The Basis Of Traditional Chinese Medicine As A Whole Epistemology And Its Inherent Law

Traditional Chinese is unique for the permeation of holistic conceptthrough the beginning till now. The theories of "wholeness" or "system"have been notice-and sponsored by modem medicine for complex problems.Therefore it is significant to study the basic law of traditional Chinesemedicine wholeness. And if something were found, it would be a greatcontribution to the development for traditional Chinese medicine.This article has conducted a systematic study on the holisticepistemology and its law and role in traditional Chinese medicine and othersubjects with literature review, logics and multi-subject methodology.The three component theories of traditional Chinese medicine are: Theprimordial qi is the whole understanding to the origin of things. As thebasic category in traditional Chinese medicine, qi was entitled connotationto the most. It serves as the basis for the understanding the body,explanation of the life, exploration of diseases, treatment and prevention.The theory of yin and yang is the whole understanding of motivation of themovement and law of things. It is the basis for the construction oftraditional Chinese medicine, and expound the characteristics of qimovement and enrich the explanation of primordial qi theory to thediversity of things. The theory of five elements is the whole understandingto the diversity and unity of things. It serves as the medium in theconstruction of correspondance of human beings and the nature and thetime-space concept of traditional Chinese medicine is therefore came intobeing.The holistic epistemology provides evidence for the construction ofholistic epistemology of traditional Chinese medicine. That is all thingsshare the same origin, which is the foundation for the formation anddevelopment for the three theories. All things shareing the same texture holds that the origin of everthing is qi and qi movement, which forms thecharacteristics of holistic epistemology. All things sharing the same.structure means that they share the same time and space, which make theholistic epistemology clear. All things sharing the same nature refers to thatall things are the manifestations of qi and its movement and the law ofthings motion is the law of qi movement.The holistic epistemology reflect the mutual understanding to the universe:same qi attraction means that things of the same or samilar nature, function orlocation attract, assist, promote each other. Such interaction the the commonrelation between things. Different qi interaction refers to the restriction,permeation, and tranformation of different things or different parts within athing. Whole interaction and restriction is that the component parts within athing are not solitary, and linear, but are interrelated and non-linear. Anycomponent part is related to other parts within the whole. Transformation ofbody and qi is on the two existence and their transformation in the universe, oneis qi and the other is the body. The tranformation of qi and the body is two wayswith its time-space law and whether tranformation occurs or not is closelyrelated to the condition.This article believes that:Traditional Chinese medicine holistic epistemology is relative entireone composed of primordial qi theory, yin and yang theory and fu elementstheory. It formation is based on and reflects the same understanding that allthings share the same origin, same texture, same structure and nature.The holistic epistemology greatly promotes the construction,inheritation, and development of traditional Chinese medicine: holisticepistemology borrows the ideas from philosophy which stresses on theharmony and entity, which is of importance to the tradtional Chinesemedicine theories. The combination of qi, yin and yang with five elementsprovides ideology and methodology for traditional Chinese medicine theoretical system. The holistic epistemology stresses on the structure andcourse of the components of the body, this way of thinking is promising.Meanwhile, we should be aware of the limitation of traditionalChinese medicine holistic epistemology: the primordial qi theory qi is ageneral, philosophical and oriental understanding of the relations of things,which actually block the way of traditional Chinese medicine theoreticalsystem to reveal the nature of thing. Borrow of the theory of yin and yangand five elements from philosophy leads to directness, illegibility andstability of traditional-Chinese medicine thinking way.For thedevelopment of TCM, two points have to be mentioned here in thisarticle: Regain TCM holistic epistemology importance in TCM and seek theterminology system of TCM so as to avoid the substitute of scientific terms byphilosophical ones. The original meaning of holistic epistemology. is to beunderstood thoroughly and whole and the parts should all be paid attention to.That what the TCM should focus in.