Study On The Influence Of The Neo-Confucianism In Song Dynasty On Zhu Danxi’s Academic Thoughts Of Traditional Chinese Medicine

As Confucianism was impacted and challenged by Buddhism and Taoism in the late Tang Dynasty,Neo-Confucianism(rationalistic Confucian philosophical school),jointly combined of Confucianism,Buddhism and Taoism consequently emerged as times require,which prospered with contention and flourishing of numerous schools of thought.As the prevailing philosophy,Neo-Confucianism not only dominated people’s ideology,but also exerted a significant influence on Traditional Chinese Medicine.Song Dynasty,being a watershed for the development of ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine,largely attributed to Neo-Confucianism in terms of its progress in various aspects.Zhu Danxi,one representative of the Four Medical Schools in Jin and Yuan Dynasties is a great master of traditional Chinese medicine typically featured by NeoConfucianism.Background:Influenced by ideological thought of modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine,TCM has currently demonstrated a tendency for western medicine in which it draws on the achievement of it regarding clinical diagnosis and treatment,teaching in higher education institutions,and scientific research.It’s true that modern science and technology will benefit the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine to a certain extent,but as Mr.Deng Tietao once said,quoting the style of western medicine would result in more restrictions than advantages to TCM as they’re theoretically different.Thus we should explore more about TCM classics and essence in Chinese traditional culture in the study of Traditional ChineseMedicine.Neo-Confucianism was an important trend of thought in the traditional culture of China which signified a key leap in Traditional Chinese Medicine.As it is written in Four Bibliographic Categories,“Confucianism split into various schools in Song Dynasty,and different theories of TCM appeared in Jin and Yuan Dynasty.” The prosperity of TCM in Jin and Yuan Dynasty was credited to the influence of Neo-Confucianism,particularly represented by Zhu Danxi,one great master among Four Medical Schools in Jin and Yuan Dynasties who studied Confucianism under Xu Qian,a fourth-generation disciple of Confucian Master Zhuxi and afterwards Traditional Chinese Medicine under Luo Zhiti,a disciple of Liu Wansu,and later established the theory of Zi Yin(treat yin deficiency by reinforcing body fluid and nourishing the blood)by means of integrating NeoConfucianism theory into medical treatment.Hence,it counts for a certain degree for the study of Zhu Danxi’s academic thoughts to study the impact of Neo-Confucianism in Song Dynasty towards Zhu Danxi’s academic thought in TCM.Objective:By sorting out and studying the influence of the Neo-Confucianism in Song Dynasty on Zhu Danxi’s academic thoughts of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Song Dynasty,the paper explores the background and reasons for the formation of Zhu Danxi’s theory,aiming to understand and learn his theory from a deeper level.To guide the clinical practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine.Methods:1.The literature review is primarily used in this topic.Sarching the library and on the Interne,To accumulate relevant knowledge required the topic by identification,categorization,collation sa well as taking notes and summaries.2.The research method of induction and summary is used in this paper to sum up the Neo-Confucianism in Song Dynasty and its influence on Zhu Danxi’s academic thoughts.Content:1.Zhu Danxi’s life and major writings2.Analysis on Zhu Danxi’s origin for New-Confucianism3.Study on the impact of Neo-Confucianism in Song Dynasty towards Zhu Danxi’s academic thought in TCM.Results:1.Danxi was deeply influenced by the Neo-Confucianism in Song Dynasty’s concept of knowledge and action,which emphasized the importance of theory.While paying attention to clinical practice,also attach great importance to the study and research of Traditional Chinese Medicine theory.2.Zhu Danxi’s theory of "Yang frequently in excess yet yin in deficiency" Thinking that it’s difficult to human body Yin essence into and easy to lose.It’s formed on the basis of Cheng Hao’s theory that Yang was frequently in excess yet Yin was often in deficiency.3.The "ministerial fire" is a physiological fire,which maintains normal physiological order of human body and will become a harmful fire if it is hyperactive.Danxi regarded Zhou Dunyi’s concept of static and dynamic equilibrium of Tai Chi as the theoretical basis of such physiological and pathological change.4.In terms of the ethical view of Neo-Confucianism,Zhou Dunyi emphasized on "voiding desires" while Cheng brothers emphasized on "upholding justice and annihilating desire".Zhu Danxi introduced such ethics into his own theoretical system and thereby forming his own view of health preservation.Protecting Yin essence by controlling desire,adjusting diet and so on.5.Zhu Danxi attached much importance to the treatment based on syndrome differentiation rather than paid attention to the nourishing of yin solely.Conclusion:Danxi was deeply influenced by Neo-Confucianism due to his early NeoConfucianism learning experience and many friends of him who knew much about the Neo-Confucianism and introduced it into his own academic viewpoints of medical science,which broke through the medical theory at the time,enabled him to form his own school and become one of the four famous medical scholars of Jin and Yuan Dynasties.He had made outstanding contributions to the development of medicine in our country and thereby worthy of being admired and studied.