Elucidation of Medical Principles

黄元古Shanghai Scientific & Technical Publishers · ChinaApr 2024

Rating 2.8
Word count
101 words
Chapters
5
ISBN
9787547864371

Tags

Medicine TCM ClassicsMedical TheoryDocument PreservationClinical ValueAcademic StudyRare FacsimileTextual BibliographyThread-Bound CollectorElegant BindingMing-Qing Medical Books

Summary

This book series is selected from the rare ancient Chinese medical texts held by the Library of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, with excellent editions and outstanding value in both medical theory and prescriptions for clinical application. This publication is the first original-format facsimile reprint, printed on Xuan paper with hand-sewn binding, and features a silk blue damask cover and slipcase, elegantly produced. The series includes four Ming and Qing dynasty medical block-printed editions: Zhuzheng Tigang (Outline of Various Syndromes), Shanghan Jiyan (Collected Experiences of Cold Damage), Yili Faming (Elucidation of Medical Principles), and Sizhen Jicheng (Compendium of the Four Diagnostics). Supported by the National Project for the Protection of Ancient Chinese Medical Books, it is jointly planned and compiled by experts of the Center for Conservation, Research and Utilization of Ancient Books at the Library of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a national key protection unit for ancient books. Dedicated to regenerative conservation of ancient Chinese medical texts, the Center seeks to be second only to the originals and to benefit scholars, providing invaluable material for the authentication, collation and study of ancient editions.

Editor's review

As a representative work of the Qing physician Huang Yuangu, Yili Faming (Elucidation of Medical Principles) is valuable not only for its systematic exposition of traditional Chinese medical theory but also for the author's distinctive clinical dialectical perspective. In eight volumes, it takes the Huangdi Neijing as its theoretical foundation and integrates the doctrines of Zhang Zhongjing, Li Dongyuan and other physicians, focusing on core themes such as yin-yang and the five phases, the zang-fu organs and meridians, and etiology and pathogenesis. In this book Huang Yuangu advances the philosophical proposition that “medicine is intention,” emphasizing that medical practice must be flexibly adapted under theoretical guidance and opposing the mechanical application of formulas. From a modern perspective, the book's most thought-provoking contribution is its deepening of the theory of “the ascending and descending movements of qi.” Through numerous clinical cases, Huang Yuangu demonstrates that the movement of qi in the human body resembles the cyclical circulation of the qi of heaven and earth—a view that still offers guidance for clinical diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine. Readers should note that some dosages and methods of use in the book's prescriptions require cautious reference in light of modern medical standards; nevertheless, its mode of thinking in pattern identification and treatment, especially its logic for handling patterns of mixed deficiency and excess, can still provide valuable intellectual resources for contemporary students and practitioners of Chinese medicine.

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Reading tips

  1. It is recommended to read Volume One, “General Discussion of Medical Principles,” in full first, and then go on to the individual discussion chapters after establishing the book's theoretical framework
  2. While reading, consult relevant chapters of the Huangdi Neijing Suwen for comparison, especially theories such as yin-yang responses and the correspondence of visceral qi to the seasons
  3. The clinical case section should be read slowly and thoughtfully, noting how the author translates theory into the specific logic of pattern identification and prescription

About the publisher

Shanghai Scientific & Technical Publishers China · Founded in 1956

Shanghai Scientific & Technical Publishers is a publisher known for professional books in the natural sciences, engineering technology, medicine and health, and agricultural technology. Its catalogue of 759 titles covers popular science, examinations, medicine, agriculture and forestry, and social culture. Representative books include several editions of The Feynman Lectures on Physics by Richard Feynman, Robert Leighton and Matthew Sands; the first and second volumes of Morris Kline's Mathematical Thought from Ancient to Modern Times; and the fourth edition of Molecular Pharmacognosy by Huang Luqi. Other representative authors include Feynman, Wei Xian and Zhang Zhibin. The publisher has developed distinctive strengths in classic translated works in physics and mathematics as well as in medical and agricultural professional titles, while also publishing popular science, textbooks and teaching materials, and journals. Its author resources draw on internationally renowned scientists and domestic specialists.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 一
  3. 二
  4. 三
  5. 四

FAQ

Which physicians mainly influenced Huang Yuangu's medical thought? Huang Yuangu's scholarship is rooted in the Neijing and draws on Zhang Zhongjing, Li Dongyuan, Zhu Danxi and other schools; the profound influence of Li Dongyuan's doctrine is particularly evident in his zang-fu pattern identification and spleen-stomach theory, while his warming-and-tonifying views share affinities with Zhang Jingyue's doctrine.
What are the main differences between this book and modern Chinese medicine textbooks? This book places greater emphasis on the philosophical completeness of the theoretical system and on integrating qi transformation theory with clinical practice, whereas modern textbooks focus more on a standardized knowledge system. In addition, the book preserves the original recording style of Qing dynasty case records, more directly reflecting diagnostic and therapeutic thinking in its historical context.
Can non-specialist readers understand the content of this book? The basic theory section requires some grounding in Chinese medical concepts, but the author often uses everyday analogies when expounding medical principles (for example, comparing human qi movement to the weather of heaven and earth). The philosophical speculation remains readable for enthusiasts of traditional culture, and reading alongside a modern annotated edition is recommended.

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About the author

黄元古 Author

Huang Yuangu: available public information about this author is limited, and details such as his birthplace, dates of birth and death, and life history are not known. At present, only one medical work by him is known, Yi Li Fa Ming (Explorations of Medical Theory). Judging from the title and its common classification, the book belongs to the tradition of theoretical medical writing, focusing on expounding medical principles rather than being a mere collection of prescriptions or clinical case records. Works of this kind usually draw on classical medical texts and discuss core topics such as yin and yang, the internal organs, the meridians, and the causes and mechanisms of disease, seeking to analyze and develop medical theory; they therefore require some prior grounding in medicine from the reader. Because other information about the author cannot presently be verified, his intellectual background and later influence are difficult to describe in detail. Nevertheless, Yi Li Fa Ming, as his only extant representative work, remains the main text for understanding his approach to medical thinking and is suitable for readers interested in traditional Chinese medical theory.