Healing Library
The Song Dynasty “Official Pharmacy Bureau” — The World’s Earliest State Pharmacy Bureau
The Song Dynasty Official Pharmacy Bureau, founded in 1076 in Bianliang (present-day Kaifeng), was the world's earliest state-run pharmacy bureau. Initially called Shu Yao Suo, it was later renamed Yi Yao Hui Min Ju and Yi Yao He Ji Ju. Operated by the government, it specialized in selling ready-made Chinese patent medicines such as pills, powders, extracts, and pellets, and established systems for medicinal procurement and inspection, supervision of patent medicines, and nighttime sales. It created famous medicines such as Suhexiang Wan, Zixue Dan, and Zhibao Dan, exerting a profound influence on the development of Chinese patent medicines.
The first “Official Pharmacy Bureau” in China, established in 1076 in the capital Bianliang (present-day Kaifeng, Henan) during the Song Dynasty, was also the earliest state-run pharmacy bureau in China and in the world. At the time it was called the “Prepared Medicines Dispensary” (Shu Yao Suo), also known as the “Medicine-Selling Office” (Mai Yao Suo).
The “Official Pharmacy Bureau” was operated by the government and mainly sold ready-made Chinese patent medicines in the forms of pills, powders, extracts, and pellets (wan, san, gao, dan). Because Chinese patent medicines are convenient to take, easy to carry, and simple to store, they were well received by doctors and patients alike. As a result, the “Medicine-Selling Office” developed rapidly and gradually expanded to all prefectures and counties throughout the country, and even to border towns and fortresses. For example, it was established in Huainan, Huaixi, Xiangyang, Sichuan, and Shaanxi. The name of the “Medicine-Selling Office” was subsequently changed to “Medicine Bureau for Benefiting the People” (Yi Yao Hui Min Ju) and “Medicine Harmonization Bureau” (Yi Yao He Ji Ju).
The organizational structure of the Song Dynasty “Official Pharmacy Bureau” was quite complete. Special personnel were assigned to supervise the manufacture and sale of ready-made medicines, and dedicated staff managed the procurement and inspection of medicinal materials to ensure drug quality. In addition, some people specialized in research on the processing and formulation of medicinals. On the basis of summarizing previous pharmaceutical experience, they continuously improved and enhanced pharmaceutical methods and techniques, bringing the technology of preparing Chinese patent medicines in the Song Dynasty to an unprecedented level. Within the pharmacy bureau at the time, many regulations were established. For example, night duty on a rotating basis was required; if a person with an acute illness was not sold medicine immediately, the offender would be punished with “one hundred strokes of the cane”; old and damaged drugs were to be destroyed promptly.
The establishment of the Song Dynasty “Official Pharmacy Bureau” played a great role in promoting the development of Chinese patent medicines in China. Many famous patent medicines it created, such as Suhexiang Wan (Styrax Pill), Zixue Dan (Purple Snow Elixir), and Zhibao Dan (Supreme Treasure Elixir), have withstood more than 700 years of medical practice and still produce good therapeutic effects today.
