Study On The Theories And Methods Of Health Preserving Inmedicine-relatednovels And Operas Of Ming And Qing Dynasties

ObjectivesTaking the theories and methods of health preserving in medicine-related novels and operas of Ming and Qing Dynasties as the entry point,this paper sorted out firstly the general situation of health preserving in Ming and Qing Dynasties and that of medicine-related novels and operas of this period,and then summarized the characteristics of health preserving in medicine-related novels and operas of Ming and Qing Dynasties,and summed up the theories and methods of health preserving in this period of time.The paper was to explore and analyze the relationship between theories of health preserving in Ming and Qing Dynasties and the theory of TCM(traditional Chinese medicine).By analyzing and comparing the health preserving in medicine-related novels and operas of Ming and Qing Dynasties with those of TCM,it was to separatethe wheat from the chaff,and to explore the enlightenment of the theories and methods of health preserving in medicine-related novels and operas of Ming and Qing Dynasties on modern health preserving.MethodsThe paper belonged to the literature research of literature and health preserving.Through case studies,inductions and other research methods,it maked a case study of important texts and summarized their theories and methods of health preserving.With the method of comparative study,this paper maked a comparative study on the theories of health preserving of Ming and Qing Dynasties’ medicine-related,representative novels and operas and the traditional health preserving theories of TCM.FindingsThe paper sorted out Zhanghui novels and legends related to medical themes in Ming and Qing Dynasties.There were 12 Zhanghui novels which were eligible and involve the theories and practical methods of health preserving.They were Journey to the West,Romance of the Three Kingdoms,Water Margin,The Golden Lotus,A Dream of Red Mansions,The Scholars,A Rustic’s Idle Talk,Romance of the Mirrored Flowers,Marriages to Awaken the World,The Travels of Lao Can,Green Wild Immortal Trace,The Records of Medical Circles Exposure.And there were also 8 legends: The Peony Pavilion,The Handan Dream,Xing Tian Feng Yue Tong Xuan Ji,The Coincidental Family Reunion,Herve Leger,The Female Phoenix Seeks Her Mate,Providential Destiny and Biography of Vegetation.By combing through the general situation of health preserving theory research,we could summarize the development of health preserving theory from the four stages: ancient Qin and Han Dynasties,Wei,Jin,Sui and Tang Dynasties,Song,Jin and Yuan Dynasties to Ming and Qing Dynasties,and summed up the characteristics of health preserving theories in Ming and Qing Dynasties.It paid attention to medicine baits and dietetic life-nourishing,old health preservation,the system of sports health maintenance,Mingmen health maintenance,and that health care methods was simple and easy.Through the study of Ming and Qing Dynasties’ medicine-related novels and operas one by one,this paper analyzed the theories and methods of health preserving contained in them,and summarized them into eight aspects.On the theory of dietetic life-nourishing,it was mainly reflected in dietotherapy,diet control,promoting digestion,nursing and so on.The health preserving theories of medicine was mainly reflected in the prevention and treatment of diseasesandprevention of plague.The theory of tea and wine health preserving was embodied in the following aspects: tea not only had medicinal value,but also had the functions of refreshing,strengthening stomach and digestion,nourishing face and beauty,preventing alcoholism,strengthening spleen and so on.Wine had the functions of clearing blood vessels,dispelling wind and expelling cold.It could also be used as medicinal usher or made into medicine wine,which could enhance the tonic effect or blood circulation effect of wine.On the theory of abstinence and health preserving,it mainly included the aspects of the body injury and the art of lovemaking.The theory of emotional health preserving was mainly reflected in the aspects of seven emotions disease,seven emotions conditioning and so on.The theory of sports health preserving was mainly reflected in martial arts,qigong practice,tour and so on.As for the theory of seasonal and customary-usual health preserving,it mainly embodied in the aspects of seasonal health preserving and traditional custom health preserving.The theory of life motto health preserving mainly included children’s feeding,reading,personhood,cultivation,abstinence and so on.By comparing the theories and methods of health preserving of Ming and Qing Dynasties’ medicine-related novels and operas with that of TCM,it was found that there were many similarities between them,which were embodied in the aspects of medicine bait and dietetic life nourishing,old health preservation,abstinence health preserving,etc.The differences were as follows: the theories of health preserving of Ming and Qing Dynasties’ medicine-related novels and operas basically did not involve life gate health preserving;the theory of health preserving in Ming and Qing Dynasties’ medical novels and operas mainly embodied in martial arts and Qigong cultivation,except The Golden Lotus,A Dream of Red Mansions and Green Wild Immortal Trace mentioned the guiding technique,and others rarely involved it.Medical novel and operas in Ming and Qing Dynasties’ medicine-related novels not only paidattentiaon to the health of the elderly,but also paid attention to the health of women,because women were the main objects of description and attention in novels and operas in Ming and Qing Dynasties.The theories of health preserving in Ming and Qing Dynasties’ medicine-related novels and operas involved more in seasonal and customary-usual health preserving,and traditional books on health preserving of TCM occasionally recorded it,which was not comprehensive enough;In Ming and Qing Dynasties,there were many sayings on health preserving in medicine-related novels and operas,including health preserving and health care,life reasons,preserving health,etc.,while the traditional health preserving theories of TCM mainly included sayings about disease treatment and health care.Through comparison,we could distinguish the merits and demerits of the theories and methods of health preserving in Ming and Qing Dynasties’ medicine-related novels and operas,which could be used to guide modern health preserving.This paper analyzed the theories and methods of health preserving in Ming and Qing Dynasties’ medicine-related novels and operas,which could provide reference for modern health preserving,provide a way of life for modern society,and provide a paradigm for inheriting traditional health preserving culture.ConclusionsFrom a philosophical point of view,there was a relationship between the theories of health preserving in Ming and Qing Dynasties’ medicine-related novels and operas and the theories of TCM health preserving.There was a common philosophical thinking between them:harmony between human and nature,and the yin-yang theory.From the perspective of social function,the social function of Ming and Qing Dynasties’ medicine-related novels and operas was the same as that of TCM,which was consistent with the social function of culture for health and drama for medicine.There were also some differences between the theories of health preserving in Ming and Qing Dynasties’ medicine-related novels and operas and the theories of TCM,though both of them were mainly the same.The main reason was that the theories and methods of TCM health preserving focus on the perspective of TCM,while the theories and methods of health preserving in Ming and Qing Dynasties’ medicine-related novels and operas focus on the perspective of culturology and sociology.TCM health books emphasizedprofessional knowledge for people to concentrate on learning,while the Ming and Qing Dynasties’ medicine-related novels and operas emphasizedliterature and art for people toread and appreciate.Because of different genres,novels and operas in Ming and Qing Dynasties were good at describing and expressing life,so they were closer to life and reality,and could more really reflect the health status of the masses in Ming and Qing Dynasties.Compared with the traditional theories and methods of health preserving of TCM,the theories of health preserving in Ming and Qing Dynasties’ medicine-related novels and operas were more related to the cultural level and had the function of cultural health preserving.For the factor of genre,it also had cautionary and critical social functions.Its irrationality lied in some social habits of Ming and Qing Dynasties,such as gluttony,fleshliness,etc.The research on the theories and methods of health preserving in Ming and Qing Dynasties’ medicine-related novels and operas provided a model for the inheritance of traditional health preserving culture,enriched the research field of traditional culture,and played a positive role in the creative transformation and innovative development of health preserving culture.