화타 (華佗, 145?-208)

화타는 중국 후한 말의 의사로, 예주 패국 초현 사람이다. 동시대의 동봉과 "상한론"의 저자인 장기와 더불어 건안삼신의라고 불린다. 여러 가지 전설이 전해지고 있다. 진수의 《삼국지》 화타전과 배송지가 여기에 주석으로 인용한 부분이 남은 《타별전》에서는 화타가 베푼 의료행위의 예를 많이 들고 있다.

Hua Tuo (145?-208)

Hua Tuo, courtesy name Yuanhua, was a Chinese physician who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty. The historical texts Records of the Three Kingdoms and Book of the Later Han record Hua Tuo as the first person in China to use anaesthesia during surgery. He used a general anaesthetic combining wine with a herbal concoction called mafeisan. Besides being respected for his expertise in surgery and anaesthesia, Hua Tuo was famous for his abilities in acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine and medical Daoyin exercises. He developed the Wuqinxi from studying movements of the tiger, deer, bear, ape and crane.