The Global Landscape of Research on China’s Medical History: A Bibliometric Analysis of International Scholarship

Abstract:

This bibliometric study analyzes 404 international publications on China’s medical history from 2004–2025 in the Web of Science database. Key findings reveal: (1) While global interest grows, Western scholars dominate the discourse, with significant contributions from Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan Region of China; the Chinese Mainland’s scholarship remains critically underrepresented; (2) Nearly half of publications appear in journals that do not specialize in medical history, citation networks rely heavily on Western-authored monographs and papers, with leading scholars as well as influential academic outputs predominantly from Western countries and the Hong Kong and Taiwan regions, marginalizing Mainland academic output in the global knowledge chain; (3) Research identifies multiple hotspots primarily through history of science and social medicine lenses, yet demonstrates a critical neglect of internal history studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Overall, the Chinese Mainland, despite being the primary subject and source of historical materials of research on China’s medical history, remains nearly silent in international academia, where Western interpretations and narratives prevail, a phenomenon that may carry profound implications. Language barriers, divergent research priorities, and geographical inequality in knowledge production underlie the Mainland’s academic absence. We recommend enhanced translation support, institutional frameworks for international publishing, and strategic integration of internal history research with global hotspots to reclaim scholarly agency.