Chinese–Iranian Medical Exchanges During the Yuan Dynasty: A Historical Perspective

Abstract The Yuan dynasty marked the period of medieval China’s most frequent foreign exchanges. After the establishment of the four great khanates of the Mongol Empire, the Yuan dynasty maintained close relations with the Ilkhanate, which became known as the Land of Iran. These interactions facilitated extensive medical exchanges between the two khanates. During this process, the Silk Road became a bridge for exchanging medicinal knowledge and practices between the Great Yuan and Iran. The exchange of medicines and medical prescriptions between the two was continuous, with both regions’ medical practitioners adopting and applying each other’s knowledge, thus bringing about a certain degree of transformative influence on their respective traditional medical systems. Based on medical and historical literature from medieval Iran and China, this study conducts a meticulous textual examination of relevant sources. This research aims to reveal an aspect of the medical exchanges between these medieval territories.