understanding how Chinese medicine navigated modernity while maintaining its identity."

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🔍 The Institute of National Medicine was the first state-sponsored Chinese medicine research institute in modern China, marking a pivotal shift from traditional apprenticeship to institutionalized learning 🌿 The author Sean Hsiang-lin Lei is a prominent scholar at Academia Sinica in Taiwan and has spent over a decade researching the transformation of Chinese medicine in the modern era ⚕️ During the period covered (1931-1949), Chinese medicine practitioners had to defend their field against those who wanted to abolish it entirely while simultaneously adapting their practices to meet modern scientific standards 🔬 The book explores how Chinese medicine practitioners began using laboratory equipment and Western scientific methods to validate traditional remedies, creating a hybrid approach that still influences Traditional Chinese Medicine today 🏛️ The Institute of National Medicine's establishment coincided with the Nationalist government's efforts to modernize China, making Chinese medicine a key battleground in debates about national identity and modernization