It has been 15 years since Professor Paul U. Unschuld started translating the traditional Chinese medical classic, Compendium of Materia Medica, into English. As a man in his late 70s, he plans to spend another two years finishing the work.

"The most interesting part of TCM classic research is that I feel I have access to the world of ancient physicians, philosophers and naturalists by reading, analyzing and translating Chinese medical classics," Unschuld said.

"And the comparison of Chinese and European attitudes toward life, toward health and toward disease is most fascinating: What's in common? What are the differences?"

Born in 1943, Unschuld is one of the first westerners who adopted strict philology and historiography methods to translate ancient Chinese medical classics into English. And he has won fame in the international TCM sector, with the translation of two more Chinese medical classics in the past half century.

Liu Caiqun contributed to the story

[Video by Institute of Ben Cao Gang Mu,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine]