Concept

Monarch, minister, assistant and guide medicines

君臣佐使jun chen zuo shi

2 sources

The classical scheme of four ingredient roles within a formula — monarch, minister, assistant and guide — in which the monarch addresses the principal concern while the others reinforce it, handle accompanying issues, temper harshness, or steer the formula toward its target.

Source

Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷一·序例上·神农本经名例·君臣佐使（药有君臣佐使）

Full definition

Classical source text (Chinese) — English summary above.

药有君臣佐使，以相宣摄。合和宜一君、二臣、三佐、五使，又可一君、三臣、九佐使也。

Citations

Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷一·序例上·神农本经名例·君臣佐使（药有君臣佐使）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its definition.
WHO international standard terminologies on traditional Chinese medicine · World Health Organization · WHO IST-TCM 2022, WGM2 #2769–2774 (§3.3, role terms)Cited from WHO international standard terminologies on traditional Chinese medicine for its standardized terminology.