Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Spiritual Pivot

Author: Anonymous (Warring States Period)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1997-06-01
Features: In the 25th year of the Shaozong era of Emperor Gaozong of Song (the year of Yihe in the Gregorian calendar, 11th century), Shi Song of Jin City corrected the "old family manuscript" of the Lingshu Jing (Nine Volumes, Eighty-One Chapters) and added annotations at the end of the volumes, publishing it as twenty-four volumes (later revised to twelve), which is the Huangdi Neijing Lingshu still in circulation today. The medical theories discussed in this book belong to the same system as the Suwen. The differences lie in its elaboration on the theory of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, the functions of internal organs and blood qi, and the pathogenesis and treatment principles, with a particular emphasis on the meridians, acupoints, acupuncture instruments, and techniques. In the Ming Dynasty, Ma Xuantai deeply grasped the essence of the Lingshu and, in his Lingshu Zuzheng Fawei, described it as "largely complete, with detailed entries, akin to the Great Learning in Confucian texts, where the general principles and specific points are interwoven, truly serving as a guide for medical practitioners, and its contribution should precede that of the Suwen." After its publication, the Lingshu became widely disseminated and underwent multiple reprints. The main existing versions include: the Yuan Dynasty Hu Family's Gulin Book Hall edition, the Ming Jiajing Zhao Jianwang Zhu Houyi's Jujing Hall edition, the Ming Xiong Family's Zhongde Hall edition, and others. This edition is based on the Jujing Hall edition of the Zhao Family. Only the main text is retained, with annotations removed. It is cross-referenced with the Hu edition, Xiong edition, Japanese published editions, the Zhengtong Daozang edition, and others. It also references the Taizu, Jiaiyijing, Maijing, Qianjin Yaofang, Qianjin Yifang, WaiTai Miyao, Lei Jing, Yongle Dadian, as well as Ma's annotations, Zhang's annotations, and Huang's annotations.