University of Nanking - Linguist Yearbook (Nanking, China)

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14 THE LINGUIST CHINESE MEDICINE THE ART OF HEALING IN ANCIENT CHINA. The history of the art of healing in China throws much light on the backward state of medicine. Going back to times of great antiquity, we find the record of Shen-nung1fB. C. 2737-2697j who is known as the father of Chinese medicine. He compiled a book giving the curative and toxic effects of a great number of herbs thus bringing together the first collection of medical knowledge in China of which we have any record. ' In the tenth century B. C. free clinics were established by govern- mental edict? The decree of Han Pinl A. D. made definite pro- visions for isolating cases oi contagious diseases in outhouses where they could be treated, thus anticipating the modern isolation hospital. Charity hospitals were founded at the time of Nan Tsi. Buddhism, after its introduction into China about 65 A. D.,- was very active in organizing Homes for the Sick which were managed by priests and nuns. These Homes continued until 845 A. D. when they were demolished in accordance with imperial decree and the Budd- hists compelled to return to private life. Following 985 A. D., governmental institutions were founded to care for the sick and provisions made in them for training practitioners of medicine. Hwa Teo, who lived at the time of the Three Kingdoms, was celebrated for his skill in surgery. .He meta tragic end at the hands of the ruler of one of the kingdoms because he advised trephin- ing the rulers skull forthe relief of an obstinate headache due ap- parently to ,intracranial disease. This eminent surgeon was credited with the performance of many successful surgical and medical measures. Unfortunately, his records were burned by the wife of his prison attendant and the knowledge that Hwa Teo attempted to hand' down to posterity was lost because of her superstitious fears. FACTORS CAUSING DEGENERATION OF CHINESE MEDICINE From these isolated instances, we see that, almost before Vlfestern medicine had its birth, Chinese medicine had made beginnings in most of the helds of medical endeavor. Yet none' of these movements survived to a healthy growth. Their degeneration was usually a matter of a few decades at the most. That this should have hap- pened was .inevitable when one considered the system under which they developed. A great part of the medical knowledge worked out by men of genius and observation was lost, or distorted due to the fact that such knowledge was handed down from father to son. Inevitably, superstition, magic rites, and folklore sayings crept in and soonf the merits of the original discovery were hidden under a mass of details which destroyed its value. The high ideal of medicine as a science for the good of society as a whole was not manifest in the practice of the native doctor. Naturally the lack of such ideals among the members of the profession precluded the possibility

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ANCIENT LIND OF CHINA ANCIENT LAND OF CHINA Oh ancient land of China, Four thousand years, the same, WVhose glory lay in wisdom, Whose scholars gave them fame 5 Oh China we all love thee, And pray that God may he Thy source of all true knowledge, Andlearning's deepest sea. Oh beautiful for rivers, A Rich plains and mountains vast, Whose voice of inspiration, Has sounded from the pastg Today, God calls thee, China, To stand with those who see, The problems of the future Have also need of thee. Though once thy gifted sages Had seen a light afar, They lost the purer radiance Of Christ, the Christmas starg His love, by faith illumed, His peace, awaiteth thee, To teach thee God, the Father, Whose truth sets all men free. May every gate be open, May every city wall Behold the new world vision, NVith Christ supreme o'er all. Lord God, raise for us leaders, That China strong may be, And thru thy Church triumphant, Attain to unity. -Margaret Dieter Sung to tune Materna

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CHINESE MEDICINE 15 of the people having any greater regard for the skill of the doctor than they did for the soothsayer or the temple priest. In fact, because of the supposed supernatural origin of bodily ills, the temple priest was consulted as frequently as the doctor and his copy of magic rites secured and burned to the sound of throbbing drum and low toned bell. Even the ignorant coolie of the street who had secured a prescription of a remedy with occult powers was deemed worthy of a trial, The men of worth and knowledge and reputation with lines of treatment of dehnite value had to combine their few helpful facts with rites of magic and superstition to satisfy a clientele haunted by a fear of the supernatural. 1 '-JWVV ' ni A fipi ,229 J . iff 4 'ai 0 xi t.yt H ?,v: VV? V AAF The Yang and Yin CONCEPTIONS UNDERLYING CHINESE 'MEDICINE 3 The teachings of Chinese medicine are a weird mixture of facts. misconceptions, and superstitions. They rest on the fundamental -belief that life is based on the perfect equilibrium of two principles the Yang and the Yin. These two principles are supposed to underly the universe and their expression in the human body is but one manifestation of universal life. The Yang is the warm, active principle and is symbolized by the sun. The Yin is the moist passive principle and is symbolized ,by shadow. If the 'Yang is in excess, there is a condition of excitation. If the Yin is in excess, there is a condition of depression. The action of these two principles is manifested in twelve organs. The six organs in which the Yang is found are located inthe abdomen. The six in which the Yin resides are the brain, spleen, right kidney, and the organs found in the chest. These twelve organs are connected to each other and to the hands and feet by twelve channels, six for the Yang and six forthe Yin. The Yang tends to arise in the body and the Yin tends to descend. METHODS OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. The practitioner of Chinese medicine considers the pulse as the most important diagnostic element and, frequently, its palpitation is the only examination made. The right hand of the physician is :used to feel the left pulse of the patient and, with the left hand, he