In 1578, Li Shizhen completed his monumental work, 'Compendium of Materia Medica,' which cataloged thousands of herbs, animals, and minerals used in traditional Chinese medicine. This comprehensive text became a standard reference in East Asia, influencing herbal medicine practices and pharmacology for centuries. Li's meticulous documentation and classification of medicinal substances laid the groundwork for future advancements in medical science and herbalism.

Li Shizhen’s 'Compendium of Materia Medica,' published in 1578, reflects the Ming dynasty’s integration of natural history and literature. This work influenced Chinese poetry by enriching descriptions of nature and medicine, preserving folk knowledge that often found its way into vernacular fiction and poetic forms.