Qinghua Hu

Located on the bank of Yuhu in Qizhou Town, Qichun County in Hubei, the Li Shizhen Memorial Museum is set amidst a picturesque natural landscape of shimmering lakes and lush mountains, covering an area of approximately 100,000 square meters. Centered around Li Shizhen and his immortal masterpiece, Compendium of Materia Medica, the museum integrates a collection of artifacts, documentary research, science education, and the cultural transmission of TCM. It is the only museum in China dedicated to Li Shizhen, and serves as an important role in showcasing the culture of traditional Chinese medicine.

The museum has six main sections: the Four Virtues Square, the Materia Medica Stele Gallery, the Li Shizhen Life Memorial Hall, the Pharmacy Hall, the Herbal Garden, and the Cemetery. At the center of the Four Virtues Square stands a plaque of red sandstone, intricately carved to display the elegance of four virtuous figures from three generations of the Li family, symbolizing the respect and remembrance of their successors. Above the main entrance, the six resplendent characters “Li Shizhen Memorial Museum,” inscribed by Deng Xiaoping in 1987, endow the building with profound historical significance and cultural depth.

The Materia Medica Stele Gallery was built in 1984 and opened to the public in 1988. Ninety-six black marble steles are arranged, engraved with Li Shizhen’s portrait, biography, or precious texts such as the preface of the Compendium of Materia Medica. Walking along the gallery feels like traversing time and space, touching the historical threads of TCM’s development; each stele encapsulates the wisdom and efforts of the forefathers, embodying the enduring spirit of the culture of traditional Chinese medicine.

Located on the bank of Yuhu in Qizhou Town, Qichun County in Hubei, the Li Shizhen Memorial Museum is set amidst a picturesque natural landscape of shimmering lakes and lush mountains, covering an area of approximately 100,000 square meters. Centered around Li Shizhen and his immortal masterpiece, Compendium of Materia Medica, the museum integrates a collection of artifacts, documentary research, science education, and the cultural transmission of TCM. It is the only museum in China dedicated to Li Shizhen, and serves as an important role in showcasing the culture of traditional Chinese medicine.

The Li Shizhen Life Memorial Hall utilizes text panels, wax figures, and 3D imagery to vividly recreate Li Shizhen’s nearly 30 years of arduous work in composing the Compendium of Materia Medica. The hall houses over 10,000 artifacts related to TCM and Li Shizhen’s medical practices, particularly noteworthy being the various editions of Compendium of Materia Medica. These invaluable exhibits not only provide tangible evidence for the inheritance of TCM culture but also allow visitors to directly experience Li Shizhen’s great spirit of “investigating things to attain knowledge and saving people.”

The Pharmacy Hall blends technology with culture. Utilizing modern technologies such as sound, light, and electricity, it comprehensively displays more than 300 specimens of animals, plants, and minerals along with their medicinal values. Detailed textual descriptions and interactive multimedia presentations enable visitors to learn about the characteristics, distribution, ecological traits, and applications in TCM theory of each medicinal material, making them feel as if they are immersed in the rich and magical world of Chinese medicine.

The Herbal Garden covers 6,000 square meters and is home to over 300 species of medicinal plant specimens. Strolling through the garden, one is surrounded by vibrant greenery, enveloped in fragrant aromas, with bees and butterflies dancing gracefully. This natural setting not only provides a realistic environment for displaying medicinal substances but also serves as an important venue for TCM science education, allowing people to appreciate the intrinsic connection between TCM and the ecological environment.

Located in the depths of the museum, the Cemetery exudes solemnity and sanctity. The inscription “Saint of Medicine” by Guo Moruo shines in golden light, complementing the tombstones of Li Shizhen and his ancestors. The cemetery not only testifies to Li Shizhen’s lifelong selfless dedication to medicine but also provides a sacred place for future generations to remember and reflect upon his contributions.

As a nationally protected cultural relic, a model base for patriotic education, and a key center for promoting TCM culture and science education, the Li Shizhen Memorial Museum attracts numerous visitors and scholars from China and abroad every year. Here, people not only experience the profound and extensive culture of traditional Chinese medicine, but may also appreciate Li Shizhen’s spirit of fearlessly overcoming difficulty, and dedicating himself to saving lives. With its unique cultural charm and rich exhibitions, the Li Shizhen Memorial Museum showcases to the world the distinctive style of China’s excellent traditional culture and makes an active contribution to the transmission and development of the culture of TCM, and international cultural exchanges.

Author’s Profile:

Hu Qinghua is the current Director of the Li Shizhen Memorial Museum and a Senior Associate Researcher in the field of cultural relic studies. Since joining in 1988, she has evolved from an award-winning docent to a seasoned administrator with 36 years of extensive experience. She has achieved remarkable results in academic research, publishing numerous papers in national journals and participating in the compilation of significant works such as the Complete Medical Works of Li Shizhen. As the museum director, she has welcomed over 100,000 study-tour students from domestic and international backgrounds.