OBJECTIVE: The association of spleen system including both spleen and stomach with earth, one of the five elements, is a part of the theory of five elements. Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) used th...OBJECTIVE: The association of spleen system including both spleen and stomach with earth, one of the five elements, is a part of the theory of five elements. Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) used the theory as a reasoning tool to illustrate the Zang-Fu organs' physiological functions and the interaction among them.The exploration of how the theory of that spleen system is associated with earth was created may provide insights into how five-element theory is applied to TCM practice. METHODS: Using analogism as a method to explore the relationship between earth and spleen system inTCM. RESULTS: Chinese ancestors experienced and observed the features of earth from agricultural practice and used the knowledge for the explanation ofspleen system functions including physiological functions, pathological characteristics and for the treatment of related illnesses. CONCLUSION: The theory of the five elements in TCM is a kind of metaphor, which depends on observation and exploration of the natural world and experience of human beings.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To study the Chinese ancient five-element theory,one of the philosophical foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)theory construction,from the perspective of comtemporary cognitive science,and to rev...OBJECTIVE:To study the Chinese ancient five-element theory,one of the philosophical foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)theory construction,from the perspective of comtemporary cognitive science,and to reveal the important functions of five-element theory in the construction of TCM theory.METHODS:The basic effects of five-element theory in the construction of TCM theory are intensively expounded and proved from the following aspects:embodiment of five-element theory in cognizing the world,quasi axiom of five-element theory in essence,classification thery of family resemblance and deductive inference pattern of five-element theory,and the openness and expansibility of five-element theory.RESULTS:If five-element theory is considered acognitive pattern or cognitive system related to culture,then there should be features of cognitive embodiment in the cognitive system.If five-element theory is regarded as a symbolic system,however,then there should be a quasi-axiom for the system,and inferential deduction.If,however,five-element theory is taken as a theoretical constructive metaphor,then there should be features of opening and expansibility for the metaphor.CONCLUSION:Based on five-element theory,this study provides a cognitive frame for the construction of TCM(a medicine that originated in China,and is characterized by holism and treatment based on pattern identification differentiation)theory with the function of constructing a concept base,thereby implying further research strategies.Useful information may be produced from the creative inferences obtained from the incorporation of five-element theory.展开更多
基金Supported by National Science Foundation of China (No.30973971)Ph.D. Programs Foundation of Ministry of Education of China (No. 20090013110012)
文摘OBJECTIVE: The association of spleen system including both spleen and stomach with earth, one of the five elements, is a part of the theory of five elements. Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) used the theory as a reasoning tool to illustrate the Zang-Fu organs' physiological functions and the interaction among them.The exploration of how the theory of that spleen system is associated with earth was created may provide insights into how five-element theory is applied to TCM practice. METHODS: Using analogism as a method to explore the relationship between earth and spleen system inTCM. RESULTS: Chinese ancestors experienced and observed the features of earth from agricultural practice and used the knowledge for the explanation ofspleen system functions including physiological functions, pathological characteristics and for the treatment of related illnesses. CONCLUSION: The theory of the five elements in TCM is a kind of metaphor, which depends on observation and exploration of the natural world and experience of human beings.
基金Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30973971,No.81173464)Doctoral Fund of the Ministry of Education of China(No.20090013110012)
文摘OBJECTIVE:To study the Chinese ancient five-element theory,one of the philosophical foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)theory construction,from the perspective of comtemporary cognitive science,and to reveal the important functions of five-element theory in the construction of TCM theory.METHODS:The basic effects of five-element theory in the construction of TCM theory are intensively expounded and proved from the following aspects:embodiment of five-element theory in cognizing the world,quasi axiom of five-element theory in essence,classification thery of family resemblance and deductive inference pattern of five-element theory,and the openness and expansibility of five-element theory.RESULTS:If five-element theory is considered acognitive pattern or cognitive system related to culture,then there should be features of cognitive embodiment in the cognitive system.If five-element theory is regarded as a symbolic system,however,then there should be a quasi-axiom for the system,and inferential deduction.If,however,five-element theory is taken as a theoretical constructive metaphor,then there should be features of opening and expansibility for the metaphor.CONCLUSION:Based on five-element theory,this study provides a cognitive frame for the construction of TCM(a medicine that originated in China,and is characterized by holism and treatment based on pattern identification differentiation)theory with the function of constructing a concept base,thereby implying further research strategies.Useful information may be produced from the creative inferences obtained from the incorporation of five-element theory.