The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Vol. I Paperback – Illustrated, May 8, 2010

This is a wonderful translation of a great text focusing on Acupuncture, of which there are few, actually none to my knowledge specifically of the Su Wen! Combining the classical Chinese characters with the English translation creates a very impressive resource for those who desire access to the original work plus the English translation for those more difficult sections. In addition, the author has added notes when necessary to clarify the translation or provide further information.To the commentator who was disappointed that there was not more interpretation, these texts are published as translations so the reader can formulate his/her own interpretation rather than be influenced by that of the translator. When these texts are strictly interpreted, we as readers rely on the translators skill, knowledge, and experiences, which at times results in a less than accurate interpretation usually with no access to the original text to verify the interpretation against. I for one, applaud Sabine Wilms, the Chinese Medicine Database, and other translators who are working so tirelessly to change how these texts are brought into the English speaking world. Though interpretations can be done well and bring a wealth of information, it is so much more engaging and thought-provoking to really spend time interpreting the texts yourself!If I may quote the author herself, from the introduction of Volume I page 20:"While an exact reproduction in a language as foreign as modern English is admittedly impossible, I have made every effort to avoid any culture-bound or personal interpretation of the material that might obscure the meaning of the original text. By following as literal a translation methodology as stylistic demands of the English language permit, what I might have sacrificed in elegance, I have gained in accuracy and faithfulness to the original source. As the reader, you may interpret the material as you wish, based on your particular combination of Chinese language skills and clinical experience in Chinese medicine.It is my sincere hope as translator that by bringing this book to light in an environment so far removed in time, language, and culture, I will allow you, the reader, to also partake of the wisdom expressed in its lines and be inspired to search deeper in your own practice, both in the treatment of your patients and in the cultivation of your own physical, mental, and spiritual health in the spirit of yang sheng." (nurturing life)

I was so excited that somebody has begun the translation of this great acupuncture work but I was so disappointed once I've read it! The author does not provide more than what the text says! Some of the text are cryptic in nature, I would have expected more to the translator (to give more notes to these cryptic text!)Since almost all of the text are from NeiJing, I would recommend reader to forgo this book and buy the Library of Chinese Classics: Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine Plain Conversation and Spiritual Pivot. At least those text has more notes. Or buy Henry Lu's Yellow Emperor's classic of chinese medicine. Or buy Nguyen Van Nghi, Christine Recours Nguyen, Tran Viet Dzung Huangdi Neijing Lingshu, you will never be disappointed.I guess I have to wait for Nguyen Van Nghi's translation of the ZhenJiuDaCheng.By the way, Wilcox's Volume 5 of this series is great! It is worth every penny!

Purchased this one and volume 5 but it turns out that at some point they printed volume 5 with the same cover as volume 1, so now I have 2 volume 5’s just with different covers

Sabine Wilms may be the premier translator of Chinese medicine texts. As a practitioner of Chinese medicine for over thirty years, I've bought every translation of a classical text I could get my hands on, and most of them fall short of the mark in terms of comprehensibility, practicality, or terminology. This volume of an essential acupuncture text from the Ming dynasty is based on translations from the Su Wen and Nan Jing. It is specifically related to the practice of a specific style of acupuncture based on channel theory, and I cannot recommend it more. Sabine is an expert of translating the essence of meaning that is embedded in the Chinese characters. With the various charts and footnotes, I have found this to be a very useful text, not only for study but in teaching my courses as well. I've been a professor and department chair at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine for twenty years, and there are few available translations for classical acupuncture that have impressed me as revealing the essence of the art.

El clásico fundamental en acupuntura. No defrauda. Aunque no está a la altura de los siguientes volúmenes de la colección, es muy clarificador por cuanto a sus acertados comentarios de otros clásicos como el huang di nei jing.