Luxinjing 顱囟經

Luxinjing 顱囟經 (also written 顱顖經) is a medical book compiled during the Song periody 宋 (960-1279) by an unknown author. It is also called Shi Wu Luxinjing 師巫顱囟經 and has a length of 2 juan. A book of this title is first mentioned in Chao Yuanfang's 巢元方 (550-630) Zhubing yuanhou lun 諸病源候論 from the Sui period 隋 (581-618). He says that in ancient times, diviners (wufang 巫方 or 巫妨) compiled a manual to predict the lifetime of newborns. Scholars have determined that the book was likely authored by someone in the late Tang period 唐 (618-907) to early Song period by a person called Master-Healer Wu (Shi Wu 師巫).

The preface explains that the term "cranial fontanelle" (luxin 顱囟) refers to the influence and transformation of Yin and Yang "energies" of Heaven and earth acting upon the skull.

Even if the book is not mentioned before the Tang period, some scholars hold that the book was written during as early as the Han period 漢 (206 BCE-220 CE), namely by a person called Wei Xun 衛汛. Wei Xun was skilled in the art of medicine and possessed profound knowledge. In his youth, he studied under Zhang Zhongjing 張仲景 (150–219) as his mentor. He had rich clinical experience and specialized in gynecology and pediatrics. Wei Xun is also credited with the authorship of the books Sini sanbu jue jing 四逆三部厥經, and Furen taicang jing 婦人胎藏經.

The textual version in the imperial series Siku quanshu 四庫全書 was reconstructed from quotations in the Ming-period 明 (1368-1644) encyclopaedia Yongle dadian 永樂大典.

The term "cranial fontanelle" specifically refers to the skull cap of infants. The entire book contains sections on pulse diagnosis, disease symptoms, treatment of fright, epilepsy and convulsions, as well as treatment of febrile (fire-related) diseases. It discusses pulse characteristics in children under three years old, stating that pulse readings must be taken at one cun 寸 (about one inch; see weights and measures) and must not follow the same measurement divisions used for adults. It also addresses aspects such as pulse rate and respiration. Each section is concise and to the point, offering highly pertinent guidance.

The descriptive catalogue Siku quanshu zongmu tiyao 四庫全書總目提要 remarks that the collective biography on magicians and physicians (461-462 Fangji zhuan 方技傳) in the official dynastic history Songshi 宋史 records that Qian Yi 錢乙 (1032-1113) first gained renown for his work on the cranial fontanelle, and the origin of the Xinlujing actually comes from that time.

As there were no other transmitted pediatric monographs before this work, later generations have regarded it as the earliest specialist text in pediatrics.

Apart from in the Siku quanshu, the Luxinjing can be found in the series Dangguicaotang yixue congshu 當歸草堂醫學叢書, Congshu jicheng chubian 叢書集成初編 and Zhongguo yiyao huihai 中國醫藥彙海.