On November 26, 2021, the exhibition themed as “Have Fun in Learning Herbs——Access Chinese Medicine Science Through Various Methods”, organized by Zhejiang Library, Zhejiang Association of Chinese Medicine and Zhejiang Association of Cartoonists, was opened in the exhibition hall of Zhejiang Library. The exhibition runs from November 26 to December 13.
This exhibition all-round displays Zhejiang-produced herbs in the form of “Chinese Medicine+Art” and brings the public to an interesting herb world which combines nature and humanity together. Someone may not know much about Chinese medicine, but there has been a deep connection between Chinese medicine and art since a long time ago. Thousands years ago, the Chinese pharmacies described in Along the River During the Qingming Feestival （清明上河图）already contained all kinds of cordyceps. Tao Xiaoming, Chairman of Zhejiang Association of Cartoonists, believes that comics, as one of the most popular ways for ordinary people to learn, can introduce the herbs to people easily.
The 14th Five-Year Plan of China pointed out that "the popularization and promotion of Chinese medicine culture should be deepened, the popularization of Chinese medicine science and popular knowledge should be continuously carried out, and the healthy cultural literacy of Chinese medicine residents in the province should be enhanced". As a combination of nature and humanities, this exhibition is much closer to the public's reading interests with its vital, interesting and life-oriented features.
This is the first time that the herbs meet the public in such a new way. This exhibition is also a new exploration in the work of Chinese medicine cultural heritage and innovation and an effective attempt to build the brand of Chinese medicine. We hope young generations and children can get knowledge and interests about Chinese medicine through this activity, so that they could contribute to the inheritance of Chinese medicine in the future.
Wang Jian, an ink comic author painted 30 comics about herbs in wash painting. The paint style which inherits from Feng Zikai shows the harmony between people and herbs. The precious herbs such as bighead atractylodes rhizome, root of herbaceous peony, thunberg fritillary bulb, chrysanthemum morifolium, corydalis yanhusuo, scrophularia ningpoensis, dendrobium officinale, ganoderma and other herbs are strange to normal people. However, in the comics of Wang Jian, some characters stand on the “grass” with one foot, some sleep on the “cover” of ganoderma, some fish in the big petals of thunberg fritillary bulb...... Paintings with words about life philosophy or the usage of herbs establish a world of herbs. In the eyes of children, they feel the fun of comics, while in the eyes of adults, they understand life.
For citizens in Hangzhou, the exhibition would be a good place for weekends. Especially for those families with children. They can visit the exhibition together and enjoy the interests of herbs and comics.
