Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: In Mongolia, scholarly lamas and doctors have reclassified infectious diseases not found in Indian or Tibetan medicine but common among Mongolians, in accordance with the theories of wind, bile, and phlegm. One clear example is the scriptures that systematically classify, define terminology, diagnose, and treat infectious diseases. We conducted this research to examine sources, documents, and medical texts related to the history of infectious disease classification; to disseminate them for research and training; and to ensure public accessibility. Objective: The research objective is to study how infectious diseases were classified in ancient medical texts. The book Man ngag bdud rtsi zegs ma, compiled by the Mongolian scholar Luvsandanzanjantsan, systematized and re-established the classification of infectious diseases. Result: Mongolian scholar Luvsandanzanjantsan's book “Man ngag bdud rtsi zegs ma” consolidated and re-established the classification of infectious diseases. Then Jambalchoijidanzanperenlei noted in his book that: “Eye infection, Nyan disease betrayed and became friend with wind and bile, Varicella zoster virus, Bacterial poisoning leading to cyanosis and darkening, Bacterial erysipelas, Nyan brain tumor” etc., were newly detected. Later, smallpox, measles, and influenza were added to the book, bringing the total number of bacteria and infectious diseases to 30. In Sumbe Khamba Ishbaljir's book "Bdud rtsi zil dkar," infectious diseases are classified into 23. These classifications suggest that Mongolian scholars developed distinct names and classification systems for infectious diseases prevalent in Mongolia, while also incorporating classifications found in the classical texts of Indian Ayurveda and Tibetan medicine. Conclusion: The prominent Mongolian Buddhist and medical figures, Lamyn Gegeen Luvsandanzanjantsan, in his sutra “Man ngag bdud rtsi zegs ma,” “Man ngag rin chen 'byung gnas” by Jambalchoijidanzanperenlei, and “Bdud rtsi zil dkar” by Sumbe Khamba Ishbaljir, consider that certain bacteria cause infectious diseases. According to the sources preserved in Mongolia related to infectious diseases, Mongolian ancient doctors and scholar-lamas have greatly enriched the information and facts about infectious diseases. At the same time, Mongolian scholars identified infectious diseases that are not documented in Indian and Tibetan medical texts but were prevalent in Mongolia, thereby enriching the classification of infectious diseases.
Institution: Gunma University
Language: English
Topic: History of Medicine Studies
Subfield: History
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7220665267