Zhu’s Style Gynecology
Translated by Daniel Cai, Sarah Xie
Zhu’s Style Gynecology (or Zhu’s School of Gynecology) is one of the most renowned schools of Chinese Medicine in Jiangsu and Zhejiang province. Founded by Dr. Nanshan Zhu in the early 20th century, the lineage has a rich history spanning over 100 years. For five generations, Zhu’s Style Gynecology has produced numerous famous doctors, known for their superb medical skills and saving countless lives. Dr. Nanshan Zhu and his disciples are especially devoted to promoting women’s health education and forming medical organizations, including the founding of the New China Medical College to educate future practitioners
Founded by Dr. Nanshan Zhu
Dr. Nanshan Zhu was originally from the city of Nantong in Jiangsu, China. In his novice years, he studied under Nantong’s Confucian doctor Dr. Xilin Shen. After completing his studies, he practiced in his hometown and began to develop his own system of gynecological treatments. In addition to his achievements in this field, Dr. Nanshan Zhu also had a lot of experience with internal medicine and dermatology. He often used sweating, vomiting, and laxatives to treat patients in critical conditions, and gained fame in his village for treating severe epidemics. In 1916, Dr. Nanshan Zhu moved to Shanghai. His deep knowledge and bold approach to prescribing medicine, which often took effect after just a single dose, soon made him famous in Shanghai and earned him the nickname “Zhu Yitie” (Zhu One Dose). In his later years, most of the patients who sought treatment from Dr. Nanshan Zhu were women, so he gradually became famous for his gynecological treatments. In 1933, Dr. Nanshan Zhu opened his own clinic, “Nanshan Cottage”, and saw 200 to 300 patients per day. His eldest son Dr. Xiaonan Zhu and second son Dr. Hegao Zhu assisted him in treating patients.
In 1935, Dr. Nanshan Zhu and his two sons, Xiaonan and Hegao, founded the New China Medical College with the former serving as the first president. Students came from all over China and Southeast Asia, with a third being children of overseas Chinese originally from Fujian and Guangdong provinces, living in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, etc. To train his students, Dr. Nanshan Zhu created the “Ten Questions on Gynecology” based on the ten questions of Zhongjing Zhang’s classic diagnostic approach, which laid the foundation for the origin of Zhu’s Style Gynecology. In 1937, the New China Medical College added an affiliated hospital and research institute, recruiting both Chinese and Western medical doctors. The hospital implemented a dual Chinese-Western medical outpatient and consultation system, becoming one of the earliest integrative medical hospitals in the country. Since its establishment, more than 500 Chinese medicine scholars and graduate students have been trained at this hospital. Many of them later became the backbone of Chinese medicine and pharmacology, writing a brilliant chapter in the history of Chinese medicine education.
Inheritance and Development
In 1938, Dr. Nanshan Zhu passed away. The New China Medical College continued to be co-directed by Dr. Xiaonan Zhu and Dr. Hegao Zhu, who continued to carry forward the family’s gynecology legacy.
Succeeded by Dr. Xiaonan Zhu
Dr. Xiaonan Zhu (formerly known as Heming) was the eldest son of Dr. Nanshan Zhu. At age 20, he started practicing medicine in Shanghai, specializing in internal medicine, surgery, gynecology and pediatrics. He was known for his excellent attitude and effective treatments. During his middle age, he became widely respected, particularly for his expertise in gynecology. In 1935, he helped his father establish the New China Medical College, first serving as vice president and later succeeding his father as president. He also organized a scholarly society called the “Ming Society” to study Traditional Chinese Medicine (or TCM) and foster professional camaraderie. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Dr. Xiaonan Zhu and his eldest daughter Dr. Nansun Zhu joined the Shanghai Public Medical Outpatient Clinic No. 5 (predecessor of the Famous Doctors’ Special Clinic of Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine) and established the city’s first independent TCM gynecology department. He served as both the chairman of the Shanghai TCM Gynecology Society and the head of the Gynecology Group of the Shanghai TCM Society.
Dr. Xiaonan Zhu utilized both internal and topical medicine in clinical treatment. Simultaneously, he made significant contributions to research, including the integration of the academic achievements of various schools, and put forward unique insights into the relationship between the eight extraordinary meridians and gynecology. He compiled a list of herbs used for the eight extraordinary meridians, which was unprecedented during his time. His works include Clinical Applications of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians in Gynecology, Xiaonan Zhu’s Case Studies and Medical Essays, and A History of Chinese Obstetrics and Gynecology, among others. Under his leadership, Zhu’s Style Gynecology became increasingly influential。
Developed by Professor Nansun Zhu
During the third generation of Zhu’s Style Gynecology, the school branched into domestic and international lineages. In China, Professor Nansun Zhu led the domestic lineage.
Professor Nansun Zhu, the eldest daughter of Dr. Xiaonan Zhu, was intelligent and strong-willed from a young age, and deeply loved by her grandfather. Her name “Nansun” expressed the hope for her to inherit the family medical tradition. In 1942, she graduated with honors from the New China Medical College. When she first entered the medical field, she was involved in theory and clinical practice, and gradually became Dr. Xiaonan Zhu’s trusted aide.
In 1952, she followed her father to the Shanghai Public Medical Outpatient Clinic No. 5. Over her 80-year career, she engaged in clinical practice, teaching and scientific research of TCM gynecology. She integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine and expanded Zhu’s Style Gynecology.
In 2017, she was awarded the title of “National Master of TCM”. In addition, she had served as the first group of academicians of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, mentor to the first and second group of successors of famous TCM practitioners in China, the instructor of the heritage project of the State Administration of TCM, consultant for the Chinese Gynecology Branch of the Chinese Association of TCM, advisor to the Shanghai Gynecology Society, lifetime professor and expert committee member of Shanghai University of TCM, vice chairman of the Shanghai Society of TCM, chairman and consultant for the Shanghai Society of TCM Gynecology, leader of the Shanghai TCM Gynecology Medical Cooperation Center, and a leading figure in national TCM specialty programs, among other honors.
Professor Nansun Zhu advocated passing on the lineage and development of TCM. Since 2001, she led the creation of many “studio model” organizations, such as: the Shanghai Nansun Zhu Chinese Medicine Practitioner Studio, Shanghai Zhu’s Gynecology School Inheritance Research Base, first national Nansun Zhu Chinese Medicine Practitioner Lineage studios, Zhu’s Style Gynecology Chinese Medicine School Lineage Studio, and Nansun Zhu National Medical Master Lineage Studio. Presently, “Zhu’s Style Gynecological Therapy” has been included in the Chinese and Shanghai intangible cultural heritage protection lists, and has trained many outstanding fourth and fifth generation disciples. Zhu’s Style Gynecology has become an academic school with great influence among the various schools of TCM gynecology in Shanghai and China.
Professor Nansun Zhu not only dedicated herself to studying her ancestors’ medical experiences, but also followed their teaching philosophy. Her students include national mentors for senior TCM doctors, leading experts in national key disciplines, renowned doctors in Shanghai, and supervisors for master’s and doctoral students.
Through generations of work, Zhu’s Style Gynecology has undertaken more than 50 national and municipal research projects, published over 200 papers and books, developed the patented formula Modified Mo-jie Tablets for dysmenorrhea, and received five national intellectual property rights and over 10 national and municipal science and technology awards. It has also conducted three preclinical studies on new drugs.
Author Biography:
Dr. Dong Li is the Director of the Department of Gynecology at Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, affiliated with Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She also serves as the Director of the Teaching and Research Section of Integrated Gynecology at Yueyang Clinical Medical College. Dr. Dong is a Chief Physician, Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor.
She is recognized as the Shanghai municipal representative inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage project “Zhu’s Gynecological Therapy.” Dr. Dong has been honored as an Excellent TCM Clinical Talent by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and as a Leading Talent in TCM in Shanghai.
朱氏婦科
董莉Dong Li
朱氏婦科是近代江浙杏林著名流派之一，由朱南山先生創於上世紀初，至今歷百餘年。朱氏婦科五代傳承，名醫輩出，醫術精湛，活人無數，尤其熱心醫學團體及教育事業，創辦新中國醫學院培育後人，聲望之隆，飲譽全國，稱道海外。
肇事始於朱南山先生
朱南山先生原籍江蘇南通，早年拜南通儒醫沈錫麟為師，學成後執業於本鄉，朱氏婦科由此發軔。南山先生除對婦科頗有建樹外，對內科、皮膚科諸病的治療也頗有心得，常用汗、吐、下法，挽救危急，以治時疫重症成名於鄉裡。 1916年南山公徙居上海，因其治學精專，用藥富有魄力，往往一帖見效，人稱“朱一帖”，不久即為上海灘名醫。南山先生晚年求治者以婦人居多，遂以婦科著稱。 1933年，南山先生設立診所，取名“南山小築”，當時每日診治200到300號患者，長子朱小南、次子朱鶴皋隨父襄診，審證用藥，殫心竭虑，務求其當，遣方用藥，立竿見影。
1935年，南山先生與其二子小南、鶴皋創設新中國醫學院，時任第一任院長，延聘名師，闡授道業。當時學生來自全國及東南亞各地，其中有三分之一為港澳台、新加坡、馬來西亞、緬甸等地的閩粵僑胞子女。為教誨入門弟子，南山先生仿仲景十問之意制定《婦科十問口訣》，奠定了朱氏婦科緣起的基礎。 1937年，新中國醫學院增設附屬醫院和研究院，醫院聘請了許多中西醫師，實行中西結合門診和會診制度，是全國範圍內較早的中西醫結合醫院之一。新中國醫學院先後培養了500餘名中醫學者，一屆研究生，他們當中的許多人後來成為中醫藥學的中堅力量，為中國中醫教育史寫下了輝煌的一筆。
傳承與發展
1938年，南山先生逝世，新中國醫學院由朱小南、朱鶴皋共同主持，朱氏婦科繼續傳承。
奠基於朱小南先生
朱小南，原名鶴鳴，南山公長子。 20歲時，懸壺於上海，統治內、外、婦、兒各科，因他態度良好，診治有效，深得病人的信任，聲譽漸起；中年擅治婦科而著稱。 1935年協助其父創辦新中國醫學院，先任副院長，後繼其父任院長，並組織“鳴社”，定期聚會，旨在研究國醫學術，聯絡同志情誼。建國後，小南先生與長女朱南孫加入了上海市公費醫療第五門診部（上海中醫藥大學附屬岳陽中西醫結合醫院名醫特診部前身）工作，創建了當時上海醫院中第一個獨立的中醫婦科，任職主任，擔任上海市中醫婦科學會主任委員，兼任上海中醫學會婦科組長。
朱小南臨診用藥內外兼治，不拘一格，他總結前輩學術，潛心研究，大膽發揮，並融會貫通各家學術，對奇經八脈與婦科的關聯提出獨特見解，尤其對奇經用藥整編歸類，言前人所未言，對於奇經虛實之複雜病症，制定了具體治則和方藥有《奇經八脈婦科臨證間的具體應用》、《朱小南醫案、醫話、醫論》、《中國婦產科史》等著述。於此，朱氏婦科的業界影響力也不斷提升。
發展於朱南孫教授
及至朱氏婦科第三代，流派傳承得以發展，漸成國內及海外兩支體系，國內朱南孫教授為代表的傳承人不斷發展提高，自成朱氏婦科流派風骨。
朱南孫為小南先生長女，自小天資聰穎，性格堅毅，深得祖父鍾愛，取名「南孫」自是寄望她繼承家學、弘揚祖業之意。 1942年以優異成績畢業於新中國醫學院，初涉醫林即置身於理論與實務結合之中，漸漸成為朱小南先生的得力助手。 1952年隨父同入上海市公費醫療第五門診部。臨證80載，先生長期從事中醫婦科臨床、教學與科研，衷中參西，追求創新，大大豐富發展了朱氏婦科，享有「三代一傳人」之美稱。 2017年，先生獲評「國醫大師」榮譽。此外，先生還曾擔任首批中國中醫科學院學部委員，全國第一批、第二批名老中醫繼承人指導導師，國家中醫藥管理局傳承計畫指導老師，中華中醫藥學會中醫婦科分會顧問，上海中醫婦科學會顧問，上海中醫藥大學專家委員會委員、終身教授，上海中醫學藥學會副理事長，上海中醫婦科學會主任委員、顧問，上海中醫婦科醫療協作中心、國家中醫藥管理局全國重點中醫專科學科帶頭人等。
朱南孫教授一直秉承「將中醫藥傳承發揚下去」的信念，率先於2001年在全國以工作室模式開展傳承建設，先後入選上海市朱南孫首席名中醫工作室、海派朱氏婦科流派傳承研究基地、國家首批朱南孫名老中專家傳承國承孫科如今，「朱氏婦科療法」已分別入選國家級、上海市非物質文化遺產保護名錄，同時培養了諸多優秀的第四代、第五代傳承人，朱氏婦科已然成為了滬上乃至全國中醫婦科流派中影響較大的學術派別。
先生不但自己潛心研究祖輩從醫經驗，也承襲祖輩教學風範，授受岐黃，門生遍布，其傳承人有全國名老中醫繼承人指導導師、國家優秀中醫臨床人才、全國重點學科領導者、上海市名中醫、上海市中醫藥領軍人才、碩博士研究生導師等優秀中醫婦科人才，研究生、進修生更是無數，傳承脈絡已遠及各地。
幾經發展，朱氏婦科歷代傳承人已完成國家級、市級課題50餘項；公開發表論文、論著200餘部；流派治療經痛的加味沒竭片實現了科學研究成果轉化落實；取得國家智慧財產權5項及國家級、市級科技獎勵10餘項；進行新藥臨床前研究3項。
作者簡介：
董莉，上海中醫藥大學附屬岳陽中西醫結合醫院婦科主任，上海中醫藥大學岳陽臨床醫學院中西醫結合婦科學教研室主任，主任醫師，教授，博士生導師；國家級非物質文化遺產項目“朱氏婦科療法”上海市代表性傳承人；榮獲國家中醫藥管理局優秀中醫臨床人才、上海市中醫藥領軍人才等榮譽稱號。
