Edited Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon (Color Illustration and Text Version)

Author: Xie Hua et al
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-03-01
Features: The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon is a great and extraordinary book in the history of Chinese culture, as well as the foundational work of ancient Chinese medicine. It fully embodies the unique understanding of the ancient Chinese people regarding the relationship between the human body and the four seasons, climate, and time, as well as the holistic concept of the body's interconnected parts. It is a masterpiece that guides Chinese medicine, ancient health preservation, and qigong. It is also the source of the theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It serves as a model for explaining human physiology, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment using the theory of yin and yang and the five elements, and for demonstrating the unity of the internal and external environments of the human body with the concept of "harmony between heaven and humanity." Therefore, it has become a must-read for those studying TCM. However, due to its profound terminology, beginners may find it challenging. Thus, translating and explaining it in modern language is of great importance to make it more accessible to learners. The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon is the earliest medical book extant in China. According to research by many experts, it was likely compiled during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon is a summary and embodiment of the wisdom of ancient and prehistoric peoples in medicine and health preservation. It not only clearly describes the anatomical structure of the human body and the circulation of meridians but also provides more profound and comprehensive discussions on human physiology, medical pathology, medical geography, medical phenology, and other fields than the disciplines that emerged in the modern West. The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon is also an extremely rare masterpiece of health preservation, alongside Fuxi's Eight Trigrams and Shennong's Herbal Classic, forming the "Three Ancient Classics of Antiquity." The major academic achievements in the history of Chinese medicine and the emergence of numerous outstanding medical experts are all closely linked to The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, earning it the title of "the ancestor of physicians" from generations of medical scholars. Throughout the book, it covers various fields such as geography, health preservation, philosophy, astronomy, psychology, seasons, fengshui, calendar, yin and yang, and the five elements, making it an extraordinary book in the treasure trove of ancient Chinese culture. As a classic work of TCM, The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon is the source of the theoretical system of TCM, serving as a model for explaining the unity of the internal environment of the human body using the theory of yin and yang and the five elements. Therefore, it has become a must-read for those studying TCM. However, due to its profound terminology, beginners may find it challenging. Thus, translating and explaining it in modern language is of great importance to make it more accessible to learners. In the process of translating and interpreting the book into colloquial language, we referred to a wide range of ancient commentaries, modern translations, and other versions that could be found, and incorporated the opinions of many expert colleagues. In particular, several experts and professors from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine provided extensive support and assistance, reviewing and revising the manuscript multiple times. We hope that the efforts and dedication of the many editorial committee members can benefit readers who wish to learn and understand The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon in their reading.