Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen: Nature, Knowledge, Imagery in an Ancient Chinese Medical Text: With an Appendix: The Doctrine of the Five Periods and Six Qi in the Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen

by Paul U. Unschuld

"The Huang Di nei jing su wen, known familiarly as the Su wen, is a seminal text of ancient Chinese medicine, yet until now there has been no comprehensive, detailed analysis of its development and contents. At last Paul U. Unschuld offers entry into this still-vital artifact of China's cultural and intellectual past." Unschuld traces the history of the Su wen to its origins in the final centuries B.C.E., when numerous authors wrote short medical essays to explain the foundations of human health and illness on the basis of the newly developed vessel theory. He examines the meaning of the title and the way the work has been received throughout Chinese medical history, both before and after the eleventh century when the text as it is known today emerged. Unschuld's survey of the contents includes illuminating discussions of the yin-yang and five-agents doctrines, the perception of the human body and its organs, qi and blood, pathogenic agents, concepts of disease and diagnosis, and a variety of therapies, including the new technique of acupuncture. An extensive appendix, furthermore, offers a detailed introduction to the complicated climatological theories of Wu yun Ilu qi ("five periods and six qi"), which were added to the Su wen by Wang Bing in the Tang era.

Genres: Traditional Chinese Medicine

536 pages, ebook

First published April 8, 2003

About the author

Paul Ulrich Unschuld

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice scholarly look at the Su Wen. It is interesting to see how a Doctor of TCM can have a completely different interpretation of the Su Wen text. This work has made me want to delve further into the roots of TCM practice and theory.

[Rah~ri]

Imagery !
That's what i'm lookin' for.
Oh and i guess knowledge couldn't hurt?

: )

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of our greatest scholars...one of our greatest critics; I have much to argue with him, but couldn't even have the discussion if it wasn't for his work!