This three-volume series was compiled by the State Administration for Traditional Chinese Medicine specially for foreign students studying traditional Chinese medicine It draws on the contents of the fourth and fifth editions of the national textbooks used by full time colleges of traditional Chinese medicine while taking cultural differences into consideration as well as the fact that foreign students are only allotted a relatively short time for classroom studies. The depth and range of the contents, and the scientific and ideological level of the textbooks have been carefully considered. Such efforts have been made to shorten and simplify the contents while preserving the essence of traditional Chinese medicine and its systematic theories.

Volume I covers the history,  basic theory and diagnosis of traditional Chinese medicine. Volume II deals with pharmacy and the science of traditional Chinese prescriptions, while Volume III covers traditional Chinese internal medicine and the scientific theories of acupuncture and moxibustion.

FOREWORD

In order to promote international exchange in the field of traditional Chinese medicine and to meet the needs of increasingly large numbers of foreign students studying traditional Chinese medicine, the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the State Education Commission and the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine under the Ministry of Public Health (now the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy) held a meeting in Guangzhou in April 1986 to examine and approve textbooks of traditional Chinese medicine for foreign students. Eight textbooks for use by foreign students were examined during the meeting, including Basic Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and The History of   Traditional Chinese Medicine compiled by the Beijing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Traditional Chinese Internal Medicine and The Chinese Language compiled by the Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese Pharmacy and The Science of Traditional Chinese Prescriptions compiled by the Nanjing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Traditional Chinese Diagnostics and The Science of Acupuncture and Moxibustion compiled by the Guangzhou College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The four colleges of traditional Chinese medicine involved in the compilation of the textbooks have been teaching foreign students for from five to ten years, during which time they have accumulated a great deal of experience. Most of the editors have experience in compiling textbooks in their fields of study used nationwide by full-time colleges of traditional Chinese medicine. Many of these textbooks have long been used in teaching foreign students. As a result, they are both comprehensive and applicable.

This series of textbooks draws on the contents of the fourth and fifth editions of national textbooks used by full-time colleges of traditional Chinese medicine and takes into consideration the fact that foreign students have a relatively short time for classroom studies and that there are differences in cultures and traditions. Such aspects as the depth and range of the contents, and the scientific, ideological and advanced level of the textbooks have been carefully considered. Efforts have been made to shorten and simplify while preserving the essence of traditional Chinese medicine and its systematic theories.

The publication of these textbooks marks a great achievement in the dissemination of traditional Chinese medicine. Training foreign students is an important way of spreading traditional Chinese medicine throughout the world. We hope that teachers and students will comment on any shortcomings they discover in this series of textbooks so that we may alter and improve subsequent editions.

State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy 1991