Tracing the influence of diverse strands of historical and cultural thought, this volume on the history of medicine in medieval Japan examines the effects of Buddhist, native Chinese and Islamic traditions on the development of medical practices. Through a discussion of the writings of the thirteenth century physician Kajiwar Shozen, the volume explores the effects of trade on the development of Japanese medicine and the ways in which access to outside sources loosened the grip of traditional medical orthodoxy and allowed for greater innovation in practice. Goble is a professor of history at the University of Oregon. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)