Entering and Exiting the Life Gate: An Introduction to the Culture of Chinese Medical Science

Author: Chen Leping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-04-01
Features: Currently, world science and technology have entered an era of high differentiation and high integration, demonstrating an ever-accelerating pace of development. At the same time, the phenomenon of the integration of high technology and socio-culture has become increasingly noteworthy. Between them, they interact and mutually promote each other, forming the characteristics of today's highly civilized society. The integration of science, technology, and socio-culture is a historical phenomenon with inherent patterns. As a component of socio-culture, the emergence and development of science and technology are inevitably, whether consciously or unconsciously, constrained and influenced by all aspects of the broader socio-cultural environment. Conversely, its emergence and development are bound to permeate all fields of the socio-cultural environment, exerting a profound influence on it. This process of mutual integration has powerfully driven the progress of social civilization. Medicine, as a branch of science and technology, is also a cultural phenomenon and is inescapably subject to the aforementioned laws. The emergence of medical anthropology today is precisely the result of people consciously studying the relationship between medicine and culture, following this very pattern. Although there is considerable debate about the connotation and extension of medical anthropology, it remains difficult to define at present, but there is consensus on the point of studying the relationship between medicine and culture. Since the study is about a "relationship," it is inherently mutual. Therefore, I strongly endorse the incisive statement by American scholar R.W. Lieban: "It includes studying medical phenomena influenced by socio-cultural characteristics, as well as elucidating socio-cultural phenomena from a medical perspective—both are indispensable." However, the current state of research on elucidating socio-cultural phenomena from a medical perspective is so impoverished and meager, which is truly a great regret. Comrade Chen Leping is dedicated to the study of medical anthropology and has chosen the topic of Chinese medical culture for examination and analysis, a choice that demonstrates considerable insight. Traditional Chinese medicine has undergone a long historical development from ancient times to the present, always evolving in step with China, this ancient civilization. Within the theme of "medicine and socio-culture," it contains a wealth of content worth exploring and researching. By revealing the characteristics of the relationship between traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese socio-culture under China's specific conditions and drawing lessons from this, we can inspire reflection on today's challenges, which will be highly beneficial to the development of Chinese medical culture. Through Comrade Chen Leping's extensive reading, meticulous refinement, and tireless efforts, the book Entering and Exiting the "Gate of Life"—An Introduction to the Study of Chinese Medical Culture has finally been published. This is an pioneering work in medical anthropology with distinct Chinese national characteristics, focusing on the influence and role of Chinese medicine in traditional Chinese society and proposing the hypothesis of the "social life model." It is not only diligent but also courageous, addressing the current shortcomings in medical anthropology research and offering valuable reference for studying traditional Chinese thought, culture, and the historical process of ancient Chinese society.