Objectives: The rapid progress seen in the Chinese medical and pharmaceutical industries since the mid-Ming Dynasty, and the resulting surge in demand for medicinal herbs led to the emergence of dedicated medicinal herb markets. A representative examp...
Objectives: The rapid progress seen in the Chinese medical and pharmaceutical industries since the mid-Ming Dynasty, and the resulting surge in demand for medicinal herbs led to the emergence of dedicated medicinal herb markets. A representative example was the medicinal herb market of Qizhou (today`s Anguo) in Hebei Province. This paper examines various factors that contributed to the transformation and growth of Qizhou into and as a major medicinal herb market of China. Methods: Along with the examination of geographical factors, this study attempts to link the development of Qizhou as a center for medicinal herbs trade with legends related to the Medicine Lord Temple (Yao Wang Miao), a local shrine dedicated to the mythical Medicine Kings. Results: The main argument of this study is that although the emergence of Qizhou as China`s largest marketplace for medicinal herbs was significantly helped by its proximity to Beijing, a huge source of demand, as well as its convenient location easily accessible from all parts of the country, and the large herbal production from surrounding areas, the single-most important contributing factor was the body of legends attributing to this city a magical healing energy. Conclusions: The example of Qizhou may also suggest that in pre-modern eras, legends related to supernatural healing power, associated to a city or town, were as important contributing factors to its emergence and growth as a dedicated medicinal herb market as its location or ease of access.