TCM I: History and philosophy

Question 1

History and philosophy

Answer 1

Traditional medicine across Asia developed in an Agricultural society, and it describes the human landscape in terms used to describe nature.
* People are often referred to as being or suffering from:
o Damp
o Wind
o Fire
* Medical practitioners were employed to keep people well, as well as treat disease. Acupuncture has its roots in the prevention of disease

Question 2

Pre-1000 BCE

Answer 2

The legendary period (Pre-1000 BCE):
* I Ching (Book of Changes) is the primary source of Yin/Yang theory 500 BCE
* Tao Te Jing (Classic of the Way and the Virtue), written by the legendary author Lao Zi, becomes the primary Taoist text
* Bian Que becomes the earliest physician known to use acupuncture and pulse diagnosis
* Confucianism is established as one of the three pillars of Chinese thought (along with Taoism and Buddhism) focusing on virtue on ethics

Question 3

400 - 100 BCE

Answer 3

400 – 100 BCE:
* The Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic) is published, laying the conceptual framework for Chinese medicine
* ‘Health and well-being can be achieved only by remaining centred in spirit, guarding against the squander of energy, promoting the constant flow of Qi and blood, maintaining harmonious balance of Yin and Yang, adapting to the changing seasonal yearly macro-cosmic influences, and nourishing one’s self preventively. This is the way to live a long and happy life’. (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic)

Question 4

The ’common era’:
270 BCE

Answer 4

Entering the ‘common era’:
270 BCE: Hangfu Mi writes the Zhenjui Jiayijing (The ABC compendium of acupuncture), the first textbook focusing solely on acupuncture

Question 5

The ’common era’:
219

Answer 5

Zhang Zhongjing publishes the Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Diseases)

Question 6

The ’common era’:
1596

Answer 6

Li Shizhen publishes the influential diagnostic and herbal book Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica)

Question 7

The ’common era’:
1698

Answer 7

Jesuit priest, Parrenin, arrives in China and reports back to Europe about Chinese medical practices

Question 8

The ‘modern era’:
1911 - 1949

Answer 8

1911 – 1949: Republic of China government policy rejects traditional medicine with the intention of replacing it with Western medicine

Question 9

The ‘modern era’:
1949 – present day: Peoples’ Republic of China

Answer 9

The communist government re-evaluates traditional medicine to consolidate and systematise the traditional practices, thereby establishing the now formal body of knowledge known as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

Question 10

History & philosophy Comparison

Answer 10

TCM:
Based on centuries of clinical observation
Individualise
Emphasises stimulating self-healing
Holistic –Looks at the body as a whole
Primary aim: Maintain health

Modern western medicine:
Based on experimentation
Standardised
Based on medication and procedures
Reductionist –Looks at the structure and functions of individual parts
Primary aim: Managed disease