A Brief History of Modern Research on Lingzhi

Release date:

2023-06-19

In the 1930s, Chinese scholar Deng Shuqun applied modern scientific methods to study Ganoderma, compiling his findings in works such as “Fungi of China,” “Ganoderma of China,” “A New Compilation on Ganoderma of China,” and “Flora of Fungi in China, Volume 18: Ganodermataceae.” These publications provide detailed accounts of the distribution, taxonomy, and biological characteristics of Ganoderma in China, making them seminal contributions to the field of Ganoderma systematics.
In the 1950s, China achieved large-scale artificial cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum and subsequently developed technologies for deep‑fermentation cultivation of its mycelium and fermentation broth, enabling the mass production of Ganoderma fruiting bodies, mycelium, and spore powder.
In 1976, the book “Lingzhi,” compiled by the Beijing Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Pharmacology Teaching and Research Group of Beijing Medical College, was published. Its second edition appeared in 1985, and a traditional‑character edition titled “The Scientific Applications of Lingzhi” was also released in Taipei in 1992, thereby advancing research and applications of lingzhi on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
In the 1980s, research on Ganoderma in China slowed down, while international research on Ganoderma steadily increased.
The 2000 and 2005 editions of the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China include Ganoderma lucidum, thereby conferring upon it legally recognized medicinal status in China. At present, in addition to clinical applications for disease prevention and treatment, Ganoderma-based preparations are also used as health‑promoting products, particularly among middle-aged and elderly populations.

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The four leading figures in the modernization of Ganoderma research are Deng Shuqun, Zhao Jiding, Chen Guoliang, and Lin Zhibin.

Ge Hong, the pioneer of epidemic prevention, classified lingzhi as an immortal’s elixir.

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