Biography of Chen Zi

Chen Zi(1878—1927), who also styled himself as "Yi Qing" or "Yi Qin" , was a famous ophthalmologist in the early period of the Republic of China.He compiled and translated serial of classical Japanese modern medical books thus promoted western medicine propagation to the east in the early period of the Republic of China, and founded the first Chinese-established eye hospital in China to serve the patients from Shanghai as well as other places in China.Also, Dr. Chen devoted himself to the combination of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine for his whole life.He wrote the book of Zhong Xi Yan Ke Hui Tong(中西眼科汇通, Combination of Western and Eastern Medicine in Ophthalmology)which has promoted traditional Chinese medicine into modernization.In Dr.Chen’s life, he was associated with some figures from army and in political circles at that time. Besides, he did a lot of things to support the education in his hometown.Dr. Chen was a typical model to understand the clinical doctors in the early period of the Republic of China. Key words: Zhong Xi Yan Ke Hui Tong; ophthalmologist; Chen Zi; ophthalmology; integration of traditional and western medicine