Watching "Golden Branches and Royal Intrigues" to Appreciate TCM Culture
The popularity of the Korean drama "Dae Jang Geum" sparked public interest in imperial physicians; meanwhile, Hong Kong’s current series "Golden Branches and Royal Intrigues" presents a local version of imperial physician stories.
An imperial physician was not an ordinary doctor. They faced not ordinary patients but emperors, empresses, empress dowagers, crown princes, and royal consorts—far more exalted than themselves. Some served in government offices, others practiced medicine among commoners, all selected by the imperial court due to their exceptional medical skills. Some rose overnight to unimaginable wealth and honor, while others paid with their lives due to a single misstep by the emperor. The newly released book "Imperial Physicians: Unveiling the Archives of Imperial Court Doctors" by Beijing Science & Technology Press helps us unravel many mysteries surrounding imperial physicians. Author Zhao Yang, through extensive historical records and physical images, presents a panoramic view of the lives of imperial physicians throughout Chinese history. This book offers at least three highlights:
Highlight One: It comprehensively traces the evolution of the imperial medical system from the pre-Qin period to the Qing Dynasty. From doctors and shamans jointly serving the emperor in ancient times to the gradually established Taichu (Imperial Medical Institute) system; from the division of labor in preparing and delivering medicines in the Imperial Pharmacy to the medical education and practical assessments for imperial physicians, the book clearly outlines the development line of imperial medicine.
Highlight Two: The unveiling of imperial physician archives is the core focus of the book. It introduces over 70 renowned imperial physicians from various dynasties, detailing their remarkable treatments for complex diseases. Each physician left behind legendary stories in their time. Some were deeply favored by the emperor due to their outstanding skills and enjoyed great prosperity; others suffered severe punishment—even being implicated in family-wide executions—due to a single error. Some betrayed colleagues to protect themselves, while others, despite saving lives, were punished by the emperor. Today, reading these stories evokes admiration for the physicians’ extraordinary skills and offers valuable insights for modern medicine.
Highlight Three: Rather than merely narrating historical tales, the book integrates the principles, methods, formulas, and profound health preservation wisdom of TCM into the narrative details. Through links such as formula analysis and health tips, the book extracts treatment regimens and techniques used by imperial physicians, offering modern interpretations and evaluations of ancient prescriptions and texts. It simplifies and clarifies many traditional health and wellness practices, making them accessible and valuable for contemporary people.