Physician’s Odyssey

Chapter 641 - China’s National Culture

The Iwata Chinese Medicine Research Facility wasn’t huge, but their laboratory and assembly line was more modernised and professional than the ones back in China.

Hiro Iwata smiled. “Physician Su, I know that you have a few TCM pharmacy branches back in China, and we can give you a discount if you’re interested in using our products.”

When Asaka Ochi translated his words to Su Tao, Su Tao was briefly stunned. Hiro Iwata must have misunderstood that he’s here to buy medicine and treated him as a big customer. He guessed that Asaka Ochi must not have explained the reason to her father, but this was the right method. If they knew that he’s here to learn from them, they would definitely hide most of their technologies from him.

“Most of the pharmacies in China are still using the traditional method, prescribing herbs, and having the patients brew them. Our prepared medicines aren’t that developed yet.” Su Tao explained.

When Hiro Iwata heard Asaka Ochi’s translation, he waved his hand. “This method is already lacking behind. If patients have to bring the medicine back and brew it themselves, it will inconvenience them instead. Furthermore, many prescriptions are based on the physician’s experience, so there will be deviations. Many times, the medicine proportions are all different for the same patient, and there aren’t any scientific studies to back it up. Our medicines are all tested, and they have no side effects. Ours is effective and convenient for the patients, and it’s also easier to accept when compared to western medicine.”

“Many people think of TCM as metaphysics, and they think that physicians rely on their experience to treat others. But truth be told, the prescriptions handed down by our ancestors are worth studying. There’s an overall condition of the patient, and there are also differences. Western medicines are usually treating the symptoms, and their prescribed medicines are all the same. On the other hand, TCM will put the patient’s current condition into consideration. For example, if the patient’s kidney function isn’t well, we will use some herbs to regulate it and replace herbs that might cause a side effect on the kidney. So in my view, on the conflict between the overall situation and individuality, TCM using different proportions for different patients is actually scientific.” Su Tao explained

Listening to the translation, Hiro Iwata was briefly stunned, but he did not continue to dispute about it and smiled. “It’s hard for it to generalise it if there isn’t a standard. We have done many tests, so our medicine is effective and suitable to be generalised.” After all, he’s also a Chinese Medicine Research Specialist, so he could naturally understand Su Tao’s explanation.

“But you guys can only treat simple illnesses, and you guys will be helpless when it comes to complicated diseases.” Su Tao frankly said.

Frowning his brows, Hiro Iwata was unhappy about Su Tao’s frankness and replied, “Even medicine doesn’t have miraculous medicine that can treat every illness, right?”

Nodding his head, Su Tao smiled. “I’m not against prepared medicine. Prepared medicine will be beneficial for TCM’s inheritance and development. In the end, the development of TCM falls onto individuals. If there are no qualified physicians, prepared medicine can only be used as supplementary for western medicine, and it’s impossible to shake the western medicine’s position.”

Hiro Iwata was briefly stunned before he praised, “Physician Su, I never expected that you would have such ambitions!”

Standing to the side, Amaki Hamasaki also looked at Su Tao in a new light when he heard those words. It’s mainly because, in Japan’s medical industry, TCM wasn't separated into a new branch like TKM in South Korea. Many people who studied TCM couldn’t get employment. So even if many physicians could prescribe effective medicine, TCM was still considered pseudo-science in Japan; they did not have a professional institute to spread the knowledge.

In Japan, even if western medicine doctors prescribed Chinese medicine, most of them weren’t professionals. So if they wanted to do it, they would usually pick from the book provided by some medicine companies to determine the medicine. This was also the reason why there was a major incident once when a western medicine doctor prescribed Chinese Thorowax Root to the patient, resulting in the patient’s liver to be damaged. It’s not an issue with TCM, but without the proper diagnosis of a physician, they wouldn’t know how to use those medicine.

The so-called “TCM” in Japan had a clear difference when compared to what’s taught in China’s TCM institutions. They eliminated the five elements, Yin, Yang, and Witchcraft from TCM. Hence, their TCM became a pharmacopeia study instead. They mainly find prescriptions from Treatise On Febrile Caused by Cold and Synopsis of Golden Chamber's Prescription before making verifications.

However, Japan’s TCM had developed recently, such as their acupuncture techniques. With just a rough estimation, they have about 120,000 acupuncturists.

While observing Su Tao from the side, Amaki Hamasaki had to admit that Su Tao was a formidable opponent, to which everyone had noticed just from the previous episode alone.

When Su Tao toured the laboratory, he instantly knew that the research personnel was developing medicine for cardiovascular diseases from the herbs on the table. Just from that simple detail alone, Amaki Hamasaki could tell that Su Tao’s knowledge in TCM wasn’t any weaker than his own.

Su Tao did not manage to tour any deeper level. After all, it’s impossible for them to reveal their secrets. However, Su Tao had a basic understanding of the necessary departments in establishing a TCM medicine factory. With those organisational structures, he could save a few years of detours.

After they finished touring, Su Tao followed everyone to a Chinese restaurant. It was also because everyone considered the fact that Su Tao came from China, and they arranged it in this manner to accommodate him.

The name of this restaurant was Purple Imperial Pavilion and just the name itself sounded domineering.

The Purple Imperial House was where ancient Emperors resided. Hence, the restaurant took up an imperial palace design. Two Chinese ladies stood at the entrance, donned in Cheongsam. They looked to be in their twenties, wearing a smile and said in Mandarin, “Welcome!”

To hear such greetings in another country instantly made Su Tao feel at home.

After passing through the bronze gate, the interior was also decorated in Chinese-style, especially the screen before them. There was an Azure Dragon and White Tiger engraved on it, which added an imposing bearing.

The group came to the Three Sovereigns Residence, which they had booked beforehand. At the same time, Su Tao was also curious about the owner of this restaurant.

The three sovereigns meant the Heavenly Sovereign, Human Sovereign, and Earthly Sovereign. The name had also spoken for the owner’s wide breadth of mind and his extraordinary vision.

Hiro Iwata had some knowledge about calligraphy. Pointing at the poem hanging on the wall, he read it aloud with his inaccurate Mandarin, “Waters cascaded down from three thousand feet above, like the heaven's silver river droppg from the top.”

It was a poem by Li Bai on when he was admiring the waterfall at Lu Mountain. The poem wasn’t long, but it wrote out the scenery and grandiose of the waterfall, and this was also the reason why this poem was passed down through time.

Chiaki Ochi was also a lover of calligraphy. He called the waiter over and praised, “Who wrote this poem? It’s very well done!”

In the end, Hiro Iwata and Chiaki Ochi got together and started commenting on the calligraphy.

“A customer wrote it yesterday, and our boss loves it to the point that he even wrote off the bill. Why don’t you guys write a few words as well? Our boss is a calligraphy lover.” The waiter smiled.

Su Tao had some knowledge of calligraphy. Judging from the strength behind the brush, this level of attainment was definitely from someone who had been practising calligraphy for at least twenty to thirty years, and it’s definitely not as simple as the waiter had claimed. This person must be someone that the boss had invited.

Su Tao did not speak but looked at the painting and shook his head, which was noticed by Amaki Hamasaki.

Immediately, Amaki Hamasaki ridiculed, “Physician Su seems to have noticed a flaw in the calligraphy. He’s from China, and his calligraphy must be formidable. Why don’t we get him to write a few words?”

Frowning his brows, Su Tao looked at Amaki Hamasaki and humbly replied, “I know my own capability, and I’m definitely incomparable to this author in terms of calligraphy.”

“Since you know that you’re incomparable, why did you shake your head, then?” Amaki Hamasaki pursued.

Glancing at Amaki Hamasaki in disdain, Su Tao replied, “Shaking my head doesn’t mean anything. As for the actual reason, is there a need for me to tell you?”

As gunpowder permeated in the atmosphere, everyone inwardly sighed. As the saying goes, two tigers cannot reside on a single mountain, and the conflict between Su Tao and Amaki Hamasaki seemed to be growing.

“Physician Su is our guest, and you’re not allowed to behave so rudely!” Hiro Iwata immediately hollered.

Issuing a snort, Amaki Hamasaki waved his hand. “I won’t be eating with you guys!”

Thereafter, he left straightaway.

Letting out a sigh, Hiro Iwata helplessly turned to Su Tao. “He has a fiery temper, please don’t be bothered by it.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Su Tao casually replied, “Understandable!”

Seeing a brush and paper on the table, Hiro Iwata went over and wrote a few words, which Su Tao took a glance at. Hiro Iwata was, after all, not a Chinese, so his words could only be considered neat. His words weren’t even comparable to elementary school students who had taken a few years of interest classes.

After that, Chiaki Ochi walked over and wrote a poem by Li Bai as well, “Everyone is born useful, and even if money is spent, it can be earned back!”

Judging from this detail alone, Su Tao could tell that Chiaki Ochi was familiar with Chinese culture.

“Physician Su, why don’t you give it a try as well?” Chiaki Ochi encouraged.

Standing by the side, Lin Kun said, “Actually, we use pens and pencils to write. We don’t use brushes anymore!”

Su Tao was left speechless about Lin Kun. How could there be someone like him who mocks his own country? He’s practically an idiot!

His words sounded as if they’re people who forgot the knowledge left behind by their ancestors.

Since this matter involved national pride, Su Tao smiled and wrote a poem as well with the brush, “Everything seems so small when you’re standing at the peak of the mountain!”

Su Tao used the regular script of Yan Zhenqing. After all, he was afraid that everyone couldn’t understand if he wrote it in cursive strokes.

Although Hiro Iwata’s calligraphy was nothing remarkable, he had a keen sight and immediately praised in Japanese, “Nicely written!”

When everyone heard Hiro Iwata’s words, they exclaimed in admiration. They did not expect that Su Tao’s calligraphy would be so superb, not to mention that he had also given thoughts into the poem he chose. They’re both talking about mountains, and they fit one another.

The one who left the calligraphy used a poem by Immortal Poet Li Bai, while Su Tao used a poem by Sage Poet Du Fu. Both poems talked about mountains, and they’re equally excellent in the mood.