Medical talisman (Chinese C19 woodcut)

'Red Talismanic Symbol' from Zun sheng ba jian (Eight Texts on Following the Way of Life), a work on 'nourishing life' (yangsheng) by Gao Lian (Ming period, 1368-1644), woodblock edition of 1810 (15th year of the Jiaqing reign period of the Qing dynasty, Geng Wu year).

The Eight Texts (jian) into which it is divided are: Qingxiu miaolun (Wondrous discourse on cleansing and repairing), Sishi tiaoshe (Cultivating Health in the Four Seasons), Qiju anle (How to Lead a Safe and Happy Everyday Life), Yannian qubing (How to Prolong Life and Fend Off Disease), Yinzhuan fushi (Food and Diet), Yanxian qingshang (Leisure and Amusements), Lingmi danyao (Wonder-Working Secret Elixirs), Chenwai xiaju (Elevating Oneself Above the Dust [of carnal life]).

This talisman comes from 'Cultivating Health in the Four Seasons', juan of Summer.

Heading: Form of red talismanic symbol