Exploring Traditional Chinese Medicine in Berlin Through Classical Texts
Chinese Cultural Center hosts lecture on Bencao Gangmu and intercultural knowledge exchange
May 19th, 2026
On 21 May 2026, the Chinese Cultural Center Berlin will host a lecture by Professor Zhou Hengxiang as part of its ongoing series A Chinese Story. Titled The Power of Medicinal Plants: Insights into the Compendium of Chinese Medicines “Bencao Gangmu”, the event coincides with the recent publication of the first German edition of this foundational text of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Held at the Center’s premises on Klingelhöferstraße, the lecture aims to introduce German audiences to the philosophical and scientific underpinnings of one of China’s most influential medical works.
The Bencao Gangmu, compiled by Li Shizhen during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), is widely regarded as an encyclopaedia of traditional Chinese remedies. In his lecture, Professor Zhou Hengxiang—translator and editor of the German edition—will present the structure, historical context, and enduring relevance of the text. Drawing on his interdisciplinary expertise in linguistics and classical Chinese studies, Zhou will also outline key principles of TCM, including its holistic approach rooted in the unity of nature and humanity, offering attendees an accessible entry point into a complex and historically rich medical tradition.
Professor Zhou’s academic career reflects longstanding intellectual exchange between China and Germany. A graduate of Ruhr University Bochum, where he earned his doctorate in linguistics, he later held a professorship at Tongji University in Shanghai and served as a visiting professor in Germany. His work on translating the Bencao Gangmu represents a significant scholarly undertaking, bridging linguistic, scientific, and cultural domains while making a foundational Chinese text available to German-speaking audiences for the first time.
The event also highlights the role of the Chinese Cultural Center Berlin as a key platform for China’s cultural diplomacy in Europe. By presenting traditional knowledge systems such as TCM within an academic and intercultural framework, the initiative contributes to broader China–Germany relations and supports dialogue in areas spanning health, education, and research. As global interest in alternative medicine and holistic health practices continues to grow, such exchanges carry both cultural and economic relevance, positioning TCM within international knowledge markets and fostering long-term cooperation.
Ultimately, the lecture underscores how classical knowledge can serve as a bridge between cultures. By facilitating access to foundational texts like the Bencao Gangmu, the Chinese Cultural Center Berlin not only promotes deeper understanding of Chinese intellectual traditions but also strengthens sustained intercultural engagement between China and Europe.
