JCM Review
This is a gem of a book and one which should be on the essential reading list of anyone studying or practising Chinese medicine, or indeed anyone with a desire to become more familiar with many aspects of traditional Chinese culture. Its range is extensive and hard to cover in a short review, managing as it does to present a bird's eye view of many key issues of Chinese language, history, culture and tradition relevant to Chinese medicine, yet offering at the same time a wealth of detail. Subjects covered include the language of Chinese medicine (with specific discussion of some of the core terms), folk beliefs, myths and customs, an overview of the three main philosophies/religions (Daoism, Chinese Buddhism and Confucianism), a discussion of the main literary classics (e.g. Yi Jing, The Art of War etc.), the history of medicine with comparison between folk medicine and court medicine and an introduction to the main medical classics, sexual practices and the cultivation of longevity and immortality, and finally a glossary with explanation of numerous key terms of Chinese medicine. Throughout the book there are numerous illustrations and quotations.
Contents
Preface
Introduction
The Language of Chinese Medicine
The Historical Context
The Nature of Nomenclature
The Basics of the Chinese Language
Problems of Translation with Possible Solutions
Folk Beliefs, Myths and Customs
The Ancient Magic World
Creation Stories
Explanation of Natural Phenomena
Life and Death
Marriage and Family Obligations
Family and Society/Microcosm and Macrocosm
Worldview
Continuity from Ancient to Contemporary Times
Food
Philosophy and Religion
Daoism
Confucianism
Chinese Buddhism
The Literary Tradition
The Yi Jing
The Yellow Emperors Classic of Internal Medicine
The Art of War
Records of the Historian
The Daoist Classics
Confucian Classics
The Scientific Tradition
Folk Medicine
Court Medicine
Overview of the Historical Development of Medicine
Sexual Culture, Longevity and Immortality
What is Sexual Culture? Three Separate Traditions of Cultivating Sexual Energy
The Relationship Between These Traditions and Medicine
Key Terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Taxonomy of the Nomenclature
Traditional Categories
Rethinking These Categories in Western Terms
Words Listed by Category with Translations, Interpretations and Explanations
Index
Bibliography
Appendices
