Ancient bamboo medical books unearthed

The 920 bamboo tiles unearthed from Chengdu's Laoguan Mountain last year have been proven to be medical books written by the Bian Que school.

A 14-centimeter long figurine with major acupoints marked out has also been unearthed with the nine medical books.

The 920 bamboo tiles unearthed from Chengdu's Laoguan Mountain last year have been proven to be medical books written by the Bian Que school.

The content of the bamboo pieces comes from nine lost medical books. Experts say they are works of the Bian Que school, based mainly on studies of determining disease by taking the patient's pulse.

Other practices mentioned include internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, dermatology, ophthalmology as well as traumatology.

Bian Que was a legendary doctor who lived over 2,000 years ago, and is considered the father of the pulse taking technique in Chinese medicine.

In addition, 184 tiles are related to the medical treatment of horses, considered by the experts as one of the most important veterinarian works in ancient China.

What's more, a 14-centimeter long figurine has also been unearthed with the nine medical books. With major acupoints marked out, it is believed to be a key to deciphering the origin of acupuncture treatment.