About Meheng Medical Sect
Originated From Ming Dynsty
The Menghe medical current is one of the most influential traditions in Chinese medicine, originating from Menghe Ancient Town in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province. Its roots can be traced back to the Eastern Jin Dynasty, particularly to the medical practices of Ge Hong, a renowned physician of the time. Ge Hong frequently traveled to Xiaohuangshan Mountain in Menghe to gather medicinal herbs and encouraged local villagers to cultivate them, thereby laying the foundation for this enduring medical tradition.
Over the centuries, the Menghe region has produced many distinguished medical figures. Among them are Xu Shuwei, a Northern Song Dynasty expert in treating febrile diseases; Wang Kentang, a prominent Ming Dynasty physician whose work Liuke Zhunsheng became a classic reference for later practitioners; and notable imperial physicians of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, including Wang Jiufeng, Fei Boxiong, and Ma Peizhi. Through the contributions of these eminent figures, the Menghe medical current has gained widespread recognition and lasting influence both in China and internationally.
Origin and Development
Menghe, located in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, was originally a small fishing village on the banks of the Yangtze River. It was named in honor of Meng Jian, the Tang Dynasty governor of Changzhou. Geographically, Menghe is situated between the Grand Canal to the south and the Yangtze River to the north, making it a vital waterway connecting the north and south. In ancient times, waterways were highly developed. Because of its location at the confluence of the lower reaches of the Yangtze and the Grand Canal, Menghe boasts a long history and profound cultural heritage. It was once the political, economic, cultural, and medical center of Jiangnan, attracting merchants, scholars, and physicians from all over. Great works such as Zhaoming Wenxuan and Wenxin Diaolong were published here. Against this backdrop of prosperity, traditional Chinese medicine flourished in Menghe. During the Daoguang and Xianfeng periods of the Qing Dynasty, this small town of only a hundred or so households had more than ten traditional Chinese medicine shops, demonstrating the prevalence of medical services at the time. Patients from far and wide sought medical help, and boats frequently lined the doors of the shops. Among those seeking medical treatment in Menghe were not only ordinary people, but also the Daoguang Emperor, Empress Dowager Cixi, and members of the imperial family.
The Menghe Medical Current, with its outstanding medical ethics and skills, created the glorious reputation of "Famous doctors in Wuzhong are the best in the world, and famous doctors in Menghe are the best in Wuzhong." This praise is not only due to the efforts of the four great masters Fei, Ma, Chao, and Ding, but also to the efforts of disciples from all families within the Menghe School. They accepted disciples regardless of their social status; for example, He Jiheng, the leading figure of the Danyang School of Medicine, was a prized student of Ma Peizhi. This open transmission of knowledge allowed the medical skills of the Menghe School to spread to various regions. Today, the Menghe School has over a thousand successors and their disciples, spread across Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, southern Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Anhui, Fujian, and other provinces and cities, as well as countries such as Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and most of them are renowned practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine.
Timeline
1600-1800
The Foundation
The rise of renowned physicians and the establishment of TCM roots.
1800-1900
The Golden Age
The development of the Four Great Families.
1900-Present
Modern Transformation
Global expansion and the development of "Haipai" (Shanghai-style) TCM.
1600s：1626，Fei Shangyou moved to Menghe；The Fei and Ma families began their long legacy of medical practice.
1700s：The Fei family's medical expertise matures; Fei Yifan gains high local prestige. The Ma family establishes early excellence in combining surgery with internal medicine.
Late 1700s–Early 1800s: Due to its location at the junction of the Grand Canal and Yangtze River, Menghe attracts more medical families (Chao and Ding), becoming a major pillar of regional medicine.
1863：Fei Boxiong completes his masterpiece, The True Meaning of Medicine. His theory of "Balance and Harmony" corrects the era's improper use of medicine and becomes the soul of the Menghe school.
1880：Ma Peizhi is summoned to the Forbidden City to treat Empress Dowager Cixi. His success earns him national fame and the title "First Physician of the Northwest."
1880s－1890s： The Chao family excels in pediatrics and surgery. Ding Ganren completes his studies under Ma Peizhi and begins practicing in Changzhou and Suzhou, preparing to expand to Shanghai.
1916：Ding Ganren co-founds the Shanghai College of TCM. It marks a milestone in medical education by breaking traditional family secrecy and enrolling students from all over China.
1920s－1940s：Menghe disciples (such as Qin Bowei and Cheng Menxue) rise to fame in Shanghai, systemizing theories and publishing journals. Due to war, Ding Jiwan moves to Hong Kong and establishes the Hong Kong College of TCM.
1950s： Ding Zhongying moves to San Francisco, opening a clinic and advocating for TCM legislation in the U.S. mainstream.
1990s–Present: Menghe Medicine is recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Ding family’s descendants help design curricula for American TCM colleges, integrating their clinical experience into Western professional training.
Representative Figures
Fei Boxiong
1800-1879
Representative of
Menghe Fei family.
Fei boxiong once went to Beijing to treat the Daoguang Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
Ma Peizhi
1820-1903
Representative of
Menghe Ma family.
Ma Peizhi combined expertise in internal medicine and surgery. He treated Empress Dowager Cixi and was appointed as a third-rank imperial physician.
Chao Chongshan
1843-1909
Representative of
Menghe Chao Family.
Chao Chongshan achieved remarkable results in treating typhoid fever, and he was also exceptional in treating surgical diseases. He was good at using fire needles to treat intestinal abscesses, sores.
Ding Ganren
1866-1926
Founder of
Menghe Ding family.
Ding Ganren founded the first Chinese medicine school in 1916, the Shanghai Chinese Medicine College, pioneering modern Chinese medicine education in China.