9.8 Contagious Fevers. Plate 43 of the Tibetan medical paintings (Ulan Ude set). Lhasa, central Tibet; early 20th century. Pigments on cloth; 86 x 68 em. National Museum of the Republic of Buryatia, Ulan Ude. Photograph courtesy of Serindia
is said to have studied a variety of subjects with prominent teachers of his day, eventually authoring thirty-five scholarly
teachings of the Kagyu author Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339),
texts on Buddhism and twelve medical texts. His many
the third Karmapa and a pioneer of yogic physiology and
students continued this trajectory of publication. Despite a
practice (FIG. 9 10). These esoteric alchemical teachings
significant body of textual material produced by the tradition,
passed eventually to the Southern tradition offshoot school
given the youth of Tibetan medical history as a topic of
of the Drigung Kagyu ('Bri gung bka' brgyud) and later to the
research outside of Tibet, secondary scholarship on the
Situ tradition, about which more will be said below. In this
distinguishing features of the Northern and Southern schools
practice, mercury is detoxified and then mixed with other
is scarce. Fernand Meyer suggests that they disagreed
ingredients while mantras are recited and the Medicine
primarily on "specific questions such as the localization of a
Buddha propitiated, after which pills are formed and then
few channels or points of intervention in the body, as well as
consecrated with an empowering medicine ritual (see also
the identification of certain drugs," and that there may also
chapter 10, FIGS. 10.14 - 22). 19 Nyamnyi Dorje is also known
have been regional alliances distinguishing the schools n
for his strong ties to the Yuthog Heart Essence teachings on
The contemporary Tibetan medical historian Jampa Trinle
empowering medicine.
concurs that the schools differ largely on the means of
9.9 Manuscript of one of Tsarong Palden Gyaltsen's works on epidemic smallpox. Central Tibet; date unconfirmed. Black and red ink on Tibetan paper bound with cloth cover; 24 ff. Private Collection
"black pill" (rin chen ril nag) recipe, for example, based on the
Zurkhar Lodro Gyalpo (1509-1579?), said to be Zurkhar
recognizing medicinal herbs, adding that environmental
Nyamnyi Dorje's nephew, was also a serious scholar of
factors account for differences in both treatment approaches
religion who spent his life as a monk and studied widely with
and epidemiology, the Northern tradition specializing in
contemporary experts, including the Eighth Kagyu Karmapa,
conditions common to extreme cold and high altitude, and
Mikyo Dorje (1504-1554), among others. He spent time at
the Southern tradition specializing in epidemic conditions
Sakya Monastery, a politically influential site that had also
endemic to hotter regions. 1s
become famous for medical education. Zurkhar Lodro Gyalpo
The Southern school founder Zurkhar Nyamnyi Dorje is
is remembered for having discovered a hidden manuscript of
known for contributing to Tibetan pharmacology, for instance,
the Four Tantras written by Yuthog himself. The resulting Four
by convening a pan-regional conference devoted to the
Tantras woodblocks led eventually to distinct editions of that
topic and composing texts on pharmacy and materia medica,
work known as the Bodong (Bo dong), Tagten (Rtag brtan),
including the work for which he is most famous, the still-used
Kvirong (Skvid rang), Drongkhang (Grong khang), and Kongpo
Ten Mtf!ion Relics (Bve baring bsrel). Nyamnyi Dorje's work
Gvupa Gampo (Kong po rgvud pa gam po) editions; they also
focused not only on pharmacological methods of healing,
formed the basis of the influential 1640 Dratang edition of the
however, and as with others of the medical tradition, he was
Four Tantras (Gra thang rgvud bzhi) created at the time of the
heavily connected to Buddhist practices and scholarship.
Fifth Dalai Lama 20 Zurkhar himself composed the most influ-
He is known for developing and promoting the infamous
ential Southern tradition Four Tantras commentary, Instruction
.
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GARRETT : MAKING OF MEDICAL HISTORY 185