Over 2,400 years ago, a physician named Bian Que was said to be able to see through a person’s internal organs just by looking at them, much like how a CT or MRA scan works today. This ability to diagnose illness based on outward appearance was called “divine” (神), while diagnosing through questioning was considered…
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In the Book of Changes (Yi Jing), there is a concept that reads, “Order is governed by principle, energy, image, and number, with imagery at its foundation” (理氣象數, 以象爲本). In Eastern philosophy, all things in the universe are believed to exist through the combination of “li” (理; principle) and “qi” (氣; vital energy). “Li” refers…
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In Eastern cosmology, Wuji (無極) refers to a state in which only energy is gathered, before all things in the universe are born. Taiji (太極) represents the moment when waves (or vibration) are finally born from this Wuji state. In other words, Taiji is the expression of Wuji, the emergence of energy manifesting in harmony,…
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In the Huangdi Neijing, there is a saying: “To treat disease, seek the root, and the root lies in Yin and Yang (治病求本, 本於陰陽).” This means that when treating a disease, one must find its root cause, and that root is found in the balance of Yin and Yang. Treatment is not about suppressing or…
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Yin and Yang refer to the ancient observation of opposing yet complementary phenomena in nature. Examples include heaven and earth, sun and moon, day and night, summer and winter, male and female, up and down, fire and water, life and death. The world of phenomena cannot exist without these relative oppositions. For instance, what if…
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3. Yin and Yang in Equilibrium – Homeostasis Yin and Yang are opposing concepts, yet they are inseparable and interdependent. In traditional Korean medicine, Jing (Essence) is a tangible fluid and belongs to Yin, while Qi (Vital Energy) is intangible but constantly circulates throughout the body and is classified as Yang. Jing and Qi, Qi…
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4. The Wane and Wax of Yin and Yang (陰陽消長) — Yin Deficiency Syndrome The concept of “wane and wax of yin and yang” (陰陽消長) means that yin and yang in nature are not static but constantly move and change. The alternation of cold and heat through the seasons, the longest day during the summer…
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5. Wane and Wax of Yin and Yang (陰陽消長): Yang Deficiency Syndrome (陽虛證) Yang deficiency syndrome (陽虛證), or a deficiency in Yang, refers to symptoms that occur when the body’s internal fire energy weakens, leading to reduced metabolic activity. One may feel fatigued upon waking and have a persistent desire to lie down. Frequent diarrhea…
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The foundational principle of acupuncture in the Huangdi Neijing is summarized in a single phrase: Regulate the Qi, treat the Spirit (調氣治神). The idea is that by harmonizing the flow of Qi, one can heal the Shen, or spirit. The Chinese character for Qi (氣) includes the character for rice (米), which implies directional flow…
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Sun Simiao (孫思邈), a renowned physician of the Sui and Tang dynasties in China, refused repeated imperial summons and instead lived in seclusion, dedicating his life to treating patients and leaving behind many great medical writings. Among them, the chapter Dà Yī Jīng Chéng (大醫精誠), meaning “The Great Physician Must Have Sincere Devotion,” is regarded…
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