ChinaKnowledge.de -
An Encyclopaedia on Chinese History and Literature
Yuhanjing 玉函經, also called Guangcheng Xiansheng yuhan jing 廣成先生玉函經, is a book on pulse diagnostics (maixue 脈學). It is traditionally attributed to Du Guangting 杜光庭 (850-933), who lived during the Tang period 唐 (618-907).
The text consists of three parts of singable poems with seven-syllable verses and formulas about life and death (shengsi gejue 生死歌訣). It focuses on explaining the relationship between pulse patterns and clinical signs, as well as the physiological and pathological aspects of pulse characteristics. The version circulated is based on the annotated edition by Cui Jiayan 崔嘉彥 of the Song period 宋 (960-1279). Further annotations were compiled by Li Minshou 黎民壽, courtesy name Jingren 景仁, during the Southern Song period 南宋 (1127-1279).
The book is first mentioned in Yin Zhongchun's 殷仲春 (fl. 1596) book catalogue Yicang mulu 醫藏目錄. It is included in the series Shuofu 說郛 (Wanwei Shantang 宛委山堂 edition), Sui'an Xushi congshu 隨庵徐氏叢書 and Guanzhong congshu.