QUACKS AND WONDER DRUGS: A HISTORY OF MEDICINE IN CHINA

Credit Hours: 3 · Undergraduate Lower-Level

What defines a legitimate doctor, and what qualifies as medicine? This course examines the history of medicine in China, focusing on patient-practitioner relationships and drug culture. We will discuss both learned practices, such as herbal medicine and acupuncture, and more unconventional aspects, like quackery and ritual healing. Beyond standard pharmaceutical objects, we will also investigate the roles of food, poisons, and incense in Chinese drug culture. This course aims to broaden your understanding of “medicine” by presenting it in a broader cultural context and exploring how various elements have shaped historical and contemporary practices. Cross-list: ASIA 216 .