TCM carries thousands of years of Chinese life wisdom, not only is a healing technique, but also a way of life.
On November 22, the special exhibition "Herigage Harmony Health:The Wisdom of Shanghai TCM for Modern Well-being" officially opened at the first floor of the East Wing of Shanghai History Museum. The event was guided by the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism (Shanghai Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau), Shanghai Municipal Health Commission (Shanghai Municipal Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine), and Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, organized by Shanghai History Museum, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Shanghai Chinese Medicine Industry Association, with support from Shanghai Shangyao Shenxiang Health Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The exhibition aims to revisit history, inspire the present, and highlight the profound heritage and contemporary value of Shanghai-style traditional Chinese medicine. The exhibition will run until March 1, 2026.
▲The opening of the exhibition and the launch of the 11th Wild Ginseng Culture Festival in 2025
The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished guests including: Hu Hongyi, Deputy Director of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission and First-Class Inspector, Director of Shanghai Health Care Bureau, and President of Shanghai Association of Chinese Medicine; Cao Xikang, Party Secretary of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Lin Sumin, Second-Class Inspector of Shanghai Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau; Liu Wei, Second-Class Inspector of Shanghai Municipal Commerce Commission; Zhong Liwei, Vice President of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Wang Longxing, Advisor to Shanghai Chinese Medicine Industry Association and former Director of Shanghai Food and Drug Administration; Wang Bo, President of Shanghai Chinese Medicine Industry Association and General Manager of Shanghai Pharmaceutical Materials Co., Ltd.; Hu Yi, Party Secretary of Shanghai Pharmaceutical Materials Co., Ltd. and General Manager of Shanghai Pharmaceutical Shenxiang Health Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Dong Linqiong, Executive President of Shanghai Pharmaceutical Commerce Industry Association; Zhou Qunhua, Director of Shanghai History Museum; and Li Gan, Director of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum. The event was hosted by Feng Bing, Visiting Professor at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and host of Shanghai Television.
▲Lin Sumin, Deputy Inspector of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism
make a speech
▲Liu Wei, Deputy Inspector of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce
make a speech
▲Liu Wei, Deputy Inspector of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce
make a speech
▲Xu Jianguang, Director of the Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress
make a speech
▲Zhang Huaiqiong, former deputy director of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission and deputy director of Shanghai Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Zhang Shuying, deputy director of the Department of Inheritance and Development of Shanghai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Wang Chenglan, deputy researcher of Shanghai History Museum
The Documentary "Maritime Chinese Medicine"
▲Chen Hanhong, Deputy Director of Shanghai History Museum; Zhong Liwei, Vice President of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
The New Book of Herigage Harmony Health:The Wisdom of Shanghai TCM for Modern Well-being
▲Lv Chengshuo, Deputy Director of Shanghai History Museum; Li Gan, Director of Shanghai Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Hu Yi, Party Secretary of Shanghai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and General Manager of Shanghai Pharmaceutical Shenxiang Health Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Strategic cooperation agreement
▲Zhou Qunhua, Director of Shanghai History Museum; Wang Longxing, Advisor of Shanghai Chinese Medicine Industry Association; Wang Bo, General Manager of Shanghai Medicinal Materials Co., Ltd.
Issuing certificates for donations of Chinese medicinal materials and issuing collection orders for Chinese medicinal materials
▲Introduction to the 4th Health Consumption Festival
Centered on the triad of 'medicine, pharmacy, and wellness,' this exhibition traces the evolution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Shanghai—how it took root in the city, blended Eastern and Western traditions, endured for millennia, and ultimately became part of modern urban life. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts, including the week-long display of the 'Jinling Initial Edition of Compendium of Materia Medica from the 21st Year of the Wanli Reign (1573),' the exhibition chronicles the story of 'Shanghai TCM.'
Medicine: The Eight Directions of Herbal Medicine
The documentary "Vantage Point" guides viewers through Shanghai's medicinal herb heritage. A late Qing Dynasty illustration from the "Complete Atlas of Jiangsu Hydraulic Engineering" depicts the intricate waterways of Jiangnan. By cross-referencing historical records, this segment chronicles Shanghai's evolution into a national herbal medicine hub during the mid-19th century, fueled by population growth and commercial prosperity. During this transformation, ginseng and silver ear fungus businesses branched off from traditional pharmacies, while conventional Chinese medicine shops expanded their operations under Western pharmacy influence, creating a vibrant landscape of sprawling pharmacy complexes.
Bailianji billboard
Housed in the Shanghai History Museum
In November 1923, Shanghai merchant Huang Chujiu founded Jiufu Pharmaceutical Company at the site of Taishengyuan Restaurant on Fengyang Road (now Fengyang Road). The company's flagship product,' Bailingji '(a health supplement), along with' Buliduo 'and' Le Koufu', formed its three most renowned brands.
"Medicine·The Wonderful Prescriptions of Immortals"
The plaques, portraits, and genealogies of renowned medical families—including the He clan from Jiangnan, the Zhang clan from Longhua, the Cai clan from Jiangwan, and the Chen clan from Qingpu—trace the lineage of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Shanghai. This section reveals the inner and outer cultivation of physicians, profiles Shanghai's modern medical luminaries, and captures the TCM practitioners' journey of survival, transformation, and innovation amidst the scientific revolution, alongside the evolution of Shanghai-style TCM. Archives and artifacts from institutions like the Women's College of Chinese and Western Medicine and the Shanghai College of Chinese Medicine, along with academic organizations such as the Shanghai Medical Association and the Chinese Medical Association, attest to the medical community's groundbreaking contributions to establishing a modern TCM education and practice system.
An acupuncture bronze statue
Shanghai Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine
The bronze statue features 14 meridian pathways and 580 unmarked acupuncture points carved across its surface. Commissioned by Emperor Qianlong in 1744 (the ninth year of his reign) as a tribute to contributors to the *Yizong Jinjian* (Golden Mirror of Medicine), this masterpiece was awarded to all physicians involved in its compilation. The recipients received "a promotion of one rank, a bronze statue, and a copy of the book." Its owner, Fu Hai, had a family lineage of nine generations of renowned physicians serving at the Imperial Medical Institute. In 1944, Shanghai physician Ding Jimin acquired the statue from a Beijing antique shop and donated it to the Chinese Medical Association's Museum of Medical History.
"Nurturing Life and Mental Well-being"
The final section bridges historical wisdom with modern life through artifacts like Wu Daiqiu's Qing Dynasty masterpiece' Lily and Frost Crab 'and a Republican-era copper hand warmer in Haitang style, demonstrating how traditional Chinese medicine's health practices blend movement and stillness to cultivate mind and body. It champions the philosophy that 'true mastery lies beyond the yellow and green of the herbal world.'
Wu Daiqiu's "Lily, Chrysanthemum, Frost and Crab"
Housed in the Shanghai History Museum
Wu Daiqiu (1878-1949), styled Daiqiu and named Hui, was widely known by his literary name. His artistic aliases included Baomu Jushi (Hermit of Embracing Clumsiness) and Shulin Zhongzi (Nephew of Sparse Woods). A leading figure among the "Three Wu and One Feng" (a renowned Shanghai art circle) during the Republic of China era, his masterpiece *Lily, Crab, and Tea Set* centers on chrysanthemums, crabs, and a teapot. The chrysanthemum branches are rendered with dynamic ink variations—dry and wet strokes that transition from scorched ink for aged leaves to light ink for new shoots. Petals are delicately outlined with "double-line filling" technique, achieving a refined elegance. The crab's shell is outlined in ochre-red with bold ink for claws, capturing its texture and sharpness through freehand brushwork that avoids technicality. The teapot and flowerpot, rendered with dry ink strokes, exude rustic charm, creating a visual harmony of "motion and stillness, density and lightness" with the lively subjects—a quintessential example of Shanghai School painters' philosophy: "valuing both the charm of brushwork and the essence of nature."
Telling the Story of Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Perspective of City
The special exhibition "Herigage Harmony Health" explores the profound connection between traditional Chinese medicine culture and Shanghai through its urban history. The exhibition hall displays Xu Guangqi's "Complete Book of Agricultural Administration," flower-and-fruit illustrations by renowned Shanghai School painters, and regional delicacy scrolls, showcasing the abundance of Jiangnan's produce. The adjacent displays of traditional medicinal pastes reveal how the "food and medicine share the same origin" concept is embodied in Shanghai's winter tonic practices and gao-fang consumption customs. A prime example is the famous Shanghai Chenghuang Temple pear gao-tang (a medicinal syrup), crafted from ingredients like snow pears, fritillary bulb, coptis, and platycodon. Through boiling, concentration, and cutting into blocks, this preparation bears striking similarities to early gao-fang formulas.
In addition to local Chinese medicine families, the open urban character and the changing landscape of the times also attracted many medical practitioners to Shanghai in modern times, making it a true stronghold of modern medicine. In 1920, Yu Yunxiu posed the question, "What exactly does traditional Chinese medicine rely on for treatment?" This became a defining question of the era during the 1920s and 1930s regarding the debate over the survival or abolition of traditional Chinese medicine, and Shanghai's medical practitioners provided their own answers amidst the tides of the times. From the novel scenes depicted in the "Dianshizhai Pictorial" such as "Western medicine treatment" and "open-mouthed consultation," to Yun Tieqiao's declaration of integrating Chinese and Western medicine, "Taking the strengths of Western medicine and combining them to produce a new Chinese medicine," and further to the historical photographs of the Chinese medicine community petitioning in Nanjing in 1929 for the "abolition of traditional Chinese medicine," the inclusive spirit of the Shanghai School not only propelled the development of modern medicine in China but also enabled Shanghai to play a significant role in the exchange between Chinese and Western medicine.
The Old City God Temple Pear Paste Candy Cooperative Store in the 1950s
From Traditional Culture to Contemporary Life
Sun Simiao maintained that a truly accomplished physician must transcend mere mastery of the *Huangdi Zhenjing* (Yellow Emperor's Classic of Acupuncture) and knowledge of the five zang organs and six fu organs. They should also be well-versed in diverse academic disciplines. As exemplified by Zhang Xiangyun's use of a purple clay teapot and Hu Pengshou's use of a violin in the exhibition, renowned physicians throughout history expanded their expertise beyond medicine, refining their craft within the broader framework of traditional culture.
As traditional culture thrives with renewed vitality, the exhibition transcends historical retrospection to explore a wellness-oriented philosophy, conveying messages of 'transitioning from medical practice to holistic care' and 'learning from the past to enlighten the present.' As the exhibition's opening statement emphasizes:' While medicine and herbs serve to treat illnesses, our daily essentials include adapting to seasonal changes, balancing flavors, maintaining regular routines, and nurturing emotional well-being. 'We hope this journey not only deepens understanding of Shanghai's cultural heritage but also inspires contemporary individuals to reflect on their lives and discover personalized wellness practices.
Notably, the 5th Shanghai Health Consumption Festival (Q4 events) and the 11th Wild Ginseng Culture Festival opened concurrently, vividly showcasing traditional nourishing culture and Shanghai-style medical specialties. This initiative promotes traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to the public, serves people's livelihoods, achieves brand resonance, and boosts winter consumption.
▲Audience Experience: AI Technology Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine
