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Who Can Ride the Dragon?: An Exploration of the Cultural Roots of Traditional Chinese Medicine
An excellent book for the new student! This text provides insight into the depth and subtlety of traditional Chinese medicine by delving into the linguistic and cultural wellsprings of China's venerable past. The authors' knowledge, thoughtfulness, and dedication to their topic clearly radiate from every page. Steven Given, Dean of Clinical Education at Yo San University, has this to say of the "Their interweaving of language, religion and culture results in a cogent and highly readable discourse that ties together the elements of culture and medicine. Zhang and Rose's examination of the etymology and structure of the Chinese language is a major contribution to our understanding of how traditional Chinese medicine functions today." In her forward to the book, Harriet Beinfield, co-author of Between Heaven and Earth, a Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine , made the following "[The authors] have performed a great service by clearing a path into the formidably dense thicket that constitutes Chinese medicine in the West. This text provides . . . a window of inestimable value into a world of meaning that satisfies a yearning on the part of many who hunger to know the substrate from which Chinese medicine emerges."
- GenresReligion
268 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 24, 2023
Because I participate in two Zoom discussion groups, on herbalism and on acupressure (Jin Shin Do), I’m interested in understanding the cultural background of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Who Can Ride the Dragon? perfectly serves that purpose, reviewing classical texts, explaining central concepts, and describing the philosophical traditions of Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. The book reviews Chinese history in terms of social and scientific developments, and even has a chapter on sexual practices. I can think of no better way to get a quick and thorough introduction to the cultural background of Chinese medicine.
Beginning with a discussion of language, the book talks about the nature of Chinese ideographs, and of the concepts conveyed by them. The authors emphasize that Chinese ideographs have multiple meanings and connotations. In any particular use of an ideograph, the multiple meanings may be intended, or it may be necessary to understand the intended meaning by context. Chinese readers are accustomed to this situation, but western readers may stumble over trying to nail down the exact meaning.
I don’t think the obstacle is as radically unfamiliar as the authors suggest. In English and other Indo-European languages, poetry avails itself of multiple meanings, as any experienced reader of poetry knows. Even in terms of philosophical concepts, the problem of multiple denotations and connotations arises. We have groups of related terms, such as “mind,” “soul,” “spirit,” “anima” and “psyche,” which overlap and have shifting connotations depending on context. Many of the concepts of Chinese medicine are similar to these.
To give an example: “Qi” (or “Chi”) is a central concept of Chinese medicine. Qi is something like life force. Sometimes it is thought of in physical terms: for example, it is said that the blood follows Qi, and when there is no Qi there is no life. Sometimes it is thought of in mental terms: for example one can draw Qi to a part of the body by paying attention to it. Sometimes it is thought of in ontological terms: for example, before there was anything else in the world, there was Qi. Much of both herbalism and acupressure is concerned with moving Qi in appropriate ways to bring about healing and well-being. Westerners may be similarly open-ended in using terms such as “life” or “energy.” Maybe it’s simply a matter of learning to use an unfamiliar term.
There is a continuous cultural and medical tradition in China going back millennia. The oldest Chinese medical text is the Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine, originating in the eighth century BCE. Daoism, which originated with Laozi in the fifth century BCE, teaches following the Way (being in harmony with nature) and has themes in common with the Yellow Emperor’s Canon. Confucianism also originated in the fifth century BCE, and concerns itself with social hierarchies, which led to the systematizing and institutionalization of Chinese medicine. Buddhism was brought from India into Tibet in the first century CE, and brought meditation practices, such as Qi Gong (breathing exercises), and new kinds of herbalism.
I could go on about the variety of information and cultural insight provided, but suffice it to say that this survey of Chinese culture is an invaluable resource and a fascinating read.
Beginning with a discussion of language, the book talks about the nature of Chinese ideographs, and of the concepts conveyed by them. The authors emphasize that Chinese ideographs have multiple meanings and connotations. In any particular use of an ideograph, the multiple meanings may be intended, or it may be necessary to understand the intended meaning by context. Chinese readers are accustomed to this situation, but western readers may stumble over trying to nail down the exact meaning.
I don’t think the obstacle is as radically unfamiliar as the authors suggest. In English and other Indo-European languages, poetry avails itself of multiple meanings, as any experienced reader of poetry knows. Even in terms of philosophical concepts, the problem of multiple denotations and connotations arises. We have groups of related terms, such as “mind,” “soul,” “spirit,” “anima” and “psyche,” which overlap and have shifting connotations depending on context. Many of the concepts of Chinese medicine are similar to these.
To give an example: “Qi” (or “Chi”) is a central concept of Chinese medicine. Qi is something like life force. Sometimes it is thought of in physical terms: for example, it is said that the blood follows Qi, and when there is no Qi there is no life. Sometimes it is thought of in mental terms: for example one can draw Qi to a part of the body by paying attention to it. Sometimes it is thought of in ontological terms: for example, before there was anything else in the world, there was Qi. Much of both herbalism and acupressure is concerned with moving Qi in appropriate ways to bring about healing and well-being. Westerners may be similarly open-ended in using terms such as “life” or “energy.” Maybe it’s simply a matter of learning to use an unfamiliar term.
There is a continuous cultural and medical tradition in China going back millennia. The oldest Chinese medical text is the Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine, originating in the eighth century BCE. Daoism, which originated with Laozi in the fifth century BCE, teaches following the Way (being in harmony with nature) and has themes in common with the Yellow Emperor’s Canon. Confucianism also originated in the fifth century BCE, and concerns itself with social hierarchies, which led to the systematizing and institutionalization of Chinese medicine. Buddhism was brought from India into Tibet in the first century CE, and brought meditation practices, such as Qi Gong (breathing exercises), and new kinds of herbalism.
I could go on about the variety of information and cultural insight provided, but suffice it to say that this survey of Chinese culture is an invaluable resource and a fascinating read.
June 10, 2019
Great book connecting language/communication to the development of a culture and TCM
November 10, 2012
One of the best introductions to Chinese medicine out there!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews