Traditional Chinese Medicine in the New Era——New Year Message 2019

Hong-Cai Shang Editor-in-Chief Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Beijing,China

刚刚过去的2018年，对于中医药事业的发展来说，注定是历史长河中不平凡的一年。这一年，世界卫生组织首次决定将包含中医药学在内的传统医学体系纳入到国际疾病分类（ICD-11）中；这一年，美国《国家地理》杂志也将发表长文，称：“中医药拥有最古老的持续医学观察记录，是有待现代医学深入发掘的最大宝库”。尽管中医药学一直饱受争议，同时中医药现代化和国际化之路阻且长，但我们还是依稀看到“中医药的春天来了”。

对于《现代中药》这本年轻的杂志来说，一年来，我们得到国内外同道太多的支持和帮助：52位编委专家义务为杂志供稿、审稿，并推荐宣传；编辑部的青年人不计报酬，修稿、译稿，废寝忘食、甚至彻夜不眠；可爱的读者们直截了当地为杂志提出合理的改进建议；杂志网站维护人员夜以继日地工作，确保了每期文章能够顺利、准时上线，以飨读者。

回顾2018年共四期计32篇文章，作者中有中央文史馆官员、中国工程院院士、国家杰出青年科学基金获得者、国家万人计划入选者、国家优秀青年科学基金获得者等一批知名中医药学者，也包括一批初出茅庐的未来之星；有专注科学研究的基础专家，更有临证经验丰富的临床医生。大家均朝着共同目标，即中医药的现代发展和走向国际，砥砺前行。

展望2019年，《现代中药》杂志将在既定发展思路的基础上，以“展示高质量的中医药多源证据，促进证据转化应用”为主旨，并增设中医药学研究新技术和新方法专栏，宣传新技术、新方法为中医药研究带来的新变化，凸显《现代中药》的办刊初衷和内涵；积极向业内知名专家和后起之秀约稿，保证优质稿源，宁缺毋滥，扩大杂志在行业内的影响力和知名度；参与相关学术团体和机构的活动，探讨合作建成官方刊物的可能性；吸纳海内外编委和审稿人，扩大国际专家在编委会的比例，增强国际学术竞争力；增补一批青年编委，为中医药现代化事业的可持续发展培养英才。

在纪念改革开放四十周年的日子里，中医药学人也将阔步进入新时代。国家“一带一路”的政策精神无疑将推动中医药走出国门、走向世界的进程。年轻的中医药学人应该抓住这个大好时机，以“功成不必在我，功力必不唐捐”的决心和气度，勇于担当，站在前人的肩膀上，取其精华、去其糟粕，一往无前，中医药现代化和国际化的宏伟目标一定会早日实现！

The past year of 2018 is destined to be extraordinary for traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)over her profound history of forming and development.It witnessed for the first time the World Heath Organization’s(WHO)move to include traditional medicine(TCM inclusive)in the list of the International Classification of Diseases(ICD-11),which is a really positive step recognizing traditional Chinese medicine.Similarly exciting is in the 2019 first issue,the National Geographic Magazine commented on how ancient remedies are changing modern medicine,and acknowledged China as one of the Nations possessing the oldest continuous accumulations of documented medical observations,which offers the biggest trove for scientists to sift through.Faintly yet definitely,TCM practioners and researcher are embracing a upcoming year of spring,indicating development and harvest,despite surrounding controversies and forseenable difficulties on the long way to modernization and internationalization.

Our fledgling journal "Traditional Medicine Research"has received considerable support and help,both domestic and foreign,over the past year.We owe sincere thanks to our 52 editorial board members who are obligated to contribute,review and recommend quality articles;to our diligent young editors who stayed overnight editing and translating academic papers;to our lovely and straightforward readerswho generously provided constructive suggestions;and to our website maintenance staff who had worked day and night to ensure timely online publication of each and every article.

Let us take a back look at the authors contributing to the 4 issues of 32 articles published on the TMR journals of 2018,among whom are member of the Central Meseum of Literature and History,academician of the Chinese Academy ofEngineering,awardeeofthe National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars,awardee of the National Ten Thousand Talents Plan,awardee of the National Science Fund for Outstanding Young Scientists,as well as young fledgling scholars.Some of them take interest in basic scientific research while some are experienced clinical practitioners.Yet they all move toward the common goal of TCM modernization and internationalization.

Looking forward to the new 2019,the TMR publishing group will focus on"exhibiting high-quality evidence of traditional Chinese medicine and promoting evidence translation and application"on the basis of previously established blueprint.While sticking firmly to our original idea and scope,we are planning to open a new special column for introducing TCM new technology and methodology,and for demonstrating the potential impact brought about by these technologies.Furthermore,we will actively invite articles from well-known experts and rising stars in the industry,and spare no effort to ensure quality,deepen influence and guarantee prestige,even at the sarcrifice of insufficient publications.Also we strive to participate in academic activities of relevant groups and institutions for any possibility of cooperation and becoming an official publication.As always we will continue recruiting editors and reviewers from home and abroad,expand the proportion of international experts on the editorial board,so as to enhance international academic competitivity.Besides we wil recruit a group of young editorial board members,who would become future leaders of the campaign for sustainable development of the modernization cause of traditional Chinese medicine.

In the days of commemorating the 40thanniversary of reform and opening-up,TCM scholars are striding into a new era.The Belt and Road Initiative(BRI)will undoubtedly and profoundly impact the process of TCM to go abroad and go global.It is right time for young scholars to seize every opportunity,make up your mind,take due responsibility,and devote yourself to the great cause.For you,young scholar,do bear in mind the courage and generosity as demonstrated in the sentence“success may not be yours by your devotion will never be wasted”,and try to stand on the shoulders of your predecessors,accepting the good while dicarding the bad.Before long,each and everyone of you will be the witness to the realization of the grand goal of modernizaion and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine!

Competing interests

The author declared that he had no competing interests.