Among the historical archives of the central institutions of the Qing Dynasty that have been preserved to this day, there are some records and prescriptions for the royal family’s medical inquiries and treatments. The original creator of these medical archives was the palace medical institution of the Qing Dynasty—— Too hospital.
The Taiyuan Hospital was established in the first year of Shunzhi (1644). It has been in charge of palace medical affairs for ten dynasties of the Qing Dynasty. When it was first established, there was one court envoy and one judge each on the left and right courts to take charge of court affairs.
Later, in the fifty-eighth year of Qianlong's reign (1793), Minister Wang, the Minister of Management of the Academy of Management, was appointed to be in charge of the affairs of the Academy. The number of subordinate officials decreed by the court has been increased many times in the past dynasties. By the time of Guangxu, it was: thirteen imperial doctors, twenty-six officials, twenty medical scholars, and thirty doctors.
The ranks of official positions were originally determined to be: the fifth rank of the imperial envoy, the sixth rank of the imperial judge, the seventh rank of the imperial physician, and the eighth and ninth ranks of officials, thirteen each. In the first year of Xuantong (1909), at the invitation of Zhang Zhongyuan, who was the envoy of the hospital at that time, the official ranks of the imperial envoys were as follows: the fourth rank of the imperial envoy, the fifth rank of the imperial judge, the sixth rank of the imperial doctor, and the eighth rank of the official. It was changed to seventh grade, and ninth grade was changed to eighth grade.
Except for the administrative minister, who is a Manchu official, the rest of the officials are Han. In order to maintain the quality of medical officers at a high level, Taiyuan Hospital stipulates that if there is a vacancy, the left hospital officer will be promoted to the left hospital, the left hospital officer will be promoted to the right hospital, and the right hospital officer will be promoted to the imperial doctor. In addition, when the remaining vacancies for imperial doctors, officials, and doctors are available, those with excellent medical skills must pass examinations and be promoted in ascending order. Doctors entering the hospital for the first time must be proficient in medical science and have no criminal record. They must obtain the official seal of their hometown and go to the Tai Hospital to submit a written examination. After the interview, only those who are considered to be medically achievable will be allowed to study in the hospital and wait for the examination. When a doctor becomes vacant, he or she will be filled through examination. The Taiyuan Hospital has a teaching and learning hall, which selects imperial doctors and officials who are both excellent in character and academics to teach, and sends both junior doctors and medical officers' children to study.
In the sixth year of Tongzhi (1867), a medical center was established. Examinations were conducted for medical practitioners, doctors, and students in the spring and autumn of each year, and grades were listed based on the results, with preparations for promotions based on name. Every six years, a major examination is held together with the Ministry of Rites. All personnel below the rank of official are required to participate. The college officials will assess each person's liberal arts, science, medicine and other subjects, determine whether to stay or leave, list the grades, and consult with the Second Department of Lili and Etiquette for registration and filing.
If a medical officer is unable to serve due to serious illness, he may be dismissed after being verified by the hospital official, and the original vacancy will be filled after recovery. If anyone is found to be practicing medicine outside while making excuses, he will be dealt with strictly.
The medical department in Taiyuan Hospital was originally divided into eleven departments: Dafangmai, Xiaofangmai, typhoid, women, ulcers, acupuncture, ophthalmology, oral and dental, throat, bone setting, and acne *** . The back throat merges with the mouth and teeth, and the acne merges with the small square pulse, forming the ninth branch. By the time of Guangxu, typhoid fever and women were merged into Dafangmai, sores and ulcers were changed to surgery, acupuncture and bone setting were discontinued, and they became five major departments: Dafangmai, Xiaofangmai, surgery, ophthalmology, and oral surgery. Each medical officer in the hospital must specialize in one subject in their daily practice.