Details of Research Outputs

The transnational transition in Chinese medicine is complex and influenced by various political, social, religious, cultural, and economic factors. Chinese medicine has millennia of history in China, although its presence beyond China’s borders is relatively new and can be traced back to when the ethnic Chinese began to migrate overseas. This introductory chapter primarily synthesizes the transitions in Chinese medicine in the modern era and the factors behind the transitions. The first section of this chapter discusses the origins and development of Chinese medicine from the ancient to the medieval period. From the late Han (202 B.C.–220 A.D.) to late Qing (1644–1912 A.D.) dynasty, Chinese medicine underwent different transitions. Chinese medicine witnessed a dramatic decline after the foundation of the Republic of China in the year 1912 and was replaced by Western medicine, which is also examined in this section. The next section deals with the revival of Chinese medicine during the Mao era and the rise of hybrid Chinese medicine. This section includes a discussion on the key features of transition during the modern era and presents a literature review on this subject. The final section of this chapter gives an overview of the book, which includes the professionalization, integration, and hybridity in Chinese medicine; commodification and marketing, and transnational transition. The commodification of Chinese medicine by various market forces is a recent phenomenon which has developed over the last few decades. Chinese medicine has been transformed from an indigenous healing method to global consumer goods by manufacturers. Transnational transition in Chinese medicine focuses on three Southeast and East Asian countries: Malaysia, Philippines, and Japan.