The Shennong Bencaojing is one of the most important medical books to come out of the Han Dynasty. The word bencao means "essential herb".

It is surmised that the Fire Emperor is the author, but no one knows for sure who really did write this important book. What is known is that it was written between the 1st and 2nd century BC, and is considered to be the earliest complete reference of Chinese pharmacopoeia.