The Conception And Methodic Research Of Chinese Medical Regimen In Ming Dynasty

A regimen is the health-preserving means for maintaining physical condition, reducing illness, improving health, and reaching longevity according to the regular pattern of life development. Chinese medical regimens utilize basic Chinese medical theory as the guidance, and it involves many studies. Because the development of Chinese medicine regimens is based on the Chinese ethnic cultural background, the Chinese culture is manifested in Chinese medical regimens, and it also directs the practice of Chinese medical regimens. At the same time, the economy, culture, politics, and customs of all dynasties imprinted and influenced the theories and practice of Chinese medical regimens of different Chinese historic stages deeply. Chinese medical regimens combine human, nature, and society, and emphasize the sense of wholeness and dialectic. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss the thought of Chinese medical regimens of a certain period of time from diversified dimensions and backgrounds.This thesis is to research the development of regimens in Ming dynasty, and systematically organize and study regimen documents of Ming dynasty. There are three research objectives for this thesis:A. Enrich traditional Chinese medical theory through organizing and discovering the regimen documents of Ming dynasty. B. Disclose the thoughts and development of Chinese medicine regimens in Ming dynasty, and finding the internal value of Chinese medicine regimens. C. Conclude the rules of the regimen theory of Ming dynasty, and discover the guiding meaning for modern Chinese medical regimens.The thesis first briefly introduces the history of the theory of Chinese medicine regimens, and then conducts the research of the thoughts and theory of Ming regimens. There are three research methods. The first one is the document-analyzing method. It checks the documents of Ming regimens, and the later research data about Ming medicine. Through comparing and assorting, the thesis organizes the documents of Ming regimens. Second, the document-synthesizing method, which induces and analyzes documents, and then finds regimen masters, documents, and features. Furthermore, it can induce the specialty and pattern of the development of Ming regimen. Third, the comparison method, and it compares the difference between Ming regimen documents and modern Chinese medicine regimen theory, and suggests that everyone sees Ming documents from scientific perspective, and keeps the precious part for guiding modern regimen theory.There are six parts in the thesis. First part briefly introduces the development of Chinese medicine regimens. Second, this thesis discusses different regimen documents of Ming dynasty. Third, it analyzes Ming regimen masters and their best writings. The fourth part studies the specialty and pattern of Ming regimen theory. Fifth, it analyzes the social, political, economic, and cultural backgrounds of the formation of Ming regimen theory. The sixth part discusses the inspiration from Ming regimen thoughts to modern regimen.The first part of the thesis tells that in China, Yin dynasty started to have the thoughts of health and longevity. Until Chou dynasty, medicine and sanitation were improved, and therefore regiment and Daoyin had better development in Pre-Qin Period. Pre-Qin masters raised their regimen thoughts during the process of discussing the law of nature and the secret of life, and they had great influence to traditional Chinese medical regimens. "Neijing" is the accomplishment of medical theory and practice of Pre-Qin masters, and it formed the theoretical foundation for Chinese medical regimens. Later Han, Wei, Ji, Shui, Tang dynasties are the beginning stage. During Song, Liao, Jin, Yuan dynasties, academic writings of regimen theories were written, discussion and dispute were among schools, and therefore regimen theories were developed. During Ming, Qing dynasties, traditional regimen theories became fulfilled and perfected. Recently, Chinese medical regimens have received greater development and have become thriving.The second part classifies Ming documents. Some are synthesized medical writings, such Ming Liyan's "Introduction of Medicine". Some are about clinical, such as Shigong Chen's "Surgery Orthodox". Some are about herbal medicine, such as Shizhen Li's "Pen Ts'ao Kang Mu" in the book "Pujifang" of Ming Dynasty. Some are about medicine series, such as "Fourteen Medical Books of Taoist Canon" and "Six Medical Book of Changping Yangfu"...etc. Some are regimen writings, such as Ming Zhanglun Wu's "Regimen Keynote". Some are regimen series, such as Ming Wenhuan Hu's "Longevity Developing Series". Some are herbal food, such as Ming He Lu's "Herbal Food". Some are for cultivate Qi and self-nature, such as Ming Yi's "Guidance of Nature and Life", Chaichuang Wang's "Secret Keynote for Cultivating Nature". Some are about Daoyin and massage, such Ming Shanghen's "Daoyin Method". Some are about acupuncture, such as Wukao's "Acupuncture Essence".The third part introduces Qian Leng's "Keynote of Cultivating Longevity", Quan Wuan's "Four regimen keynotes from Wan Family", Yanxian Gong's "Keeping Energy and Reaching Longevity", Juzhong Gong's "Longevity Medicine Book", Yuanbai Chao's "Secret Keynote for Preserving Life", Shi Sheng's "Keynote of Maintaining Life", Lian Kao's "Eight notes for Keeping Life", Jiru Chen's "Brief Introduction of Regimen", Xuan Zhang's "Zhuofei Temple Richan—Yizheng", Chai Wang's "Secret Keynote for Cultivating Nature", Wenlu Wang's "Heal Essence".The fourth part describes the feature of regimen thoughts, they are:A. Regimens emphasize the importance of "Physical Door", and the saying of Zhixiong Baojian. B. Care about regimens in old age. C. Value synthesized regimens. D. Disagree superstitious regimens. E. Make regimen theories become systematic and specialized. F. The development of regimen documents is mainly in quantity but quality. G. The combination of the reflection of internal organs and regimen theories. H. Found the beginning of diet regimen. I. Develop good ancient regimen gymnastics.The fifth part analyzes social, political, cultural, and medical backgrounds for forming Ming regimen thoughts. It claims that Ming government cherished medicine, and it objectively promoted the Chinese medicine regimen boom. Besides, the development of society, the prosper of economy, the coming of western advanced thoughts, and new medical view points, all give Chinese medicine regimens new atmosphere, and provide advantage for regimen experience to become theories. The sixth part analyzes the influence of Ming regimens to modern regimens from practical meaning. It thinks that no matter regimen theories and means, Ming regimens both have influence to modern regimens. Ming's regimen thoughts, such as adjusting spirit for the regimen, daily life regimens, after-eating regimens, and tea and rice regimens, are all good for modern regimens to learn.