Chinese Journal of Nature ›› 2011, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (3): 133-136.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2011.03.002

• Invited Special Paper • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Correlation Between “Xiang” Thinking and “Zheng” Distinguishing of Chinese Medicine

WANG Yong-yan, ZHANG -ming   

  1. ①CAE Member,②Professor,Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700,China
  • Received:2011-04-15 Revised:2011-05-15 Online:2011-06-20 Published:2011-06-25

Abstract: In western culture, phenomena decided by substance and its structure are the manifestations showing in a special time-space. The objectivity and repeatable observation of the phenomena are paid more attention. “Xiang” in Chinese culture, with similar meaning as phenomena, has many differences, such as naturality, entirety, time series, the harmony of nature and human beings, and the union of phenomena and their essences. Intuitive comprehension is the main method of detecting “Xiang”. Analogy is a way to express “Xiang”. “Xiang” thinking has three levels. They are concreted “Xiang”, abstracted “Xiang” and conceptualized “Xiang”. The “Zheng” distinguishing and the basic theory of Chinese medicine show the features of “Xiang” thinking thoroughly.