Two Xylographic Matrices - China 19th Century

[CHINESE MEDICINE]. Two woodcut matrices in traditional Chinese characters for medicinal recipes. N. pnd [China, 19th century?] Dimensions: 40.5x14.5x1.7 cm. Red wax seal on each matrix (customs stamps for leaving Chinese territory, datable according to the drawing between 1994 and 2009). Beautiful set of two large matrices engraved on wood for pharmaceutical recipes. The matrices are engraved on both sides, each side containing 5 recipes numbered from 11 to 30. The use of these matrices is not certain: -They could have been used for the publication of a compilation of medicinal recipes, published at least since 1742, under the Qing dynasty (see recipe 25). -Another hypothesis would be that the title repeated on each page could be the name of a pharmacy that published these recipes for advertising purposes. The recipes are written in traditional Chinese, before the simplification of characters imposed by Mao in 1949. [CHINESE MEDICINE]. Two xylographic matrices in traditional Chinese characters for medicinal recipes. N. pnd [China, 19th century?] Dimensions: 40.5x14.5x1.7 cm. Red wax seal on each matrix (Chinese customs exit seals, dated according to the design between 1994 and 2009). A fine set of wood-engraving matrices for pharmaceutical recipes. The matrices are carved both sides, each side containing 5 recipes numbered 11 to 30. They may have been used for a compilation of recipes already published in several series of medical books, for example in a series of 90 volumes published in 1742 under the Qing dynasty (see recipe 25). Another hypothesis is that the title repeated on each page could be the name of a pharmacy that published these recipes as a means of advertising. The recipes are written in traditional Chinese, before the simplification of characters imposed by Mao in 1949.