CCS News and Activities(Vol.38 No.4)

CCS Seminars Three visiting scholars presented lectures during two seminars held by the Center for Chinese Studies (CCS) on August 16 and October 9, 2007. At the first seminar, hosted by Prof. Liang Chi-tsu of the Institute of History and Philology at Academia Sinica, the keynote speakers were Prof. Reiko Shinno, an associate professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, who presented a paper on, 'The Importance of the Mongolian Empire in Chinese Medical History,' and University of California, Berkeley, doctoral candidate Margaret Mih Tillman, who addressed the topic, 'Mastering Child Birth: Updating Theories and Realities.' In her study, Prof. Shinno found that the Northern Song government had begun compiling medical knowledge and creating an environment favorable to the development of physicians. By the Yuan dynasty, the complex relationship emerging among the Mongol, Semu and Han people accelerated this trend. Prof. Shinno argued that scholars should not view the Yuan dynasty as an extension of the Song dynasty, but rather treat it as an independent historical period. The Yuan government had its own system of authority and also formed a unique medical culture.