Chinese Geography and Natural History: Mountains, Herbs, and Knowledge

Ancient Chinese geographical knowledge and natural history represent one of the most extensive and detailed accumulations of environmental information in the pre-modern world. Chinese geographers and naturalists produced encyclopedic works documenting the mountains, rivers, plants, animals, and minerals of the empire — knowledge that guided administration, agriculture, and medicine for centuries.

The Classic of Mountains and Seas

The "Classic of Mountains and Seas" (山海经, Shanhai Jing), compiled during the Warring States period, is one of the earliest Chinese geographic texts — a mixture of geography, mythology, and natural history that describes the landscapes, peoples, and supernatural beings of ancient China. Though not literally accurate, it preserves invaluable information about early Chinese geographical understanding.

Bencao and Herbal Medicine

The "Compendium of Materia Medica" (本草纲目, Bencao Gangmu), compiled by Li Shizhen during the Ming Dynasty (1596 CE), classifies over 1,800 medicinal substances — plants, animals, and minerals — with detailed descriptions of their properties, preparation, and medical uses. This work influenced medical traditions across East Asia.