The Gateway to Traditional Chinese Medicine

Name: The Gateway to Traditional Chinese Medicine
ISBN: 9787513281959

刘翔 / 王子依China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine · ChinaNov 2023

3.6

Word count: 138K words
Chapters: 35
ISBN: 9787513281959

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Summary

This book, titled Entering Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Pathway, is compiled from lecture notes on the basics of TCM by Liu Xiang, chief physician at Zaozhuang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Shandong Province and one of Zaozhuang's Top Ten Famous Doctors. Liu Xiang has held repeated training classes teaching TCM enthusiasts and physicians new to clinical practice.

The author explains the physiological functions and pathological changes of the zang-fu organs and meridians from the perspectives of qi-fire (energy), qi transformation, and qi movement. The book is divided into four parts: Part One discusses the generation of qi-fire (energy), mainly the functions of the heart and kidneys; Part Two discusses the circulation of qi-fire (energy), mainly the functions of the six meridians; Part Three discusses the carriers of qi-fire (energy), mainly the functions of the liver, lungs, spleen, and stomach; Part Four discusses TCM modes of thinking, yunqi theory, and bagua theory.

Editor's review

This book is compiled from lecture notes on the basics of TCM by Liu Xiang, chief physician at Zaozhuang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Shandong Province and one of Zaozhuang's Top Ten Famous Doctors, with Wang Ziyi participating in the compilation; it was published by China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2023. Taking "qi-fire (energy)" as its core thread, the book explains the physiological functions and pathological changes of the zang-fu organs and meridians from the perspectives of qi transformation and qi movement, in a clear structure: first the generation of qi-fire (heart and kidneys), then its circulation (six meridians), next its carriers (liver, lungs, spleen, and stomach), and finally TCM modes of thinking, yunqi theory, and bagua theory. This step-by-step progression—generation, circulation, carriers, modes of thinking—strings abstract TCM theory into an understandable chain and helps beginners build an overall framework. As compiled lecture notes, it retains the colloquial style of classroom teaching and reads in a relatively approachable way. It suits TCM enthusiasts and physicians new to clinical practice as an introductory pathway reader, helping them understand the zang-fu organs and meridians from the perspective of qi transformation and laying a foundation for further study of yunqi theory and bagua theory.

Who it's for

A good fit for

TCM enthusiasts who wish to build an overall TCM framework from the perspective of qi transformation
Chinese medicine physicians new to clinical practice who need to organize their thinking on the physiology and pathology of the zang-fu organs and meridians
Junior TCM students seeking an introductory lecture-note supplement beyond the classroom
Readers interested in yunqi theory and bagua theory who need introductory guidance

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking specific formula combinations and clinical case records—this book focuses on an introductory framework
Readers accustomed to evidence-based modern medical language, who may find qi transformation discourse hard to accept
Those with relatively deep TCM knowledge, for whom these introductory lecture notes may lack depth

Reading tips

Read in the order of the four parts: first understand the generation of qi-fire, then follow its circulation and carriers
While reading each part, draw a simple diagram of qi-fire generation, circulation, and carriers to connect the zang-fu organs and meridians
For the yunqi theory and bagua sections, read through first without insisting on understanding everything at once
Return to relevant chapters with your own questions about the zang-fu organs and meridians, keeping question-based notes

About the publisher

China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine China · Founded in 1989

China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine focuses on publishing books in traditional Chinese medicine, covering Chinese medical classics, clinical medicine, acupuncture and tuina, materia medica and formulae, and medical history and literature; its catalogue includes 3,277 titles. Representative books include Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue, Shang Han Lun, Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu, Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, Yi Zong Jin Jian, and Guo Aichun's Annotated Huangdi Neijing Suwen (Second Edition). These works involve writings by historical physicians such as Qian Yi, Zhang Zhongjing, Wang Shuhe, and Zhang Xichun, as well as documentary studies compiled by contemporary authors including Zhao Xin, Zhen Xueyan, Zhang Yongtai, and Wang Xiangang. In terms of publishing characteristics, the press emphasizes collation and annotation of original Chinese medical classics and the systematic presentation of famous physicians' works, balancing the transmission of ancient editions with reference for clinical application. Public information is limited, and no other publishing fields are covered here.

版权信息
编写说明
第一部分能量（气火）的产生
第1课君火
第2课心肾相交
第3课心
第4课心的五行类比
第5课肾的功能
第6课肾的五行类比
第7课相火、三焦
第8课胆、相火的功能
第9课相火病的表现
第10课治疗相火病的药物
第二部分能量（气火）的运行
第11课六经——太阳
第12课六经——阳明、少阳相火
第13课六经——太阴
第14课六经——厥阴、少阴君火
第三部分能量（气火）运行的载体
第15课认识肝脏
第16课肝脏的六大功能
第17课肝脏的病证
第18课肝脏的五行类比
第19课肺-十二辟卦
第20课五运六气
第21课肺的功能
第22课肺的五行类比
第23课圆运动的轴心脾胃
第24课胃的功能和脾的五行类比
第四部分中医思维方法
第25课中医的特点和方法论
第26课先天八卦
第27课后天八卦
第28课上古天真论（上）
第29课上古天真论（下）

FAQ

Why does the book take "qi-fire" as its main thread?

According to the source materials, the author explains the physiological functions and pathological changes of the zang-fu organs and meridians from the perspectives of qi-fire (energy), qi transformation, and qi movement, and organizes the book around the generation (heart and kidneys), circulation (six meridians), and carriers (liver, lungs, spleen, and stomach) of qi-fire. Taking energy as the main thread helps beginners connect scattered knowledge of the zang-fu organs and meridians into a coherent understanding.

What are the reading characteristics of a book compiled from lecture notes?

The book is compiled from lecture notes used by Liu Xiang in repeated training classes for TCM enthusiasts and physicians new to clinical practice, retaining a lecture style that is relatively colloquial and progressive. Readers can follow the rhythm of the lectures, and when encountering colloquial examples, try to extract the theoretical points in order to form their own introductory framework.

Can readers with no background understand the yunqi theory section directly?

Yunqi theory and bagua theory form Part Four of the book and lean toward modes of thinking and theoretical extension. Readers with no background may first read the first three parts to build a framework of qi-fire, the six meridians, and the zang-fu carriers, then read Part Four through without insisting on understanding it all at once, and return to it gradually as their studies progress.

Can this book replace a textbook of basic TCM theory?

Not entirely. This book is an introductory set of lecture notes that uses qi-fire as the main thread to connect the zang-fu organs and meridians and extend to TCM modes of thinking, yunqi, and bagua; it reflects the author's personal teaching path, whereas systematic textbooks offer more comprehensive coverage. It is best used as a supplementary pathway reader alongside a basic theory textbook.

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About the author

刘翔 Author

Liu Xiang is an author about whom limited public information is available. Three works are currently known, spanning traditional Chinese medicine and world history. In medicine, he wrote A Brief Discussion of Cold Damage: Understanding Cold Damage Through Circular Movement and Gateway to Chinese Medicine. The former offers an interpretation of the Treatise on Cold Damage, attempting to organize its theoretical framework around the idea of circular movement, while the latter focuses on the entry paths into Chinese medicine and is aimed at beginners. In world history, he is the author of Understanding French History in One Sitting, which presents the development of French history in an accessible style. Judging from these three works, Liu Xiang's writing combines professional concern with readability: he can engage with specific questions in the Chinese medical classics and also handle general history in a popular manner, which is why his works are classified under medicine and world history respectively.

王子依 Author

Wang Ziyi: public information is limited. At present, the only confirmable identity is that of an author associated with traditional Chinese medicine topics. One work by this author is held in the collection, namely Rudiments of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Judging from the title and its classification, the book is a medical work centered on the theme of introducing traditional Chinese medicine, likely intended for beginners or general readers interested in the subject, and aimed at outlining the basic approaches and study paths of Chinese medicine. Because there are no reliable records of the author's life, academic background, or lineage of study, it is difficult to comment comprehensively on the writing style and specific views, nor is it possible to determine the book's actual influence in academic circles or among readers. The available information can only show that Wang Ziyi has entered the book scene with an introductory work on Chinese medicine, and the author's image rests mainly on Rudiments of Traditional Chinese Medicine. For readers who wish to understand the foundations of Chinese medicine, the book may serve as a lead, but more information about the author still awaits supplementary public sources.