Introduction To Classical Chinese Medicine
“Heaven hangs the image, Earth completes the form.”
When the ancient sages sought to comprehend the nature of human existence, the essence of life and causes of disease, Confucius asserted that they first oriented to the south. Looking South, they cast their gaze above and observed the 天文 Tiānwén, the language of the heavens. There they observed the cyclical motion and locations of the sun, moon, and stars. And from their observations of the Tiānwén they formed an image of time.
They then looked below and observed the 地理 Dìlǐ, the striations of the earth i.e the horizontal plane of directionality, and the varying geographic and ecological landscapes. From their observations of the Dìlǐ they understood the nature of space as a reflection of the heavens…
Having then observed above and below, the ancient sages then looked within and observed the 人事 Rénshì, the affairs of humanity i.e the interior landscape - from our gross anatomy to the more subtle nature of emotions, psyche, as well as the cultural customs and social conditions that shape the course of life within civilization.
The interwoven nature of the 三才 Sancai, or the “3 Jewels” of heaven, earth, and humanity serve as the warp and weft of the loom upon which our lives are woven; the human being is a microcosmic expression of the macrocosm. The fabric of time (heaven) and space (earth) shape the cycles of change and transformation that accentuate the arc of a human life from birth, growth, maturation, decay and death, while our cultural customs and social landscapes shape our thoughts about who we are, what our purpose is, and how we navigate this life.
“Heaven Hangs the Image, earth completes the form.”
Through the writings of the pre-classical (Zhōu dynasty 1046-256 BCE) and classical text era of Chinese medicine (Hàn dynasty, 206 BCE - 220 CE) it is evident that the tradition of Chinese medicine emerged from a robust discipline of direct inquiry and observation. It is a practice of inner cultivation that hones an orientation and acuity towards the rhythms and cycles of the natural world that then led to a corpus of theory about the nature of disease and how to treat it. Thus the practice of Chinese medicine became the art of of 養生 Yǎngshēng, of nourishing the essence of life.
The philosophical theories and symbol science of Chinese Medicine, born from direct experience, live in and animate the heart of Chinese medicine. From the
道 Dào, - the unifying force of the cosmos; to the
太極 Tàijí - Yinyang, the interdependent duality of the incarnate Dao; to
精氣神 Jīngqìshén - essence, vital breath and spirit, the 3-fold processes that govern spiritual and physical health,
To the clinical application of these theories through the diagnostic lenses of the
五行 Wǔxíng - 5 phase elements of water, fire, wood, metal and earth,
六邪 Liùxié - 6 environmental influences of cold, dampness, dryness, summer-heat, heat and wind, to the
五臟六腑 Wǔzàng liùfǔ - the interrelationships between the 5 internal organs and 6 external organs,
六經辨證 liùjīng biànzhèng - 6 conformations and channel differential diagnosis,
and the 12 organ clock network
To the treatment of acute and chronic disease through the skillful application of Qìgōng, acupuncture, guāshā, moxabustion, external poultices, herbal formulas, and various other treatment modalities.
Chinese medicine has developed and evolved throughout the millennia, from its divinatory origins and folk medicine to its more formal, modern clinical presentation, always adapting to meet the needs of the times while remaining true to its origins. Its emergence on the global stage, not only as a bulwark for the hermetic sciences but as an integrative medicine, is a tribute to the timeless wisdom that Chinese Medicine draws upon. Our medicine fills a gap in the healthcare system by considering the human being as a whole and by inviting the patient to invest in their health through awareness, education, and the exercise of personal will and spiritual freedom.
To learn more about the philosophy and clinical application of Classical Chinese Medicine, explore our other articles available in the Scholar’s corner.