The Principle of Yin and Yang (阴阳论)

Yin (阴) and Yang (阳)

Yin and Yang are present in the Chinese history as a form of logic. They are both neither materials nor energies. They are both complementary in nature and they are used largely to explain the behaviour/relationships between different components of life. This theory is being widely used and it is slowly integrated into the study of TCM. The Yin and Yang theory are used to explain the complicated relationships of the human body.

The figure on the left shows the typical modern representation of the Yin Yang. Yin and Yang can be used to explain the different side of environmental, human behaviour,

Yin and Yang always opposed each other as seen in the figure on the left. Strong energy can dispel weak energy while weak energy can reduce the effect of strong energy. This process will occur until a state of equilibrium is achieved. If the Yin and Yang equilibrium state of the human body is disturbed, the human health will be affected.
The table above shows the Yin and Yang depiction of different components in our environment and human action. As can seen the Yin and Yang are opposing each other. Yin and Yang are mutually created and they fully complement and depend on each other. Yin and Yang change and grow in a cyclic manner and they balanced each other. Yin and Yang are also able to transform into each other.

Timeline of the Historical Development of TCM

The history of TCM can be summarized a list of important Doctors and Books.


Unknown Period

1. 黄帝内经 (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon)
2. 素问
3. 灵枢

Warring States Period (5th century BC to 221 BC):

1. 足臂十一脉灸经 (Moxibustion Classic of the Eleven Channels of Legs and Arms)
2. 阴阳十一脉灸经 (Moxibustion Classic on the Eleven Yin and Yang Channels)

Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 220) to Three Kingdoms Period (220 - 280 AD):

1. 针灸枕中经 (Classic of Moxibustion and Acupuncture Preserved in a Pillow), Author 华佗 (Hua Tuo).
2. 伤寒杂病论, which has since been split into two texts: 伤寒论 (Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders - focusing on febrile conditions attributed to "Cold") , 金匱要略 (Essentials of the Golden Cabinet - focusing on "miscellaneous illnesses"), Author 张仲景 (Zhang Zjong Jing)

Jìn Dynasty (265 - 420):
1. 针灸甲乙经 (Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), Author 皇甫谧 (Huang Fu Mi)

Tang Dynasty (618–907):

1. 备急千金要方(Emergency Formulas Worth a Thousand in Gold), 千金翼方(Supplement to the Formulas Worth a Thousand in Gold), Author 孙思邈 (Sun Si Miao)
2. 外台秘要 (Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library), Author 王焘 (Wang Tao)

Song Dynasty (960 – 1279):

1. 铜人腧穴针灸图经 (Illustrated Manual of the Practice of Acupuncture and Moxibustion at the Transmission and other Acu-points, for use with the Bronze Figure), Author 王惟一 (Wang Wei Yi)

Yuan Dynasty (1271 to 1368):

1. 十四经发挥 (Exposition of the Fourteen Channels), Author 滑寿 (Hua Shou)

Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644) Golden age of Acupuncture and Moxibustion.

1. 针灸大全 (A Complete Collection of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), Author 徐凤 (Xu Feng)
2. 针灸聚英发挥 (An Exemplary Collection of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and their Essentials), Author 高武 (Gao Wu)
3. 针灸大成 (Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), Author 杨继洲 (Yang Ji Zhou)
4. 本草冈目 (Compendium of Materia Medica), Author 李时珍 (Li Shi Zhen), the most complete and comprehensive pre-modern herbal book .
5. 温疫论, Author 吴有性 (Wu You Xing), 1642.

Qing Dynasty (1644-1912)

1. 医宗金鉴 (Golden Mirror of the Medical Tradition), Compiled by 吴谦 (Wu Quan), under imperial commission.
2. 针灸逢源 (The Source of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), Author 李学川 (Li Xue Chuan)
3. 温热论, Author 叶天士 (Ye Tian Shi).
4. 温病条辨 (Systematized Identification of Warm-factor disorders), Compiled by 吴鞠通 (Wu Ju Tong), in 1798.

The History of Traditional Chinese Medicine, An Introduction

The history of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is long and rich, and TCM is the third oldest form of medicine compared to the Egyptian and Babylonian medicine. The fact that TCM has existed for thousands of years, and TCM is still being used today is a testimonial to its value as a form of healthcare.

The isolation of China by the world in directly limits the development of TCM in other parts world. However, with the opening of China in 1972, TCM has been spreading like wild fire to many Western and European countries. TCM's practice has been shaped over time by the many factors such as culture, philosophy, politics, religion, and science and many much more ...

Today, we have China as one united country, but this is only recently. Throughout history, China was made up of many states, many rulers, that were often at war with each other and they repeatedly united and divided. These states were ruled by dynasties and they were often living in feudalistic societies.

In the development of TCM over the years, there was no sequential build up of knowledge based on the previous dynasty's contributions. How each individual practiced TCM was influenced largely by his teacher's views. Even in today context, we will see these differences. For example, different TCM practitioners may prescribe a person with the same symptoms different herbal remedies, but each herbal remedy will cure the symptoms even though they have different ingredients. The success of the treatment is measured through the experience of the TCM practitioners, observation and how the patient feels.

TCM plays a very important role in today's medicine. It is important to understand TCM through history and this will gives further insight to this ancient form of medicine and establishes its validity as a healthcare system.TCM plays a very important part in the history of medicine. Understanding TCM through a historical context gives an insight to this ancient form of medicine and establishes its validity as a healthcare system.