Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine

Name: Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine
ISBN: 9787117071949

秦伯未People's Medical Publishing House2006

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Word count: 97K words
Chapters: 16
Series: Reprint Series of Famous Modern Veteran Chinese Medicine Masters
ISBN: 9787117071949

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Summary

Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine is a foundational reader for beginners in Chinese medicine written by the renowned Chinese medicine scholar Qin Bowei (1901–1970), first published in 1959 and later reprinted multiple times by People's Medical Publishing House in the "Reprint Series of Famous Modern Veteran Chinese Medicine Masters." Following the inherent system of Chinese medicine, the book is divided into four parts—theory, method, formulas, and materia medica—successively explaining the basic theories, physiology, causes of disease, diagnostic methods, and treatment principles of Chinese medicine, as well as the composition and application of formulas and drugs. Chapter One, "Theory," begins with the two major characteristics of Chinese medicine, the holistic concept and pattern-based treatment, introducing basic doctrines such as yin-yang, the five phases, meridians, and prevention, then explaining physiological content including the five zang and six fu organs, the twelve meridians, qi and blood, essence-qi-spirit, and body fluids, and summarizing disease causes as external, internal, and neither-external-nor-internal. Chapter Two, "Method," explains diagnostic frameworks such as exterior-interior, cold-heat, deficiency-excess, the six meridians, the triple burner, and defense-qi-nutrient-blood, the four diagnostic methods of observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation, and treatment principles including routine and paradoxical treatment, treating the root and treating the branch, the eight methods, and common therapeutic approaches. Chapter Three, "Formulas," covers sovereign-minister-assistant-courier roles, the seven formula types, dosage forms, basic formulas, and sample prescriptions. Chapter Four, "Materia Medica," covers the collection and processing of drugs, their nature, flavor, efficacy, and meridian tropism, compatibility, dosage, and contraindications. The book is concise in length and accessible in language, with illustrations and cases, aiming to give readers a preliminary yet systematic grasp of the basic spirit and methods of Chinese medicine treatment and to lay a foundation for further study. The reprint preserves traditional terms such as "differentiating symptoms" and "a certain pattern" so readers can appreciate the original work.

Editor's review

初学中医的人最常问的一句话是：从哪里开始学？秦伯未先生的这本小书，正是对这个问题的经典回答。它不堆砌零散偏方，也不一上来就讲深奥的医案，而是先把中医的骨架立起来：理、法、方、药四部，阴阳五行、脏腑经络、气血津液是「理」，望闻问切、八法是「法」，君臣佐使、方剂配伍是「方」，气味归经、炮制用量是「药」。四部一通，读者脑中就有了完整的中医地图，再读《内经》《伤寒论》或跟师临证，都不至于迷路。全书不到十万字，语言浅白，例子贴近生活，还保留了「辨症」等旧时术语，让人能看到老一辈医家的原汁原味表述。秦伯未是丁甘仁的高足，曾任卫生部中医顾问，学问与临床俱佳，写入门书却毫不炫技，处处替初学者着想。对于想系统而非碎片化地认识中医的读者，这本薄薄的小册子，往往比一堆畅销养生书更有用。

Who it's for

A good fit for

中医爱好者、零基础但希望系统了解中医体系的人
中医院校低年级学生，作为课前预习或课后梳理框架的读物
西医出身、想补上中医基础概念的医务工作者
中医师承、确有专长等考试备考者，用于打牢理论基础

Not a good fit for

希望按病名直接查方抓药、解决具体疾病的读者
只想读轻松故事化科普、不愿接触专业术语的人
寻求最新临床研究进展或现代药理数据的专业研究者

Reading tips

先通读一遍并记住「理法方药」四部框架，再回头精读每一章，效果优于逐字啃读。
读到阴阳、五行、脏腑、经络等概念时，随手画关系图并对照自身理解复述，避免只停留在名词记忆。
配合《内经知要》《伤寒论》等经典选读或中医基础理论教材同步学习，把本书当作索引和地图。
遇到「辨症」「某证」等旧术语不必困惑，可对照现代教材中的「辨证」概念理解，但保留原书表述。

About the publisher

People's Medical Publishing House China · Founded in 1953

Founded in 1953, the People's Medical Publishing House is an important institution in China's medical publishing field, with publishing directions covering medical textbooks, academic monographs, medical journals, and popular science books. Its collection contains 2,503 titles, mainly classified under medicine. Representative works include the Complete Book of Chinese Nutrition Science (2nd Edition, 2 volumes), Guide to Clinical Practice with Medical Records, the Golden Mirror of Medicine (Volume 1), Chinese Medical Imaging: Head and Neck Volume (3rd Edition), and the Essentials of the Golden Cabinet from the Collected Clinical Chinese Medicine Must-Read Series (Collector's Edition), spanning both modern medicine and classical Chinese medical texts. Representative authors include Yang Yuexin, Ge Keyou, Ye Tianshi, Su Li, Wu Qian, Zheng Jinsheng, Wang Zhenchang, and Xian Junfang, covering fields such as nutrition, Chinese medicine, and medical imaging. With a publishing approach that balances textbooks and academic monographs, the press has established the "Renwei" brand.

Chapter One: Theory
Section 1: Characteristics of Chinese Medicine: 1. Holistic Concept; 2. Pattern-Based Treatment
Section 2: Basic Doctrines: 1. Yin-Yang; 2. Five Phases; 3. Meridians; 4. Prevention
Section 3: Physiology: 1. Five Zang and Six Fu Organs (including the extraordinary fu and transmitting-transforming fu); 2. Twelve Meridians (including the eight extraordinary vessels); 3. Qi and Blood; 4. Essence-Qi-Spirit; 5. Body Fluids
Section 4: Causes of Disease: 1. External Causes; 2. Internal Causes; 3. Neither External nor Internal Causes; 4. The Three Causes in Summary
Chapter Two: Method
Section 1: Differentiating Symptoms: 1. Exterior-Interior, Cold-Heat, Deficiency-Excess; 2. Six Meridians; 3. Triple Burner (including defense-qi-nutrient-blood); 4. Pathogenesis
Section 2: Diagnostic Methods: 1. Observation; 2. Listening; 3. Inquiry; 4. Palpation
Section 3: Treatment Methods: 1. Routine and Paradoxical Treatment; 2. Treating the Root and Treating the Branch; 3. The Eight Methods; 4. Common Therapeutic Approaches
Chapter Three: Formulas
Section 1: Formula Composition: 1. Sovereign-Minister-Assistant-Courier; 2. The Seven Formula Types; 3. Dosage Forms
Section 2: Basic Formulas and Prescriptions: 1. Basic Formulas; 2. Sample Prescriptions
Chapter Four: Materia Medica
Section 1: Collection and Processing: 1. Collection; 2. Processing
Section 2: Drug Properties: 1. Nature and Flavor; 2. Efficacy; 3. Meridian Tropism
Section 3: Use: 1. Compatibility (including contraindications); 2. Dosage

FAQ

这本书适合完全零基础的人读吗？

适合。本书写作目的就是给初学中医者建立系统概念，语言通俗、篇幅精炼，先用它搭建理法方药的整体框架，再深入经典或教材会更省力。

《中医入门》和市面上的养生书有什么不同？

养生书多以具体病症和偏方为主，本书则系统讲中医的理论、诊法、治则、方剂与药物知识，重在建立思维方式，不承诺治病效果，也不替代就医。

书中为什么写作「辨症」而不是「辨证」？

这是作者所处年代的用词习惯，重刊本有意保留原貌，以供读者体会原作。阅读时可按现代教材中的「辨证」来理解，含义相通。

不同版本内容差别大吗？

本书主体结构稳定，均为理、法、方、药四部。人民卫生出版社「现代著名老中医名著重刊丛书」版（ISBN 9787117071949）流传最广，2018年「秦伯未医书重刊专辑」版沿用同一框架。

读完这本之后应该读什么？

可继续读秦伯未的《内经知要浅解》《中医临证备要》，或《伤寒论》《金匮要略》的入门注本，并配合中医基础理论、中医诊断学教材巩固；有条件者宜跟师临证。

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About the author

秦伯未 Author

Qin Bowei is an author active in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, though details of his life—such as his native place, dates of birth and death, and medical training—are not clearly recorded in publicly available sources, and public information is limited. Judging from the 58 works collected here, his writing centers on the fundamentals of traditional Chinese medicine and the organization and annotation of clinical medical texts, covering introductory guides, annotations of classics, and compilations of medical talks. Representative works include Zhongyi Rumen (Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine), which concisely outlines basic concepts and diagnostic approaches for beginners; Neijing Leizheng and Jinkui Yaolue Jianshi, which reflect his careful organization of classical texts by syndrome and item-by-item explanation; and the collected medical talks of Xu Lingtai, Yu Jiayan, and Zhang Shiwan, which show his attention to and desire to transmit the clinical insights of physicians across dynasties. Overall, Qin Bowei's writings are practical and accessible, emphasizing readability and usefulness, and have had a lasting influence on the popularization of traditional Chinese medicine and the organization of classical literature.