CHINESE SCIENCE AND ART OF 2.

Internal alchemy (nei tan)

HEALING
The interior of the adept’s body as the
laboratory. “Cyclical maturation of the elixir”
through meditation, concentration, breath
The Sciences of Traditional China
control, or sexual disciplines.
1. Subject matter all systematic abstract
Astrology
thought about nature.
Anomalous celestial and meteorological
Seeking objective, driving forces of change
phenomena were observed and interpreted
within nature itself rather than like in religion
in order to detect defects in the political
and magic, looking for explanations in terms
order. This science was based on a close
of conscious will or emotion.
correspondence between cosmic and
2. It take as scientific any data, discovery, or political realms.
method that also plays a role in modern
The emperor was the mediator between the
science.
orders of nature and humanity.
Medicine
Geomancy (feng-shui)
Includes theoretical studies of health and
The science of “wind and water” which
disease, therapeutics, macrobiotics or the
determined the auspicious placement of
theory and practice of longevity techniques,
houses ad tombs with respect to features of
sexual hygiene, pharmacognosy, and
the landscapes.
veterinary medicine. Pharmacognosy is the
study of materia medica, incorporated a Predominantly to topological configurations.
large part of the early knowledge of natural
It has been considered as mere
history as well as approaches to biological
superstition.
classifications.
Alchemy A theoretical approach to the aesthetics of
land use.
The science of immortality, which
Physical Studies (wu li)
overlapped greatly in practice with medical
macrobiotics. Immortality was thought of the • Three major approach to the theoretical
highest kind of health. principles behind the events of nature:
• Two major division: 1. Mutation Studies
1. External alchemy (wei tan) Uses the conceptual apparatus of the
commentaries to the Book of Changes, and
Immortality drugs based on the natural
is in general as concerned with the social
processes by which minerals and metals
and political spheres as with nature.
were believed to mature within the earth,
but in the laboratory they were carried out 2. Resonance studies (Hsiang lei)
on a telescope scale of time. A year of
cyclical treatment by the alchemist might Elaborates the notion that physical
correspond to a cosmic cycle of 4320 years. interactions are prompted by or controlled
by categorical associations and
correspondences, set out in terms of yin-
yang and the Five Phases.
3. Correspondences Studies (ko chih/ko wu)
A more sophisticated concepts of the Neo-
Confucians and their didactic applications of
their insights, to the integration of nature,
society, and the individual psyche.
The term wu li (the pattern principles of
phenomena) = standard equivalent in
modern Chinese for “physics.”
Mathematics (suan)
Which was on the whole numerical and
algebraic approach rather than geometric,
and oriented towards practical application
rather than toward exploration of the
properties of number and measure for their
own sake.
Mathematical harmonics (lü or lü lü)
It arose from the discoveries about the
simple numerical relations between sound
intervals, and explored the dimensions of
resonant pipes. The importance of music in
ceremonial made harmonics part of the
intellectual trappings of imperial charisma.
The very special nature of its connection
with other kinds of activity ties to the
dynastic legitimacy.
INTERRELATION OF MEDICINE AND
PHILOSOPHY
Epoch of Simple Empiricism
This era marks the beginning of art of
healing in China.
This simple observation of nature regard for
climactic conditions, recognition of external
symptoms of illness,
During this time stone needles were used
as operating instruments, and a large
number of medical herbs were also
employed.
The Epoch of the Formulation of
Theories
Principle of Yin-Yang, the doctrine of the
five elements, the concept of the “Way”
(Tao) and the Confucianism.
It provided a basis for regarding illness and
good health as a phenomenon affecting all
people indiscriminately and not conditionally
depending on social position.
The Epoch of the Development of
Experience and Theories
The beginnings and development of
relationship between China and Indi due to
Buddhist intervention.
Knowledge regarding the causes of illness
and the doctrine of the “noble eightfold path”
the monks also brought Indian culture
values to China and thus made known the
common methods applied in India.
Buddhist medical descriptions despite their
odd terminologies were more easily
understood and approximate to reality than
Taoist medical writings.
Confucianism and Taoism approached
medicine from the theoretical point of view.
In the Confucianism point of view, the
application of the surgical methods used in
India was not possible since it strongly
opposed on philosophical grounds to any
“mutilation” of the body.
The Epoch of Divergence Between
Theory and Practice
This period coincides with that of the Ming
and Ch’ing dynasties; The Ming era was a
time of stagnation in chinese development,
while Ch’ing period marked its absolute
nadir.
The opposing view of official medicine and
“folk doctors.”
Medical literature predominated over
original works and official doctors steadily
gained in influence.
Medical post merely represent stages in the
social hierarchy and did not equate with the
corresponding degree of ability.
Official State Examination is expensive and
was used as a means of achieving social
position, titles, and high office.
Three types of doctors
- Official doctor
- Folk doctors
- Family doctors
The Epoch of Reconstruction and
Synthesis
This era began with the end of the
Revolutionary War (1949) and is still
developing. This include the research of
collecting, publishing, and examining the
traditional art of healing according to the
scientific method.
The MAN and NATURE
Old Chinese philosophy regarded the
human organism as a miniature version of
the universe.
The process which occur within the human
organism, including illnesses, are connected
with the interplay of the five elements.
Man cannot be divorced from Nature, he
forms an organic part of it and is closely
linked to the universe.
Nature- macrocosm
Obeys the same laws
Man- microcosm
The PRINCIPLE of YIN and YANG
It produced in the human organism the
inhalation and exhalation of air. The
condition of waking and sleeping.
It accounts for the parallel between
sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous
systems.
Yin and Yang represents
- Master of all living things
- Mother of change
- Origin of birth and death
- Each illness affects the whole body,
since good health represents a condition
of equilibrium in the whole organism.
The FIVE ELEMENTS
Book of Scriptures, “The Great Principle”
traces the harmony between Man and the
Universe back to these five elements. They
exist in a helpful and complementary
relationship to each other or they can work
against one another and destroy
themselves.
Philosophical Anatomy
The art of healing differentiates between Yin
and Yang organs, and to each of their own
element.
The Man fits into the totality of Nature,
becomes an organic part of it, and thereby
fulfils the “Tao,” the universal law of Nature.
A “philosophical anatomy” in which Nature
and the human body coincide in numerous
respects. Both nature and man are
subordinate to the Yin-Yang principle and
the five elements.
Man and Climate
The traditional art of healing stresses the
importance of investigating climactic
influences and their connection with various
illnesses.
Spring is the season of vitality, fecundity in
Nature, the time of restitution = the liver can
suffer harm if Man does not adjust himself
to the natural order of things.
Summer is when celestial and terrestrial
forces combine = cardiac diseases and “the
intermittent fever” (malaria).
In autumn, the forces between heaven and
earth balance out = can be harmful for the
lungs.
Winter is the period when nature rest =
kidney diseases frequently occurs.
Windy weather causes diarrhea, summer
heat brought feverish illnesses. The autumn
dampness coincided with “coughing” and
the winter cold with feverish ailments which
broke out in spring.

ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture is based on the flow of qi, or
vital energy, through pathways in the body
known as channels, or meridians.
Twelve regular meridians correspond to
each of the six yin and six yang organs --
the spleen meridian to the spleen organ, the
large intestine meridian to the large intestine
organ, and so on.
Eight extra meridians are also used in
acupuncture therapy.
Although they flow deep within the body,
each meridian has specific points that can
be accessed from the surface of the body.
There are 361 such acupuncture points on
the meridians, as well as numerous
"extraordinary" points that may or may not
be located on a regular channel. In addition,
a full set of points on the ears represent all
the organs in the body and can be used to
treat a wide variety of medical conditions.
Use of these points is known as
auriculotherapy.