From Gemstone to Medicine:The New Role of Overseas Unusual Product Coral in the Tang and Song Dynasties
There are numerous records in medical books during the Tang and Song dynasties that coral was used as medicine,indicating that the tree shaped coral with traditional use as a jade(gemstone)which symbolized wealth,had new role at this time.The understanding of coral medicine gradually deepened and diversified during the Tang and Song dynasties,with the most important medicine being the treatment of cataracts.There was a new shape of coral in box,segments instead of tree,imported from overseas during the Song Dynasty.This coral should have been used as medicine directly.During the Tang and Song dynasties,there's a new phenomenon of calling a green coral tree in the sea Qinglanggan(originally a term used for land products).From the perspective of coral being imported into China from overseas,and the fact that ancient Western,Indian,and Islamic civilizations outside of China used coral as medicine,it is possible that China's use of coral as medicine may be influenced by overseas factors.
万方数据
维普
