天人视域下的《黄帝内经》“心主神明”命题探析

Analysis of “heart governing the spirit light” in Huangdi Neijing from the human-nature perspective

“心主神明”是中医基础理论的重要命题,其说首见于《素问·灵兰秘典论篇》。学界既往对本命题的考察,主要集中于个体生命视域内“心”的定位与功用。基于中国古代天人思想视域,对“心主神明”的理论内涵与诠释维度进行阐发,有助于对中医基本理论命题的进一步深化理解。首先,通过梳理相关用例,指出“天地自然神妙功用”是《黄帝内经》“神明”概念的重要意涵构成,“心”正是此种自然妙用在个体生命层面呈现显露、变化流行的观念性载体;其次,由“体察”“任物”“流行”3种诠释维度入手,探讨天人视域下“心主神明”命题的内涵实质,及其在中医理论构建过程中的具象化落实与多层次延展;最后,基于“心主神明”诸诠释维度与理论内涵,对古今、中西医学对话与论争的焦点“心脑关系”进行关联性探讨,指出“心”在《黄帝内经》语境中具有本根性、超越性价值定位,心脑关系在一定程度上反映了古代生命哲学中以无御有、有无相生的辩证思维方式。在理论发展过程中,“心主神明”命题始终与具体身体认识和疾病诊疗理论紧密关联、深刻融通,是中医学对中国古代天人关系创造性诠释的典型范例。

“Heart governing the spirit light” is an important statement in the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine, which was first described in Plain Questions(Suwen). Previous academic research on this statement mainly focused on the location and function of “heart” from the perspective of individuals. Based on the philosophy of human-nature in ancient China, this paper analyzes the theoretical connotation and explanatory dimension of “heart governing the spirit light”. This study aims to further deepen the understanding of the basic theoretical propositions of traditional Chinese medicine. Firstly, with the relevant cases, the authors point out that “the magical changes of nature” is the important semanteme of the “spirit light” in Huangdi Neijing(Huangdi’s Inner Classics), and “heart” is the conceptual carrier that presents changes and trends in individuals. Secondly, this paper discusses the connotation and theoretical extension of “heart governing the spirit light” from the following three perspectives: “experience and observation”, “acknowledging phenomena” and “flowing and moving” in association with body cognition and theory of disease. Finally, based on above viewpoints, the article discusses the “heart-brain relationship” in Huangdi Neijing. It is pointed out that heart has the fundamental and transcendental value orientation in the ideological context of Huangdi Neijing. To a certain extent, heart-brain relationship reflects the dialectical thinking mode of existence and vacuity in the ancient philosophy of life. In the process of theoretical development, the proposition of “heart governing the spirit light” has always been closely related and deeply integrated with the theory of body cognition and disease treatment, which is a typical example of innovative interpretation of the relationship between nature and human in ancient China by traditional Chinese medicine.