Zhao Xiaogang
01 · Lineage & Regional School
Zhao Xiaogang, Male, Han, from Zhongguobeijingtongrentangyouxianzerengongsi, is a sixth-batch national representative bearer of Tongren Tangzhongyiyaowenhua (Ⅸ-7). The tradition is documented in Zhongguobeijingtongrentangyouxianzerengongsi. Within the regional tradition and school record of Tongren Tangzhongyiyaowenhua in Zhongguobeijingtongrentangyouxianzerengongsi: Beijing Tongrentang is a time-honored name in Chinese traditional medicine, founded in 1669, with a history of 337 years to this day. From 1723, when it began 'undertaking the preparation of official medicines' for the court, until 1911 — a span of 188 years — Tongrentang followed the imperial standards for selecting medicinal materials, strictly adhered to palace secret prescriptions and pharmaceutical methods, and developed a strict quality supervision system. The organic integration and mutual influence between Tongrentang and the Qing Imperial Medical Department and the Imperial Pharmacy gave rise to the distinctive style and traditional knowledge of Tongrentang's Chinese medicines.
02 · Mastery & Signature Works
The bearer record for Zhao Xiaogang is anchored in the documented technical standards of Tongren Tangzhongyiyaowenhua in Zhongguobeijingtongrentangyouxianzerengongsi. Within the documented technical tradition of Tongren Tangzhongyiyaowenhua in Zhongguobeijingtongrentangyouxianzerengongsi: The traditional Chinese medicine culture of Tongrentang is concentrated in the following: the values of 'cultivating benevolence together and aiding the world and preserving life'; the quality philosophy that 'however complex the processing, no labor is ever spared, and however precious the ingredients, no material is ever cut'; the business philosophy of 'valuing good faith and harmony among people'; the professional ethic of 'deceiving neither the old nor the young, treating all alike'; the Tongrentang brand and its distinctive marks; the works 'Leshi Shidai Zuchuan Wan San Gao Dan Xia Liao Peifang' (The Leshi Family's Hereditary Formulas for Pills, Powders, Ointments, and Pellets) and 'Tongrentang Qianxiu Zhumen Yingzheng Wan San Gao Dan Zongmu' (Tongrentang's Piously Prepared Catalogue of Pills, Powders, Ointments, and Pellets for All Conditions); Tongrentang's traditional Chinese medicine processing techniques; and Tongrentang's pharmaceutical characteristics — the fusion of traditional Chinese medicine with court pharmacy — which are summarized as 'unique prescriptions, superior selected ingredients, exquisite craftsmanship, and remarkable efficacy.' However, under the influence of Western modernization, Tongrentang's original traditional Chinese medicine processing techniques and pharmaceutical characteristics face difficulties of survival and development; traditional pharmaceutical methods have been constrained, and its distinctive techniques face the risk of being lost. Representative repertoire, works and technical entries recorded for the project include: "Judging rare and precious materia medica": Rare materia medica runs to dozens of varieties and hundreds of grades; laboratory testing cannot fully replace the trained eye, and the inspector's experience decides the verdict. "Formula and weighing of pills, powders, pastes and pills": The family formula book fixes the ingredients, weights and order of weighing for every remedy, and remains the working reference in the workshop today. "The catalogue of remedies": The house catalogue lists every remedy prepared, so that dispensing can be checked against a record shaped by two centuries of court service. "Verifying the court dispensary formulas": Drawing on dispensary records and catalogues from 1669 to 1950, the compiler sorted out the formulas, traced their sources, and wrote a brief analysis of each.
Judging rare and precious materia medica
Rare materia medica runs to dozens of varieties and hundreds of grades; laboratory testing cannot fully replace the trained eye, and the inspector's experience decides the verdict.
Formula and weighing of pills, powders, pastes and pills
The family formula book fixes the ingredients, weights and order of weighing for every remedy, and remains the working reference in the workshop today.
The catalogue of remedies
The house catalogue lists every remedy prepared, so that dispensing can be checked against a record shaped by two centuries of court service.
Verifying the court dispensary formulas
Drawing on dispensary records and catalogues from 1669 to 1950, the compiler sorted out the formulas, traced their sources, and wrote a brief analysis of each.
03 · Transmission & Safeguarding Status
In 2025, Zhao Xiaogang was announced in the sixth batch of national representative bearers for Tongren Tangzhongyiyaowenhua, with Zhongguobeijingtongrentangyouxianzerengongsi as the declared area. Within the documented safeguarding record of Tongren Tangzhongyiyaowenhua in Zhongguobeijingtongrentangyouxianzerengongsi: The project was inscribed in the national inventory in 2006 (batch 1), with Zhongguobeijingtongrentangyouxianzerengongsi as its declared area, and Beijing Tongrentang Group Co., Ltd. as its safeguarding unit. Since the project was inscribed in the national inventory, its declared area and safeguarding unit have carried out documentation, transmission and presentation within the national safeguarding framework. Together, the inventory record and the project archive form the public documentary basis for the bearer’s transmission practice.
04 · Associated Heritage Item Dossier
Historical origin
Beijing Tongrentang is a time-honored name in Chinese traditional medicine, founded in 1669, with a history of 337 years to this day. From 1723, when it began 'undertaking the preparation of official medicines' for the court, until 1911 — a span of 188 years — Tongrentang followed the imperial standards for selecting medicinal materials, strictly adhered to palace secret prescriptions and pharmaceutical methods, and developed a strict quality supervision system. The organic integration and mutual influence between Tongrentang and the Qing Imperial Medical Department and the Imperial Pharmacy gave rise to the distinctive style and traditional knowledge of Tongrentang's Chinese medicines.
05 · Fellow National Bearers Lineage
National representative bearers recorded under the same item code, ordered from the first to the sixth batch. Batch order is not a teacher–student relationship.
| Bearer | Declared area | Roster code | Relation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lu Guangrong | Zhongguobeijingtongrentangyouxianzerengongsi | 01-0215 | Same declared area |
| Jin Aiying | Zhongguobeijingtongrentangyouxianzerengongsi | 01-0216 | Same declared area |
| Guan Qingwei | Zhongguobeijingtongrentangyouxianzerengongsi | 01-0217 | Same declared area |
| Tian Ruihua | Zhongguobeijingtongrentangyouxianzerengongsi | 01-0218 | Same declared area |
| Zhao Xiaogang | Zhongguobeijingtongrentangyouxianzerengongsi | — | This page |
06 · Archival Sources & Bibliography
This static English edition is rendered at the edge for search engines, AI crawlers and readers without JavaScript. Compiled from official national representative bearer archival records and the associated project dossier, organized by topic and translated into English. 阅读中文版。