Traditional Chinese Medicine Images in English Newspaper Reports during Modern ChinaOA

The North-China Herald(《北华捷报》),founded and operated by Westerners in Shanghai during the late Qing dynasty and early Republic of China,was an English newspaper widely circulated in that era.This paper explores the image of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)constructed through the English translation of TCM knowledge in The North-China Herald and its successor The North-China Daily News(《字林西报》)in the hope of providing historical references for the current international dissemination of TCM.The TCM knowledge carried by the two newspapers included the history of TCM,basic theories of TCM,materia medica,as well as TCM practice and treatment.They maintained a relatively objective stance in the process by praising its long history,philosophical value,and significant efficacy.Meanwhile,they also held a critical attitude towards TCM,believing that some of its theories were superstitious,and certain diagnostic practices were inaccurate.Due to the fact that most translators were journalists rather than Chinese medical practitioners,the translation lacked in-depth and systematic research on TCM,thereby leading to a certain degree of misunderstanding and misconception.To sum up,The North-China Herald and The North-China Daily News played a contributing role in promoting the global dissemination of TCM knowledge during the late Qing dynasty and early Republic period by creating an objective and positive image of TCM from a third-party perspective.