Source: The Internet
Kangxi Visits a Doctor
(The Origin of Beijing Tong Ren Tang)
The Emperor Kangxi had a strange illness. Imperial physicians used all kinds of famous and precious medicine, but could not see any improvement in the illness. In a moment of anger, the Emperor stopped his medication.
One day, Kangxi, dressed in plain clothes, left the palace alone at night. He came to a street and discovered a small herbal pharmacy. It was already the small hours of the night and nobody was around, yet the small herbal pharmacy was still brightly lit and the sound of somebody reading aloud could be heard. Kangxi thought to himself, “The imperial physicians are just average, with no real skill. The real talent is amongst the ordinary people. There is an ancient saying: A small herbal pharmacy has ginseng. Why shouldn’t I have a look?” Therefore, Kangxi went forward to knock on the door.
After entering the house, Kangxi saw a man in his forties reading under the candle light. He guessed that the man must be the doctor of the small herbal pharmacy.
The doctor saw the late visitor, and asked, “Sir, what is the reason for your late night visit?”
Kangxi said, “Please excuse my late night visit. It’s because I’ve a strange illness. I itch all over my body, I’ve red spots all over my skin. I don’t know why. I’ve seen many famous doctors, but still I’m not cured. Sir, can you please take a look at me? The doctor said, “Alright, please take off your shirt so that I can have a look.”
Kangxi took off his shirt, the doctor only took one look and said, “Sir, doesn’t need to worry, you don't have a serious illness. It’s just that you normally eat too much delicacies and have a long-term consumption of ginseng; this gives rise to excessive internal heat, resulting in the appearance of red spots and causing itchiness.”
Kangxi asked, “Can this illness be cured?”
With certainty, the doctor said, “Not difficult. You just need to use this medication to get better.” As he talked, he reached out and picked a jar from the wooden shelves. He spread out a piece of cloth and poured out all the medicine from the jar, which was at least seven to eight kilograms in weight.
Kangxi was taken by surprise, and said, “Doctor, so much medicine, how much should I take each time?”
The doctor smiled, “This is rhubarb, not for you to eat. You take it home, use this eight kilogram of rhubarb, boil with one hundred kilograms of water, then pour it into a bath tub. When the temperature is moderate, go into the tub to have a bath. After a minimum of three times to a maximum of five times, you’ll be cured.”
Kangxi thought to himself, “The imperial physicians couldn’t manage even with so many magical formulae and wonderful medicine, could it be that this cheap rhubarb is able to cure my illness?” The doctor saw Kangxi’s puzzled face, laughed and said, “Sir, please be rest assured, I most definitely won’t take your money dishonestly. You can take this medicine and use it first. If your illness is not cured, I won’t take any money.”
Kangxi said, “Good, if my illness can be completely cured, you’ll be greatly rewarded.” Kangxi returned to the palace, followed the doctor’s instructions and bathed accordingly. As expected, as soon as he got into the bath, his body instantly felt refreshed, comfortable and wonderful beyond words. After three consecutive washes, his whole body stopped feeling itchy and upon a closer look, all the red spots also disappeared from his body.
Kangxi was very happy. On the fourth day, again dressed in plain clothes, he went to the small herbal pharmacy.
As soon as the doctor saw Kangxi’s smile on his face, he knew that he had fully recovered and deliberately asked, “Sir, are you here today to pay for the medicine?”
Kangxi said, “Exactly. Sir, how much would it be?”
The doctor laughed out heartily, “Please excuse me. That night, I saw that you half believed and half doubted, so I deliberately said that I wouldn’t take your money if your illness wasn’t cured. Now that you’re cured, it’s still free of charge. I can see that you look extraordinary splendour. I would just like to make friends with you. May I ask, Sir what’s your honourable name?”
Kangxi expressed a smile, “My surname is Huang, other names are Tian Xing. I’m a scholar.”
As soon as the doctor heard this, he happily said, “My name is Zhao Gui-tang and I’m also a poor scholar. My father was determined to make me succeed in government examinations and bring glory to our ancestors. Who knew that even the sky would fail to materialise one’s wish. I failed to pass the examinations on many occasions. At present I just open a small herbal pharmacy in the capital city, I practise as a doctor whilst I’m studying, hoping that one day I can achieve soaring success.”
Kangxi said, “Brother Zhao, it is often said, ‘Not named on the result list, other opportunities under your feet’. With your superior medical skills, I can recommend you to serve as an imperial physician. Would that not be the achievement of soaring success?”
Zhao Gui-tang smiled and said, “You’re mistaken. I believe that doctors should take into consideration of all the common people, help people to eliminate their worries and solve their problems. I may fully enjoy much wealth and good fortune as an imperial physician, but I can’t help the general public to cure their illnesses, as this goes against my wishes, what’s the benefit in being a doctor?”
On hearing this, Kangxi could not help but say, “Brother Zhao, I wholly respect your virtues and abilities. My friend, would you please pardon my directness, since you’ve failed to pass the government examinations so many times, why don’t you settle to practise in medicine as your bright career prospect?”
Zhao Gui-tang said, “I’ve also thought about this, but practising medicine is not an easy matter as I don’t have much capital. I may have an extraordinary ambition, but it’s difficult to have a big prospect for development. My senior brother, if you make a fortune in the future, would you please sponsor me, help me to establish a big herbal pharmacy, so that I’ve not wasted this opportunity in curing your illness.”
As soon as Kangxi heard this, without hesitation he said, “If you were to establish a herbal pharmacy, what should the name be? What about Tong Ren Tang, what do you think about this name?”
Zhao Gui-tang saw that Kangxi was being serious, he laughed and said, “I was just making a joke, please don’t take it seriously. Moreover, it’ll cost a lot of money to build a large herbal pharmacy. Who knows when you’ll become extremely wealthy? This is a matter on the edge of clouds, so far away.”
Kangxi said, “Why not give it a try now.” Whilst speaking, he picked up a pen from the desk, casually wrote a note and stamped it with a seal. Then, he said, “Brother Zhao, tomorrow go to the Department of Internal Affairs, I’ve a friend there, perhaps he can really manage it.” When he finished speaking, he excused himself and left.
Zhao Gui-tang watched as Mr Huang hurried away and thought that he really was a strange person.
The next day, Zhao Gui-tang could not hold back his curiosity and took the written note to the Department of Internal Affairs. Not long after he handed over the note, a Eunuch appeared. He led Zhao Gui-tang inside, after walking through a courtyard, they came to the front of a big house. The Eunuch opened the door, pointed his finger inside and said, “Mr Zhao, is there enough money here for the medicine fee?”
Zhao Gui-tang had a quick look and could not help being greatly surprised, as he saw that the house was full of white shining silver tael. All of a sudden he was stunned. Then, he just heard the Eunuch say, “Mr Zhao, our Supreme Lordship decrees that you cured his illness without charging him any money, he wants to give you a Tong Ren Tang building, your wish has now come true.” Zhao Gui-tang suddenly felt as if he had woken up from a dream: In fact, Brother Huang, whom I have unintentionally made friends with, is actually his Royal Highness, the current Emperor. I truly regret my ignorance and absurdity at the time, why I haven’t even slightly realised.
As expected, within a few days later, a big pharmaceutical building was built from the ground, the name being ‘Tong Ren Tang’. At the opening ceremony, when Zhao Gui-tang moved into his new home and started his business, he never imagined that the Emperor Kangxi would come to personally congratulate him. Zhao Gui-tang being caught by surprise, suddenly became completely helpless and did not know what to do.
Kangxi laughed and said, “You don’t have to be so anxious and distraught. Although I’ve repaid your medicine fee, next time when I visit you, please make sure you still treat me free of charge.” From now on, there is a very large and famous ‘Tong Ren Tang’ Pharmacy in the city of Beijing.
Postscript from Rinpoche: People who carry forward Buddhism must, at the very least, give regard to all the general public, to help them dispel anxieties, resolve difficult situations and rescue their spirituality. Even though offerings from all ten directions are fully rewarded, still unable to heal sentient beings’ illnesses of spirit and mind, what are the benefits?
