Tongrentang

Batch 1
Est. 1669
Founding

Tongrentang was established in 1669, early in the Kangxi reign, when the Le family opened an apothecary in Beijing. From 1723 it supplied the Qing imperial pharmacy, holding that role for nearly two centuries; its name evokes the ideal of "shared benevolence in the service of life."

What made it famous

The gold standard of Chinese medicine, Tongrentang is known for authentic ingredients and rigorous formulas, its pills, powders and tonics reaching across China and abroad. Over three centuries it has grown from a capital apothecary into a globally recognized name in traditional medicine.

Signature craft

Tongrentang lives by an old maxim: "However elaborate the processing, never skimp on the labor; however costly the ingredient, never cut the quality." That ethos governs its sourcing, the careful paozhi processing of herbs, and its compounding — a craft tradition as much as a business.

Cultural standing

A flagship China Time-Honored Brand, Tongrentang's traditional-medicine culture is inscribed as national intangible cultural heritage, and it is widely regarded as a benchmark for the whole field.

Related