A Study on the Reform of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing (Paozhi) during the Republic of China Era

As a crucial component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) knowledge system, TCM processing (paozhi) is deeply influenced by traditional Chinese medical culture and philosophical thought, embodying both scientific and humanistic attributes. During the Republic of China era, the chaos in the processing of TCM attracted widespread attention and became a trigger for intense debate in the Chinese and Western medical circles. Under the dissemination of the "scientization of TCM" ideology and practices, conflicting perspectives emerged regarding how to reform flawed processing methods. Some scholars advocated for the extraction of active ingredients, criticizing TCM processing as outdated and potentially harmful to medicinal efficacy. Conversely, most scholars in the Chinese medical community emphasized preserving TCM processing but called for necessary reforms. This debate reflected the complex tension of TCM processing during the scientization of TCM in the Republic of China era: a tension between the need to establish scientific standards and the imperative to maintain cultural identity.