| The theory of meridians and collaterals was first established in Neijing,which is not only the core theory of acupuncture and moxibustion,but also one of the core contents of the basic theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM).The theory of meridians and collaterals is of great significance to the understanding of the interaction between human tissue structures,the construction of the interaction and application of meridians and viscera in diagnosis and treatment,and even to the theoretical and experimental research of TCM,especially acupuncture and moxibustion.Medical experts have made many researches and innovations from different angles and levels on the meridian theory.According to the literature reviewed so far,firstly,the origin,formation and development of meridian theory and the contemporary meridian theory represented by textbooks have been studied,but few of them sudied deeply and systematically on the frame way.Secondly,in the research on the development and evolution of meridian theory,there is a lack of systematic research on the influence of the theory of thinking,Shushu,Yin and Yang,Five Elements,Zang-fu theory and Qi and Xue theory on the development and evolution of meridian theory.In view of this,this paper firstly constructs the meridian frameworks of each stadges by studing different periods of ancient literatures and contemporary textbook,and then analyzes the influences of Shushu,Yin and Yang,Five Elements,Zang-fu theory and Qi and Xue theory on the development of meridians theory,so as to explain the connotation of the channels and collaterals theory and core in the system with a relatively clear,systematic outline of the meridian framework,and finally tried to show developing laws of meridian theory.This paper consists of six parts.According to the development and evolution of meridian theory,the first four parts are in timing order —origin stage,formation stage,development stage and contemporary stage of meridian theory.And in each stage,representative literatures are selected as the representative literature to extract the theoretical framework.First part,the origin stage,Zubi Shiyi Maijiu Jing and Yinyang Shiyi Maijiu Jing are the representative literatures.The second part is represented by Neijing and supplemented by Nanjing.The third part,combing the theoretical documents of meridians and collaterals in the past dynasties,the representative literatures include Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing,Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing,Qijing Bamai Kao and Zhenjiu Dacheng,etc.The fourth part discusses the current meridian theory,which is represented by the textbooks published by the state from the first edition to the ninth edition.The fifth part mainly analyzes the influence of TCM theory on the development of meridian theory.Finally,the evolution of the theoretical system of meridians and collaterals is analyzed.Through the study,the following results were obtained:1.The origin stage of meridian theory is mainly influenced by Yin and Yang theory and Shushu.Although the meaning of meridian is relatively simple,it already has two different connotations: entity,the pathway of blood circulation,and abstraction,the relationship between different parts of human body or the disease site and the treatment site.The theoretical framework of meridian in the origin stage is relatively simple,and its development vein may be linear and orderly,or multiple theories coexist.2.By combing the theoretical framework of meridian theory in Neijing,and combining the theory of eight extra-meridian channels in Nanjing,the theoretical framework of meridians in the formation stage is extracted: Xiang Siwei as thinking mode of meridian theory,Shushu,theory of Yin and Yang,Five Elements theory as the instruction of meridain theory,Zang-fu theory and Qi and Xue theory also as influence factors,the connotation of meridian becomes more abundant.It has got many functions: Meridians are part of the corresponding Zang-fu system,connecting the internal viscera and external body parts,Channels for Qi and blood circulation,nourishing the organs,bones,joints,muscles,skins.So far,the frame of the meridian theory has been formed,and the meridian system is complete.There are many kinds of circulation theory and centrality theory.The description of symptoms is not only limited to the twelve meridians and the eight extra meridians,but also includes the accessory meridians such as the collaterals,Jingjin,etc.3.Comb through the theoretical framework of meridians which is represented by Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing,Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing,Qijing Bamai Kao and Zhenjiu Dacheng.In Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing,the contents of meridian theory are classified for the first time,and the theoretical framework of meridian is established.After this,Tongren Shuxue Zhenjiu Tujing,Qijing Bamai Kao and Zhenjiu Dacheng were mainly based on inheritance.Until the period when western learning spread to the east,the study of meridians and collaterals began to move toward the east-west huitong.Because of entering into the wrong direction of fusion with western medical vessels,nerves and other tissues,the study of meridian theory entered a tough period.But it has objectively also opened the process of acupuncture from traditional to modern research,and has become the modern meridian theory and acupuncture research prelude.4.The core concepts of the theoretical framework of meridians in the first to the ninth editions of the textbooks of acupuncture and moxibustion remains unchanged.Only the functions of the aspects of core concepts tend to be weakened and formalized.Its basic theory,especially the traditional concept mainly comes from classical theory of TCM,the textbooks adopt and covers the content,but the content category is reducted.The expression and internal logic of writing style,theory and concept are influenced by western medicine and modern knowledge classification system,and tend to be "conceptualized","unified","standardized" and "international".5.The influence of Shushu on meridian theory mainly lies in determining the number and length of meridians,and in the injection law of gas flow.The influence of the theory of Yin and Yang on the theory of meridian is mainly manifested in three aspects,the first aspect is naming meridians after three Yin and three Yang,the second one is the compatibility of meridians with internal organs according to Yin and Yang,the last one is the influence of Yin and Yang on the popularity of qi and blood.The influence of Wuxing theory on the meridian theory mainly includes the five elements attributes of the twelve meridians,the five elements attributes of the five acupoints,and the principle of remediation and purging of the mother and child by the five elements.The theory of Zang-fu is an important factor that influences the development of meridian theory from the early stage to the mature stage.It is just because of the influence of Zang-fu theory and Qi and blood theory that the twelve meridians are connected head to tail in order to realize the distribution and circulation of qi and blood in the whole body.The above influences have been basically completed before the formation of meridian theory in Neijing,and is mainly reflected in the record of meridian theory in Neijing.6.On the basis of the above research,this paper also discusses the theoretical framework of meridian,the characteristics of the evolution of the framework,the reasons for the evolution of the framework,the current situation and influencing factors of the contemporary theoretical system of meridians and collaterals,and the internal laws of the evolution of meridians and collaterals.1)The theoretical system of meridians can be summarized into two parts: the core concepts and the main contents.The core concept is: with the thinking mode of Xiang Siwei,guided by Shushu,Yin and Yang,and the Five Elements,under the influences of Zang-fu and Qi-blood theories,grasp the life activities from the whole,function,and movement changes.The main contents include: taking the twelve meridians and the eight extra meridians as the main body of the meridians system,useing meridians to explain how Qi moves in the body.Circulation of Qi and blood is the main mode,combined with centripetal Qi and blood operation mode.So as to fulfill the functions of meridians,which are being part of the internal viscera system,connecting external collaterals,providing the access of qi and blood circulation,Yin and Yang circulation,nourishing muscles and bones,benefiting joints,internal viscera and external enculturation.Complete the course of sickness.2)The evolution characteristics of meridian theory are as follows: on the premise of conforming to the development characteristics of general scientific theories,the core of the theoretical structure presents stable inheritance while the external structure has certain changes.3)The evolution of the theory of meridians shows the above characteristics because of the unique thinking mode of TCM,that is,to grasp the law of life from the perspective of function,from the perspective of the whole and from the perspective of movement.4)While inheriting the "classical" theory,the contemporary meridian theoretical system represented by textbooks is gradually enriched in content and strengthened in clinical practice due to the influence of western medicine and clinical practice.However,the concept of traditional Chinese medicine caused by the interpretation of TCM by western medicine is not perfect and clear to some extent.5)Inherent law in the evolution of the meridain theory can be summarized as: the evolution of the meridain theory follows the "classical heritage type" model of development,has the characteristics of "under the premise that conform to the general characteristics of scientific theory development and core of theory structure present stable inheritance and extensional structure has certain change",the theory of meridians shows the law of life from the perspective of function,entirety and movement. |
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