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There is a wide diffusion of medical knowledge through the medium of medical works. This paper describes the phenomenon of the diffusion of medical knowledge, analyses the social and personal factors which impact diffusion and discusses its limitations. The conclusion is: 1) The medical works in Song Dynasty paid attention to pragmatism and mainly faced to the general public. 2) The diffusion and the medical works promoted and magnified each other. 3) The social function of medicine and the need of “self-care” had important impact on the diffusion. 4) At the same time of the diffusion, the negative assessment of “self-care” appeared. Those who live their lives on medicine still receive more recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]