Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Exploring the Origins

Author: Han Yongxian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: The cornerstone theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the Yin-Yang theory. The Yin-Yang theory is represented by the Taiji diagram. All objects are composed of two parts: Yin and Yang, hence they are all Taiji bodies. A cross-section through the center of a Taiji body is the Taiji diagram. TCM divides the Taiji diagram into six regions: Taiyang, Yangming, Shaoyang, Taiyin, Shaoyin, and Jueyin. When a person is healthy, Yin and Yang are in a balanced state, meaning the six regions are balanced. If this balance is lost, the person becomes ill; if the balance is restored, the person recovers. Jing blood belongs to Yin, while Wei Qi belongs to Yang. Taiyang has more Jing blood and less Wei Qi, Yangming has more Jing blood and more Wei Qi, Shaoyang has less Jing blood and more Wei Qi, Taiyin has less Jing blood and less Wei Qi, Shaoyin has less Jing blood and more Wei Qi, and Jueyin has more Jing blood and less Wei Qi. Thus, there is a Yin-Yang balance between Taiyang and Shaoyin, between Yangming and Taiyin, and between Shaoyang and Jueyin. This balance is called the exterior-interior relationship, and these regions are referred to as meridians. Therefore, Taiyang and Shaoyin meridians are mutually exterior-interior, Yangming meridian and Taiyang meridian are mutually exterior-interior, and Shaoyang meridian and Jueyin meridian are mutually exterior-interior.