title: [The first official organization of traditional Chinese medicine in modern China-TCM Improvement Research Association].
abstract: In modern China, most of the mass organizations of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) were civilian and established by the individuals with self support financially.The TCM Improvement Research Association of Shanxi Province was the first official TCM organization in modern China. For the purpose of ruling and recognition of TCM, Yan Xishan, the chief executive of Shanxi province, gave a full support to its creation, development, and operation of the Association with the military and political officials in the government served as part-time staff members of a few of important position in the Association. The Association was given funding and policy support by official ways. The local administrative departments cooperated with the Association affairs actively. Because of the stable organization and the abundant fund, the TCM Improvement Research Association developed quickly and steadily. As a result, the Association had been playing an important and increasing role in academic research, TCM education, medical and epidemic prevention and so on. It had become one of the great national TCM academic societies with prolonged existence. As an official Association, it was characterized with a dual property: a better foundation for development and little independency.
authors.affiliation: Institute for History of Science and Technology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006; Health and Family Planning Commission of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, 030013, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute for History of Science and Technology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006.
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D004651:Employment; D006076:Government; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D012955:Societies, Medical