Bian Que, whose surname is Qin, and given name is Yueren, born in Lu of Bohai (presently known as Changqing Country areas of Jinan City) in ca. 500 BC, and lived there during the autumn, spring and the Warring States of China, and was believed to have lived for two thousand years. The legend proclaims that Bian Que had an encounter with a folk doctor, Changshang Jun, while working at a hostel. Changshang Jun was very fond of Bian Que and found him intriguing. After observing him for more than a decade, Changshang Jun finally decided to teach him medical skills of his own, but during ancient times, modern people found such skills intolerable.
Changshang Jun handed Bian Que a special herb from his own safekeeping, and told him to 'drink this with water that has never touched the ground. After thirty days you will be able to see hidden objects', and without a doubt, thirty days later, he obtained the power to see through walls and people. After handing Bian Que his own secret books and medical formulas, Changshang disappeared. People believed that this meeting was not coincidental, but in fact fate, and that Changshang had predicted that Bian Que would become the legendary physician that he is known for today.
At a young age, Bian Que was modest, clever and was assiduous in studying medical skills. He put his skills into practice for the locals and practiced medicine around China to free people from their suffering. Soon after, Bian Que became the medical genius of his years. Being ranked first among many other doctors in the Pre-Qin Period, he was the most celebrated medical practitioner. Legend tells about how he used this supernatural ability to diagnose sick people in the village. Bian Que had a range of treatment methods including acupuncture and moxibustion, herbs, decoction to heat ironing with Chinese Medicine and was proficient in treating a number if diseases and conditions.
When he diagnosed his patients he saw where the disease infected their bodies, and thus he called it 'Zhen Mai', meaning internal observation. He was able to see their internal organs and knew where the disease or illness resided. It was for this reason that Bian Que was designated the founder of Chinese traditional 'energy channel' science.
Bian Que travelled to different places to practice medicine, and eagerly cared for the locals of all social status, providing assistance and treatment to their most urgent needs. He then excelled in using boiled herbal prescriptions, moxibustion, acupuncture therapy and pulse taking, and massage
He mastered many fields including surgery, gynaecology, medicine, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology and pediatrics; and served society as a pediatrician, gynecologist, general physician and doctor for the elderly.
PUBLICATIONS
A biography of Bian Que was published in a history book entitled 'Shi Ji (Analects of History), in Bian Que Chronicles, An Ancient Miracle Doctor: Bian Que (I) by Sima Qian in the Han Dynasty. Three cases treated by Bian Que were reported in the biography.
He describes how Bian Que obtained his skills from the teaching of a folk doctor, Chang SangJun
In the 'Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine' (Huang Di Nei Jing) it says 'to make diagnosis through observation is magic and the diagnosis made by taking pulse is just a skill'
The 'Yellow emperor's Classic of 81 Difficulties' is one of the most important works left from Bian Que, for it had a significant impact in the development of Chinese medical science
Bian Que is ascribed the authorship of Bian Que Neijing (Internal Classic of Bian Que). Han Dynasty physicians have claimed to have studied his works, which have since been lost. Legends claim that Bian Que was a doctor of many disciples, conforming to the local needs wherever he went. He was praised for his miraculous curing skills and magical alibility to save dying life.
His skilled diagnosis and remedies were recorded in Records of the Grand Historian.
Bian Que had two works: Internal Canon of Medicine, and External Canon of Medicine.
CASE 1
Zhao Jiazi, the prime minister of the Jin Kingdom, was seriously ill, and fell into a deep coma for five days. Bian Que took one glimpse of him, then left. When Minister Dong An questioned Bian Que about the prognosis, he simply replied, "His blood circulation is normal, don't panic" and told Minister Dong that he would come around in three days time, which turned out to be true. When Zhao awoke, he was informed about Bian Que's advice, amazed, he later rewarded Bian Que 40,000 mu (equivalent to 0.165 acre) of land to express his gratitude.
CASE 2
One of the most famous cases in Chinese Medical history, and one of which gave Bian Que the renowned titles of 'Bian Que'
Bian Que and his apprentice went to the Kingdom of Guo (presently known as Henan Province) as a travelling physician. He saw people preparing a funeral for the prince, curious, he went to the palace and asked what had happened. There he learned that the king's son had passed from a sudden illness and had been dead for half a day, and that the court physician could do nothing to help. Bian Que asked to examine the prince himself, and after doing so, Bian Que confirmed his suspicion that the prince was not dead, but in fact in a deep coma. His symptom was called 'Shi Jue' meaning false death. He told doctor Zhong Shuzi that the prince could recover.
Bian Que instructed his apprentice to insert an acupuncture needle in the 'Buhui point' of the head, and soon after, the prince regained consciousness. Bian Que prescribed the prince boiled herbal compounds which had to be taken for a duration of twenty days, which resulted in a full recovery.
Word of this miraculous cure spread, and Bian Que was known for being able to 'bring back the dead'. Bian Que denied this, and stated that the prince was not dead, and that he merely treated his illness.
He was then given the title of 'Bian Que', named after the legendary doctor from the time of Huang Di.
CASE 3
On another occasion Bian Qi was able to detect an illness in Duke Huan, King of the Qin Kingdom (presently known as Shandong Province) simply by observing his facial complexion and energy. Bian Que told him that he had a 'disease at the level of the skin', which will worsen if not get it treated immediately, but King told him he was fine.
Five days later they met again, and Bian Qu informed him that the disease had progressed to his meridians and blood. The King suspected Bian was trying to cheat him out of money, and so his advice was ignored once again.
Several days later, the King still felt that he was not ill, and when he and Bian crossed paths once again, Bian Que did not speak to him. The King found it peculiar and so questioned Bian about it, Bian simply said, "When an illness is at the level of the skin, it can be cured with medicinal hot compresses. When an illness enters the blood and meridians, it can be cured with acupuncture and moxibustion, when an illness enters the stomach and intestines, it can be cured with boiled medicinal compounds. However, the King's illness has already progressed significantly, and entered into his bone marrow, and that even God himself, would not be able to reverse the disease. Just as Bian had predicted, King Huan fell ill some days later, and he immediately sent someone in search of Bian Que, but he had already left the kingdom. Having ignored Bian Que's earlier warning, Huan died of the disease.
The diagnosis of the three cases by Bian Que was all made by observation. Observation was always greatly emphasised and use in diagnosing diseases.
HEART TRANSPLANT
Bian Que administered anaesthesia to perform a double heart transplant on gong Hu, from the Warring State of Lu, and Qi Ying, from the Warring State of Zhao. The two were very ill, and asked Bian Que for treatment, after which, the two had fully recovered. However, Bian Que informed them that the illness affected their digestive system, and that the illness could be controlled by acupuncture, but they would both eventually inherit another disease. Go and Qi asked Bian Que about the illness, and Bian explained that they had opposite imbalances of qi (breath life force). Go Hu had a qi (mental power) deficiency, while Qi Ying had a zhi (willpower) deficiency.
Bian Que then told them that by exchanging their hearts they will attain balance. The two then devoured wine fortified with a narcotic, putting themselves in a 'sleeping state' for a period of three days, during which, Bian cut opened their chests, exchanged their hearts, and put it back into their chest. After applying his own secret medicine, the cuts healed so quickly that it seemed like no surgery had been performed at all.
The two bid farewell to Bian Que, and returned to their homes, but unexpectedly, Gong Hu went to the home of Qi Ying, and vice versa. Likewise, the two families were bemused, and so the two families went to court, demanding an explanation from Bian Que. After explaining his procedure the lawsuit was then concluded.
THE NOBLE BIAN QUE
Bian Que was once asked by a King, "You and your two brothers are all skilled in medicine, which of you is the best?". Bian Que modestly told the King that his eldest brother was the best, and next in line was his second brother, and that he was last. Confounded, the King then asked, "Then why is it that you are the most famous?".
Bian Que explains that his eldest brother would treat a disease when it begins to show symptoms, and then remove the pathogen. Only his family members able to see that, and others are not - and so he does not like the recognition.
His second brother cures diseases in its early stages, thus people believe he is only capable of cuing minor illnesses.
On the other hand, Bian Que would treat a disease when it is already well developed and serious. People would watch him inject tubes into blood vessels, apply medical ointment and perform bloodletting, and therefore, consider him as being well versed in medicine, consequently making him famous all over the country. The King was very satisfied with his answer and said, "You've given a cogent explanation."
FOUR METHODS
Bian Que advocated the 'Four Diagnostic Methods' which include; observation, auscultation and olfaction, interrogation, pulse-feeling and palpation.
Bian Qi specialized in observation and pulse-feeling. Pulse-feeling at the time was supreme and world renowned.
Observation meant to look at the external appearance and the tongue fur of the patient.
Auscultation and olfaction referred to listening to the sounds of the patient's breathing patterns and symptoms.
Interrogation referred to asking the patient about their current state and pulse-feeling, and palpation referred to the testing of the pulse of the patients.
ASSASSINATION
Bian Que set up the foundation of medical science, which combated superstition, and incurred envy from government doctors and witch doctors. He was also the well known founder of sphygmology (science and art of pulse reading)
After treating King Qin from a disease, Bian Que was assassinated by an envious imperial physician (royal officer) , Li You, in the Imperial Court of the Qin Kingdom, just as Bian Que was leaving the Kingdom in ca. 208 BC
MEMORY
The Temples of Bian Que was built in living memory of the legendary physician, located in eat Qinghua Village in Yongji City. The tomb is measured to be 1.67m in height.
The Memorial Hall of Bian Que consists of the east and the west hall. The west hall was built first, but was destroyed by Japanese invaders during the Anti-Japanese War. Only the stone lions and three steles remained after the attack. The east hall however remained intact. A sitting statue of Bian Que made of clay, wearing a dragon robe and jade belt, resides in the main hall.
CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY
Bian Que contributed greatly to society:
Working as a gynaecologist when he was in Handan (city in Herbei Province), where women were respected
Working as a paediatrician in Xianyang where children were in need of care
Treated people with blurred vision and deafness in Luoyang (city in Henan Province) where the elderly were respected
Bian Que also played a great contribution to Chinese medical science and the emergence of pulse-taking diagnosis. During his lifetime he travelled to different kingdoms in China and devoted himself to caring for the local people, serving their most urgent needs and relieving them of their pain and suffering. He reputed to be an excellent physician and diagnostician,
