Story

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚 (马伯英教授) was a monumental figure in Medicine and Medical History. He was the Founding Chairman of the Federation of TCM Practitioners (UK), best known for his Medical History book series and for his key contributor to Dr. Joseph Needham's 𝑆𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑎 （中国科学技术史）[1-3]. In celebration of the profound legacy of 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚, the King's Centre for Integrative Chinese Medicine (CICM) initiative at King's College London is raising funds to launch the 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 to support the field he loved, at the interface between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and conventional medicine [4,5].

Contribution to TCM

Professor Ma's contributions to TCM are both profound and far-reaching.

Firstly, he pioneered the use of anthropological methods to study medical history, resulting in his acclaimed works 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝐻𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑀𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑒 (中国医学文化史) [6] and 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐻𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑜-𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑀𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑥𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑠 (中外医学文化交流史) [7].

Secondly, his research has brought to light many significant historical contributions of Chinese medicine—such as the early use of smallpox vaccination—and their dissemination, underscoring their important impact on the global history of medicine [1-3].

Thirdly, his work has greatly enhanced our modern understanding of the essence of TCM and its unique and vital relevance in today’s scientifically advanced world [1-3].

Lastly, he played a key role in supporting the legislative process for TCM in the UK and has contributed significantly to its healthy and positive development here [1-3].

What Will the Award Support?

The 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 will fund research in 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 and 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐂𝐌 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. It will support scholars exploring:

• The rich history of TCM and its global influence.

• The cultural and philosophical intersections of different medical traditions.

• The historical context and regulatory issues of integrative medicine, and its relevance for modern practice.

This research is vital. Understanding our medical past is essential to navigating its future with wisdom, respect and insight.

A Fitting Tribute

Dr. Alicia Grant (Mrs. Ma), author of 𝐺𝑙𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑉𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑂𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐼𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑝𝑜𝑥 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 18𝑡ℎ 𝐶𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑦, shared: “Professor Ma, a western medical professor in Shanghai and a TCM practitioner in London, devoted his energy for 25 years to the furtherance of integration of conventional medicine and TCM. Boying would have been honoured with the establishment of a research scholarship in his name in recognition of the above aim [integrating different medical traditions]."

Your donation to this award is more than a gift; it is an investment in preserving our medical heritage and ensuring that the stories, philosophies, and lessons of the past continue to inform and improve the medicine of the future.

Donors will receive their 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 by email — please let us have your email address — and may opt to join the 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠'𝐬 𝐂𝐈𝐂𝐌 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞 to receive regular updates. If you have any questions or need our help, we will be happy to hear from you.

Help us honour a great scholar by supporting the next one. Donate today.