Woodcut Portrait of Zhu Zhenheng
Zhu Zhenheng (1281-1358) is the fourth of the great physicians of the Song-Yuan transition. Styled Yanxiu, he is also often referred to as the Old Man of Cinnabar Brook (Danxi Weng). He was a native of Yiwu in Wu Prefecture, now in Zhejiang Province. He learned philosophy from Xu Hengqiu and medicine from Luo Zhiti. He was then initiated into the authentic traditions of all three of his major precursors, Liu Wansu, Zhang Congzheng, and Li Gao. His syncretic doctrine, which reconciled their discordant traditions, was that of "ministerial fire" (xianghuo). He argued that in disease, "generally speaking, yang is in excess and yin depleted."

His stress on supplementing the body's yin vitalities rather than using strong medicines on pathological agents or building up yang qi proved successful in therapy, and put him on the same level as his eminent precursors. His main writings are Ju fang fa hui (Elucidation of Formulas from the Pharmacy Service, mid 14th century; see Fig. 235); Gezhi yulun (Supplementary Discussions based on the Investigation of Things, 1347); and Mai fin zheng zhi (Pulse, Etiology, ManiCestations, and Therapy, ca. 13607). All may have been compiled by his disciples. This portrait comes from the genealogy of Zhu's family. (By courtesy of Feng Hanlong, Chi'an, Yiwu, Zhejiang Province.)