"Centuries-old pharmacy goes down in history,
Healing people with brilliant efficacy.
Yi Zheng plaster spreads across the four seas,
The famous city's old shop takes the top spot."
The Legend of "Ju Jing Liu Xiang"
In 1712, Chen Pengnian, the Governor of Water Transport, suffered from severe joint pain. After being cured by our paste, he was struck by its unique herbal aroma. Inspired by the ancient legend of the "Orange Well" saving people from plague, he gifted us the plaque, changing "Fragrance" (Fang) to "Aroma" (Xiang) to honor the distinct scent of our medicine.
The 200-Year War on Fakes
For over two centuries, our fame attracted countless imitators. In 1869 (Tongzhi Year 8), the 7th generation master Tang Mu petitioned six levels of government. They authorized a stone monument: "Fung Xian Le Shi Yong Jin" (By Imperial Order: Stone Inscription of Eternal Prohibition).
This stele, now a protected cultural relic, stands as the "First Anti-Counterfeiting Stele in China," a permanent guardian of our authenticity.
奉宪勒石永禁
Eternal Prohibition Stele
Tang Ruzhen
The 8th Gen Heroine
- ✦ Stopped foreign consulate construction to protect family land.
- ✦ Defeated Qing flag troops in a 4-year lawsuit.
- ✦ Donated 50 mu of land to found Zhenjiang Women's Vocational School (1927).
The Heroine of the Tang Family
The Tang spirit extends beyond medicine. Tang Ruzhen, the 8th generation granddaughter, was a woman of extraordinary courage. In 1894, she cleverly stopped the construction of a Japanese consulate on Mopan Mountain to protect the family's feng shui and dignity.
Inspired by Sun Yat-sen's call for women's rights, she donated over 50 mu (8+ acres) of her personal land—her dowry—to establish the Zhenjiang Women's Vocational School in 1927. She believed in empowering women through skills like sericulture (silk farming).
Her residence, "Zhen Lu" (箴庐), stands today as a monument to a legacy that cares for the community's future as much as its health.
The Face That Guaranteed Quality
On the busy Wutiao Street, fakes were rampant. In 1922, the shop was officially registered as "Tang Lao Yi Zheng Zhai". But the ultimate seal of trust came in 1930, when Tang Elou's son, Tang Ruizhi, registered his father's portrait as Zhenjiang's First Trademark.
This portrait guaranteed the authentic 80-herb formula. During the 1966 industrial consolidation, the formula was drastically cut by 55 ingredients (leaving only 25) and the portrait was removed.
The consequence? In 1979, Singaporean merchants rejected 50,000 units of the watered-down product, demanding: "I want the one with the Old Man's face." Today, we have restored that original 80-herb glory.
Our global journey isn't new; it began over 140 years ago. On February 16, 1879 (Guangxu Year 5), an advertisement in the Shen Bao (Shanghai News) announced our Shanghai branch at Yong'an Street, serving travelers heading to Japan, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
"No goods leave the door if ingredients are missing;
Genuine goods at a fair price, no second price."
— Ancestral Motto (缺味少药不出门，货真价实不二价)