Probe Into The Cultural Rootstock Of Inspection Of Tongue Of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Tongue inspection is one of the most special diagnosis means in traditional Chinese medicine. As tongue is a part of the human body, some objective features deserve observation. As noted, the historical culture of China exerts influence on the development of the tongue inspection, and the contents of tongue diagnose rely heavily upon the theories of traditional Chinese medicine. From the first mention of tongue in the inscriptions on bones or tortoise shells, to the record of tongue inspection in Qin dynasty and Han Dynasty. From the first monograph of tongue inspection in Yuan Dynasty, to the school of seasonal febrile diseases which developed the tongue diagnosis greatly in Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. Tongue inspection lived the course from the simple to complex, from the superficial to subtle. Traditional Chinese medicines render the special and rich meaning to tongue diagnosis, while leaving limited meaning to the Western medicines. Facing the same objective, tongue, Chinese and Western medicines show different perspectives. Vigor ontology, natural philosophy concerning the theory of correspondence between man and universe, and Gaining images by observation are all Chinese culture specific knowledge, developed the natural and historical contexts. Due to the diversity of knowledge structure, the Chinese and the Western medicines are different in selecting and processing the messages obtained. They prove to be the decisive factors regarding the origin, development and maturity of tongue inspection in traditional Chinese medicine.