近代臺灣「虎骨酒」的中藥實踐與保育爭議

Traditional Chinese Medicine Practice and Conservation: The Controversy about Tiger Bone Liquor in Modern Taiwan

「虎骨酒」曾經是臺灣社會最受歡迎的保健藥酒之一，直到1990年代，隨著國際野生動物保護運動的興起，該酒被正式禁止。虎骨酒的製作可追溯至公元4世紀東晉葛洪《肘後備急方》，該文獻也記載虎骨酒對於治療風濕骨痛有良好效果。爾後的本草典籍《本草綱目》更影響了華人的虎骨中藥實踐。本文將從「動物史」與「中藥醫療」的觀點，探討本草脈絡下虎骨的歷史背景，並分析日治與戰後臺灣虎骨酒的生產製作與消費文化。值得注意的是，臺灣並不產老虎，虎骨原料必須仰賴進口，臺灣菸酒公賣局在1960至1980年代，從泰國、印尼等地進口虎骨作為原料，坊間也有許多虎骨商品。1990年代，美國野生動物保育團體控訴臺灣的虎骨交易，在美方貿易制裁的壓力下，行政院衛生署制定法令規範國內虎骨之使用。本文也將探討戰後臺灣社會「中藥實踐」與「動物保育」之間的爭議。

Tiger Bone Medicinal Liquor was once one of the most popular health tonics in Taiwanese society until the 1990s, when it was officially banned due to the rise of international wildlife conservation movements. The production of tiger bone liquor can be traced back to the Jin Dynasty in the 4th century, as documented in the Zhou hou bei ji fang (肘後備急方). This historical document also noted the efficacy of tiger bone liquor in treating rheumatism and bone pain. Subsequent pharmacological texts, such as the Compendium of Materia Medica (本草綱目), further influenced the traditional Chinese medicine practice involving tiger bones. This article explores the historical background of tiger bones within the context of animal history and Chinese herbal medicine. It analyzes the production, manufacturing, and consumer culture of tiger bone liquor in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial era and the post-war period. It is worth noting that Taiwan does not have native tigers, so the raw materials for the tiger bones had to be imported. The Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation imported tiger bones from countries such as Thailand and Indonesia as raw materials from the 1960s to the 1980s, and various tiger bone products were available on the market. In the 1990s, wildlife conservation groups in the United States accused Taiwan of engaging in the tiger bone trade. Under pressure from U.S. trade sanctions, the Taiwan Department of Health formulated regulations governing the use of tiger bones domestically. This article also delves into the controversies between post-war Taiwanese society’s practices of traditional Chinese medicine and animal conservation.