试谈“气”与“象”范畴的深刻内涵与中医学发展的广阔前景

Profound Connotation in the Category of "Qi" and "Xiang", and the Broad Prospect for the Development of Chinese Traditional Medicine

“气”范畴为中国古代学术的伟大发现 ,古希腊的原子论仅具有哲学意义 ,而“气”则从一开始就既具有哲学意义 ,又具有科学的应用价值。“气”是中医学的立足之根 ,但对气的认识目前还停留在比较浅显的阶段 ,终有一天 ,中国古代的“气”概念得到挖掘和阐发 ,将可以跃升为具有现代或后现代意义的科学理论。“象”的实质是气 ,是气的流动。中医学以“象”为依据 ,来理解人体构造和生命机理 ,这与西医学以形体为本质不同 ,在整体层面上又高于以形体为本质对人的研究 ,使中医学比长于把握事物的静态类别的西医学 ,在把握动态的个别方面 ,具有优势 ,这就是中医辨证论治能够因人制宜并使药物的副作用减少到最低限度的原因 ,这种治疗上的成功在科学方法论层次上具有重大意义。因此说 ,中医学因为有自己深刻的理论和科学方法论 ,从而它的发展根本上不是对西医式的物理化学模型的还原 ,而是有着特殊的广阔远景 ,甚至对现代科学的发展都有着重要的启示意义。

The category of 'Qi' is a great discovery by ancient Chinese scholars. There is only philosophical significance in the atomism by ancient Greeks, whereas in the theory of 'Qi' there is not only philosophical significance, but also scientific application value from the very beginning. 'Qi' is the basis upon which Chinese traditional medicine roots. At present, the understanding of 'Qi' is only superficial, but consequently, this ancient Chinese concept will be explored and clarified to become a scientific theory with modern and post-modern significance.The essence of'Xiang' is 'Qi', the flow of 'Qi'. Chinese traditional medicine analyzes human physical structure and life mechanism by 'Xiang', which is different from western medicine whose analysis are based on the physique. From the overall level, the study by 'Xiang' is higher than that on the physique side. Chinese medicine is good at understanding dynamite individuals, which makes it advantageous over western medicine that is good at understanding static categories. This is why the 'diagnosis and treatment on the basis of an overall analysis of the illness and the patient's condition' by Chinese traditional medicine may reduce the side effect of medicine to its minimum. There is great significance of its success in treatment on the level of scientific methodology. Therefore, due to its profound theories and scientific methodology, the development of Chinese traditional medicine is basically not a physics and chemical restoration as western medicine is. Instead, it has a special broad prospect, even with important significance in revelation to the development of modern science.