WFAS International symposium on Acupuncture, OSLO 2003
September 12th～14th
2003
Tokyo,
Japan
Acupuncture,
Moxibustion and Judo Therapy Clinic
清野鍼灸整骨院
Clinic
Director Mitsunori, Seino
院長 清野充典
Introduction
Current
research into the academic system of the fields of oriental medicine related in
particular to acupuncture, moxibustion and herbal medicine is not properly
based on oriental concepts (Chinese philosophy). Furthermore, the discrepancies
between theoretical and clinical aspects of oriental medicine (the medical arts
of acupuncture and moxibustion) seem to impede the further development of
oriental medicine. I recognize that there is currently lack of a direct
connection between oriental medicine as it is practiced today and clinical/practical
aspects of oriental medical acupuncture and moxibustion as described in the classical texts of oriental
medicine. I therefore strongly believe that such a connection needs to be built
and acknowledged.
I have developed a common language for the theory and
practice of oriental medicine. In order to allow its recognition to resolve prevailing
discrepancies, a discussion of the theory of “I 易” as the origin of the ideographic culture is
considered essential. Below I will briefly discuss the theoretical basis, which
is currently being developed to explain this common language.
Methods
The
most valid theory pertaining to the establishment of “I易” holds that “gua 卦”(designations) were introduced through
Fuyi 伏儀 and the"
tuan 彖" (tuanci
彖辞 = guanckaji 卦辞) by Wén Wáng 文王, while "yao爻"（yaoci爻辞）has been
attributed to the Zhōu Gong周公 and the Shí yì 十翼(comprising two chapters of the "tuanzhuan",
two chapters of the “ xiangzhuan”, the "wenyanzhuan", two
chapters of the "xicizhuan", the "shuoguazhuan",
the "xuguazhuan", and the "zaguanzhuan") to
Confucius 孔子; however, no complete
forms of these texts have survived. Therefore, the "Shí sān jing zhù
shú 十三経注疏" version
compiled by Wáng Bí 王弼is considered to
be the definitive text on this subject.
I
examined the concepts of “I 易” via taiji 太極 which gives rise
to the patterns liangyi両儀, sixiang四象 and bagua八卦, which in turn create eight signs( qian乾・dui兌・li離・zhen震・xun巽・kan坎・gen艮・kun 坤).Based on
this, I then examined views and concepts of the human body and diseases in oriental
medicine.
Results
Oriental medicine has been established upon a theoretical system based on the concepts of “I易”, applying the Yin-Yang theory “yinyanglun陰陽論” to the field of medicine. This theory interprets the body as a collection of “qi気” forces, allowing the practitioner to comprehend diseases by observing the interplay of the two forces Yin and Yang “yinyang陰陽”. A detailed examination of the text reveals that the "xicizhuan繋辞伝" of the “I Ching易経” provides the following explanation: ‘In “I易” there is the Tai Chi (taiji 太極) giving rise to the two polar forces (liangyi 両儀). These forces create the four patterns (sixiang四象) and these again give rise to the eight signs ( bagua八卦).’ When this concept is applied to medicine, the Tai Chi 太極 represents man, who can be interpreted in terms of interactions between the two forces of Yin and Yang. “The two forces ”liangyi両儀” give rise to the four patterns “sixiang四象” representing waning Yin “laoyi n老陰”, waning Yang “laiyang老陽”, rising Yin “xiaoyin小陰” and rising Yang “xiaoyang小陽”. Waning Yin 老陰refers to the Yin陰 element within Yin陰, and waning Yang老陽 the Yang陽 element within Yang陽, while rising Yin小陰 refers to the Yin 陰aspect within Yang陽 and rising Yang 小陽to the Yang陽 aspect within Yin陰. Oriental medicine uses pairs of opposing terms like deficiency-excess “xu-shi虚実”, cold - hot “han-re 寒熱”
etc., based on the Yin-Yang
theory, in order to comprehend the body, while in I 易 deficiency “xu虚” is used in the sense of “Yin陰”, and excess “shi実” in the sense of “Yang陽”. Substituting these characters with terms that
are easier to comprehend, when applied to oriental medicine the four patterns “sixian
g四象” are
expressed as Yin deficiency “yinxu陰虚”, Yang excess “yangshi陽実”, Yin excess “yinsh i陰実”
and Yang deficiency “yangxu陽虚”. The expression “the four patterns” “sixiang 四象” give rise to the eight signs called “bagua八卦”. “bagua八卦” consists of: qian乾・dui兌・li離・zhen震・xun巽・kan坎・gen艮・kun 坤. This
indicates that the eight signs of the I Ching易経can be applied to oriental medicine. A
classification of oriental medicine based on concepts like Yin-Yang, the three
powers, the five elements and the eight diagnostic classifications yinyang陰陽・sancai三才・wuxing五行・bagang 八綱is by itself derived from the concepts of the eight
signs. Thus, these concepts of oriental philosophy can be considered the origin
of oriental medicine.
Discussion
Examination of the Su Wen of the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal
Medicine “suwen 『素問』”, which is based on the concepts of “Tai Chi”,
“Dual Forces”, “Four Patterns” and the “Eight Signs” “taiji 太極” “liangyi 両儀” “sixiang 四象”
“bagua 八卦”, clearly reveals the concepts underlying the
five element chart. Man as an aggregate of Qi 気(Tai Chi太極) is divided into male and female (dual forces ) (liangyi両儀) among which the repetitive appearances of Yin
deficiency陰虚, Yang
excess陽実, Yin excess陰実 and Yang deficiency 陽虚(four patterns) “sixiang四象” are considered to oscillate between states of
health and disease (eight signs)（bagua八卦）.
Conclusions
The concepts of “I 易” can be applied to observation of the body and comprehension of diseases.
To put this into medical terms it is thought that the body sustains life during
all transitions from health through states of disease until death (life/fate =
life [force] carried from life to death) through manifestations of the four “xiang象 ” patterns, Yin
deficiency, Yang excess, Yin excess and Yang deficiency (yinxu 陰虚, yangshi陽実, yinshi 陰実 and yangxu 陽虚), manifestations of Qi 気 forming the body. The concept of these patterns (xiang 象) can also be applied to oriental medicine based on
modern medical diagnosis. It further appears feasible to develop a system of
acupuncture and moxibustion comprising both the theoretical aspects of oriental
medicine and the clinical and technical aspects of acupuncture and moxibustion.
The theory of “I 易” is essential
to the development of the medical science and practice of acupuncture and
moxibustion.