On the brink of dawn, as the stars began to fade and the first light of November 27, 2023, crept over the horizon, a luminary in the realm of Traditional Chinese Medicine, my father, Zhang Jize, embarked on his final voyage, leaving this world as gracefully as a crane taking flight to the west. A year has since passed, yet the legacy of his dedication to the prosperity of TCM remains, a beacon in the hearts of those he touched, as enduring as the constellations that adorn the night sky.
In my youth, at the tender age of ten, amidst the excitement of a class interest group, I unpacked the first aid kit and listened to my classmates' hearts with a stethoscope. Sharing this small adventure with my father, he observed that my eagerness to assist was a trait befitting a medical professional. In 1977, when the time came to choose a path for higher education, it was he who suggested the ancient wisdom of TCM, with a lineage of family experts to consult and a library of TCM texts at home. In March 1978, I set sail on my academic voyage at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, a journey that would shape my destiny.
My father emphasized that a solid foundation in TCM required a deep comprehension of its classical texts. However, my initial foray into the "Huangdi Neijing" was met with formidable challenges, due to a weak grasp of classical Chinese, which at times threatened to extinguish my confidence. Yet, upon learning of my struggles, my father patiently elucidated and used clinical examples to aid my understanding and retention. Under his watchful care, I began to savor the essence of the ancient medical texts, reigniting my passion for learning, and making subsequent studies a breeze. I received high praise from senior clinical instructors during my midterms and final year internships.
Upon completing my five-year university journey, I found myself at a crossroads: to become a clinical doctor or to pursue further studies. Though I aspired to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather Zhang Zesheng and my father as a renowned physician, my thirst for knowledge was unquenched, and I yearned to continue my academic pursuits. However, limited by my lack of clinical experience, I could only apply for a basic graduate program. After discussing with my father, he suggested that for a woman, it might be more prudent to complete my studies swiftly and then establish a family. Heeding his counsel, I applied for and was admitted to the basic graduate program at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine in the spring and summer of 1982, embarking on three years of postgraduate study in the classics of internal medicine. After graduating in January 1986, I stayed on as a lecturer. My father then encouraged me to bridge the gap between theory and practice, to engage in clinical practice, learn from various experts, and gradually forge my own style. For five years, I balanced work, study, and family life at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine and its affiliated hospital.
