古希腊医学中的4对“phleps”与马王堆帛书十一脉比较研究

Comparison of the four pairs of“phleps”in ancient Greek medicine and the eleven“mai”in Mawangdui silk manuscripts

本文通过文献学方法将古希腊医学中人体内管道——4对“phleps”与马王堆帛书十一脉进行比较,认为二者分别是西医学和中医学在起源阶段对人体内联络通道的认识,虽各有特点,但在循行、相关病候、诊治和理论等方面有诸多相似性;二者都具有实体血管与抽象通道的二重性,反映了人类早期医学对人体和疾病共同的认知模式,都有取象比类、司外揣内、整体联系和自然平衡等特点;古希腊医学中具有经络萌芽特点的4对“phleps”后来被血液循环理论代替,而马王堆帛书十一脉发展成为十二脉体系。二者不同变迁道路和结局可能与其不同的医学哲学和文化背景有关。本研究为人类早期医学起源的规律性认识尤其是经络起源研究提供了新思路和新视角。

Using the philological method,the comparison was conducted between the internal canals of human body,meaning the four pairs of“phleps”in the ancient Greek medicine,and the eleven“mai”(meridians,vessels,channels)of Mawangdui silk manuscripts.It is believed that they refer to the initial understanding on the connecting passages of the human body in Western medicine and Chinese medicine respectively.Although they have their own unique characteristics,there are many similarities in running courses,related indications,diagnosis and treatment,as well as theoretic foundation.Both of them represent the duality of tangible blood vessels and intangible pathways,reflecting the common cognitive mode of human body and diseases in early human medicine,with the similar characteristics,e.g.analogy,examining the exterior to deduce the conditions in the interior,holistic connection and natural balance.The four pairs of“phleps”of ancient Greek medicine,with the preliminary features of meridians,were substituted by the blood circulation theory afterwards;whereas,the eleven“mai”of Mawangdui silk manuscripts were developed into a twelve-meridian system.These different evolution paths and outcomes may be associated with the distinct medical philosophies and cultural backgrounds between ancient Greek medicine and Chinese medicine.This summary provides a new approach and new perspectives for the study on the regularity of the early human medical origin,especially the origin of meridians.