Li Shizhen (李时珍) was born in Qichun, Hubei in 1518.He was famous as a great doctor inChinese history.
Both of Li Shenzhen'sfather and grandfather were doctors. Li Shizhen's grandfather was a countrydoctor who traveled in the countryside with a bag of herbs(药草) and medications and cured people. His father was a doctor whowrote several books on medicine.
Li Shizhen used tohelp his father in his medical practice when he was young. Li Shizhen's fatherwanted him to enter politics (从政).LiShizhen studied for the exams and passed the country-level exam, but he wasnever able to pass the imperial(帝国的) exam.
When he was 38, hecured the son of the Prince of Chu and was invited to be an official in that court(宫廷). A few years later, he became anofficial at the Imperial Medical Institute.
Even though herealized his father's dream, he didn't want to continue working for the court.One year later, he left the court and returned to be a doctor again.
Li Shizhen. was famousfor one of his books, Compendium of Materia Medica《本草纲目》.He spent 27 years writing the book. Unluckily, Li Shizhen diedbefore the book was officially published. It is such a successful book. Now itis still one of the most important medical books in China.
