Medicine Historiographic Research On The Origin Of Medical Nature Of Chinese Materia Medica And The Evolution Of Its Four-Qi Theory

Medicine Historiographic Research on the Origin of Medical Nature of Chinese Materia Medica and the Evolution of its Four-Qi TheoryThis thesis studies on the history of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).It focus on the origin of nature of Chinese Medicinal herbs and the evolution of'Four Qi'(cold,heat,warm, cool,etc.) theory in ancient Bencao literature.However, the word'Qi'had both broad and narrow senses, which resulted in complicated meanings in the history, this study focused on the narrow sense, namely, toxicity and hot-cold nature decided by the internal material in the Traditional Chinese Material Medica. 'Four Qi' theory is the core of this study.This study aims to produce historical reference for modern study about medical nature and properties of TCM.According to special medical history research methodology, complete original material screening and filtering were conducted, which lead to first hand data accessed.This study was based on a big national research project which facilitated collecting a mass volume of classic medical literature.There are four parts of this dissertation written in chronological order.Different titles were added to each part as follows.Firstly, medical nature of Chinese Material Medica was preliminary described in early stage and the embryonic 'Four Qi' theory was produced in 420 B.C.Before Spring Autumn period, for medical nature of Chinese Material Medica, toxicity was focused on and cold-hot property was being formed during Spring Autumn and Wartime period accompanied with disease cold-hot differentiation developing.It should be clear that though, medical nature of cold-hot property theory had already existed without definition in the early stage of Western Han Dynasty, it was defined in the late stage of Western Han Dynasty.'Four Qi' theory had formed as the climate terminology 'Four Qi' were introduced into medicine, which was influenced by 'Telepathy between Humans and Nature' in the latest stage of Western Han Dynasty.Meanwhile, medical nature of Chinese Material Medica was still deficient in this period.Secondly, medical nature theory of Chinese Material Medica formed in the initial stage and expanding 'Four Qi' theory in from A.D.420 to A.D.960. Medical nature Chinese Material Medica was discussed individually for every single Chinese Material Medical.'Qi' was introduced to the medical nature, which pointed to medical smell or some special medical property. In the late of this historical period, Medical nature theory of Chinese Material Medica was extended to concepts such as shape, quality, taste, smell, property and so on.Property-effectiveness discussion is the main form to discuss medical nature of Chinese Material Medica.Besides, processing of crude material, growing place, climate factor, species were four important factors involved with medical nature.Meanwhile,'Four Qi' theory was developed further by clinical practice experience.Thirdly,'Four Qi' theory developing and medical analogism theory were explored from A.D.960 to A.D.1368. Medical nature theory of Chinese Material Medica was modified and evolution of 'Four Qi' theory happened in this period. A debate that whether 'Four Qi' should be replaced by 'Four Natures' or not and medical analogism theory of Chinese Material Medica took on.Medical analogism theory advocated 'Four Qi' could be translated into 'Tian Qi' corresponding to 'Di Qi', which could cover much more in depth information.'Four Qi' theory was promoted for the clinical practice in this period, which come into being a profound and lasting influence for ages.Fourthly,'Four Qi' theory and related theories were identified and defined clearly from A.D.1368 to A.D.1911.There was a chaos of conceptions about 'Four Qi' theory in this period.Many Chinese medicine clinical experts began to regulate 'Four Qi' theory.Different classic theories were collected and analyzed by following in the steps of forerunners and creating new ideas and concepts.This study presented'Four Qi'theory of Chinese Material Medica was developed from the cold-hot nature theory in clinical practice for thousands of years, which was a important theory after toxicity and 'Five Tastes' theory.'Four Qi' theory has formed its own features after two thousands of years developing.'Four Qi' theory is exploring the characteristics and laws of Chinese Material Medica which is related to species, growing environments, human activities, climate and effectiveness in TCM clinical practice.The first and most important evaluation for'Four Qi'theory is property-effectiveness corresponding relationship.New ideas for this dissertation are as follows:1?This study traced the historical origin of both medical nature theory and'Four Qi'theory of Traditional Chinese Material Medica from TCM Medical History perspectives.2?This study paid special attention to the evolution of 'Four Qi' theory of Traditional Chinese Material Medica in Jin and Yuan Dynasties systematically.3?This study also addressed different kinds of factors and formation causes about medical nature theory, and 'Four Qi' theory of Traditional Chinese Material Medica were summarized systematically.Furthermore, this dissertation reported the proposition on 'Four nature' replacing 'Four Qi' was indifferent by later generation TCM experts. Some modern academic viewpoints about medical nature theory and 'Four Qi' theory of Traditional Chinese Material Medica were compared and corrected in this dissertation.