Travel with @cn-reader: The Time-honored TCM Pharmacies 历史悠久的中医药房——Hu Qing Yu Tang 胡庆余堂

cn-reader (61)in #cn • 6 years ago

Background 背景

Hangzhou has long played a vital role in China’s bustling Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) world . The immense hometown pride the city has in TCM can be seen all across Hangzhou , ranging from time-honored pharmacies and clinics that provide delightful cultural immersion for TCM enthusiasts to historical streets in downtown Hangzhou's Wu Liu Xiang (五柳巷) and Jianguo South Road , long associated with TCM——not to mention one of China's most prestigious TCM universities , offering an array of programs open to Westerners throughout the year.

杭州在中国的中医药界中起着至关重要的作用，城内随处可见我们身为中医药学故乡的骄傲。杭州五柳巷和建国南路历史街区，遍布着历史悠久的药店和诊所，为中医爱好者提供中医药学方面的文化氛围。中国最负盛名的中医药大学之一也坐落于杭州，它全年向西方人开放的中医药学项目。

The glorious TCM tradition of Hangzhou is personified by Hu Xueyan, the only member of the merchant class in the Qing Dynasty to be awarded a red-topped hat (a rank indicating an officer of second grade by the Qing imperial court), and one of the few people given the rare privilege by Empress Dowager Cixi to ride a horse in the Forbidden City.

杭州璀璨的中医传统是由胡雪岩所缔造的。他是清朝唯一的红顶商人（清朝官衔二等军衔），也是罕见地由慈禧太后特赦可以在紫禁城内骑马的少数人之一。

The merchant's many ventures including banks, pawnshops and philanthropic projects. However, his best-known contribution that still stands to this day is Hu Qing Yu Tang. It is a medicinal hall known then for its uncompromising quality in medicine , ethical treatment of customers, and affordable healthcare services .

这位商人的产业包括了银行、当铺和慈善项目，但他迄今为止最出名的贡献还是胡庆余堂。这家中医药房因其对药物质量毫不妥协的态度，对顾客充满道德的治疗以及寻常百姓也能负担得起的医疗服务而闻名。

Launched in 1874, Hu Qing Yu Tang is as well known as the Tong Ren Tang medicinal hall in Beijing and has a greater sense of architectural authenticity. Since its inception, Hu Qing Yu Tang has scrupulously followed the Taping Pharmacopeia，an exhaustive and authoritative collection of drug-making doctrines and codes of practice compiled by the Southern Song, making it the indisputable crown jewel in the arts of natural medicine in China.

胡庆余堂创建于1874年，与北京同仁堂药房同样闻名。但较之于同仁堂，胡庆余堂更具有建筑学上的美感。自成立以来，胡庆余堂一直严格遵守南宋时期编纂的药典《太平惠民和剂药局方》——这是一部详尽而权威的南宋药物治疗学说和规范，是中国天然药物艺术中毫无争议的珍宝。

A boycott led by the French in the early 1880s caused a disastrous cash flow problem in 1883 and the bankruptcy of the "Hu Empire" the next year. In 1885, Hu died depressed and destitute at the age of 62, leaving behind an ironic tale of tragedy and promise for people today to learn from .

在十九世纪八十年代初期，法国人发起了抵制行为。1883年，这一行为造成了灾难性的现金流问题，并最终导致了次年“胡氏帝国”的破产。1885年，胡雪岩在憔悴和贫穷去世，享年62岁。他所留下的悲剧而讽刺故事，足以让后人引以为戒。

Today, Hu Qing Yu Tang is China's only state-level TCM museum. The sprawling facility—encompassing an exhibition floor, drug-making workshop, TCM store, various clinical rooms offering herbal treatments and acupuncture, and a medicinal food restaurant—should not be missed by any visitor to Hangzhou who is interested in Chinese culture and history.

如今，胡庆余堂是中国唯一的国家级中医博物馆。任何对中国文化和历史感兴趣的游客都不应该错过这座包含了展览场地，制药车间，中医店，各种提供草药治疗和针灸的临床室以及药食餐厅的庞大建筑。

With the ambiance of traditional China perfectly retained in its architecture, the TCM lobby gives visitors the intriguing feeling of having traveled back in time 300 years and is a trustworthy place for souvenir-seekers looking for authentic Chinese herbal medicines and tonics.

传统中国的氛围被完美地保留在其建筑中，中医大堂为游客提供了如同置身在在300年历史长河中游走的迷人感觉。作为游客，这里同样是值得您信赖的，可以地道中草药和补品的地方。

Relishing the dappled light and shadow in the serenity of the halls courtyard, one cannot help but reflect upon the inexplicable interplay of historical factors and the struggle of individuals.

在大厅庭院的宁静中，看着浮现在眼前斑驳的光影，不禁让人想起历史长河中那些与时代不懈抗争的人和事。

For first-timers in Hangzhou, the greatest charm of the museum may be the fact that the antique establishment is still visited by locals on a daily basis, lining up for diagnoses and prescriptions just as in days of old, which may be the greatest comfort to the frustrations and sorrows of Hu in his later years.

对于第一次来杭州的游客来说来说，博物馆的最大魅力可能在于当地人仍然每天都会到访——排队等待诊断和处方，就像在旧时代那样，这可能是对胡雪岩晚年的挫折和悲伤最大的安慰吧。

Other major TCM players in Hangzhou include Guang Xing Tang (广兴堂 ) and Zhang Tong Tai ( 张同泰) , the later best known for its ointment clinic where one can consult with the doctors for an amazing prescription for anything from seasonal testiness and nervous fits to diabetes and ronic Insomnia. Next time, Vicky will find a chance to introduce them to you one by one.