About the Apricot Grove Project
Our Mission
In Chinese, the term “Xinglin,” which means “Apricot Grove,” is used to describe competent and compassionate medical care provided with an open heart to improve the condition of the world. This term originates from the “Shenxian Zhuan” (Biographies of Divine Immortals), where the Daoist philosopher Ge Hong (283-343 C.E.) tells the story of the physician Dong Feng who lived during China’s Three Kingdoms period (220-280 C.E.).
Dong Feng was widely recognized for his skill and altruism. When he cured a patient of a disease, he asked that one apricot tree be planted and tended in a nearby grove. For those with a more serious disease, he asked that five trees be planted. During his lifetime, Dong Feng saw many patients, and over time, the apricot grove grew to over 100,000 trees.
Wealthier people who came to the grove to gather apricots were asked to leave a bushel of rice in the public granary, which in turn was used to feed those who did not have enough to eat. Thus, from medical skill and a spirit of compassion, grew a grove of trees that also alleviated food shortages in the local community. Because of his work, Dong Feng is considered one of China’s great sage-physicians.
To this day, in China, the term “Xinglin” and the idea of the apricot grove express the qualities of medical skill, ethics, and humane care, as well as the process of using nature’s patterns to promote meaningful change.
A group at a Clinical Practicum (Trout Lake, Washington)
About the Apricot Grove Project
A group at a Clinical Practicum (Trout Lake, Washington)
Our Mission
In Chinese, the term Xinglin (杏林) or “Apricot Grove” is used to describe competent and compassionate medical care provided with the goal of improving the condition of our world and fellow human beings. This term originates from the Shenxian zhuan (Biographies of Divine Immortals 神仙傳), where the Daoist philosopher Ge Hong (葛洪, 283-343 C.E.) tells the story of the physician Dong Feng (董奉) who lived during China’s Three Kingdoms period (220-280 C.E.). Dong Feng was widely recognized for his skill and altruism. When he cured a patient of a disease, he asked that one apricot tree be planted and tended in a nearby grove. For those with a more serious disease, he asked that five trees be planted. During his lifetime, Dong Feng saw many patients, and over time, the apricot grove grew to over 100,000 trees. Wealthier people who came to the grove to gather apricots were asked to leave a bushel of rice in the public granary, which in turn was used to feed those who did not have enough to eat. Thus, from medical skill and a spirit of compassion, grew a grove of trees that also alleviated food shortages in the local community. Because of his work, Dong Feng is considered one of China’s great sage-physicians. To this day, in China, the term ‘Xinglin‘ and the idea of the apricot grove expresses the qualities of medical skill, ethics, and humane care, as well as the process of using nature’s patterns to promote meaningful change.
Today, the Apricot Grove is a global community of healthcare workers, scholars, artists, scientists, and others who come together to support human transformation and global thriving through the study of traditional knowledge. This work is supported by a non-profit mission, educational programs, and an engaged and inspired community.
