Features analysis of five-element theory and its basal effects on construction of visceral manifestation theory

• Published in: Journal of traditional Chinese medicine 2014-02, Vol.34 (1), p.115-121
• Main Authors: Ma, Zimi, Jia, Chunhua, Guo, Jin, Gu, Haorong, Miao, Yanhuan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: China; History, Ancient; Humans; Medicine in Literature; Medicine, Chinese Traditional - history; Medicine, Chinese Traditional - psychology; Philosophy - history; Research Design; 中医理论; 中国传统医学; 五行学说; 元理论; 内脏; 哲学基础; 推理模式; 认知系统
• ISSN: 0255-2922
• DOI: 10.1016/S0254-6272(14)60064-9

OBJECTIVE： To study the Chinese ancient five-ele- ment theory, one of the philosophical foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM） theory con- struction, from the perspective of comtemporary cognitive science, and to reveal the important func- tions of five-element theory in the construction of TCM theory. METHODS： The basic effects of five-element theo- ry in the construction of TCM theory are intensively expounded and proved from the following aspects： embodiment of five-element theory in cognizing the world, quasi axiom of five-element theory in es- sence, classification thery of family resemblance and deductive inference pattern of five-element theory, and the openness and expansibility of five-element theory. RESULTS： If five-element theory is considered acognitive pattern or cognitive system related to cul- ture, then there should be features of cognitive em- bodiment in the cognitive system. If five-element theory is regarded as a symbolic system, however, then there should be a quasi-axiom for the system, and inferential deduction. If, however, five-element theory is taken as a theoretical constructive meta- phor, then there should be features of opening and expansibility for the metaphor. CONCLUSION： Based on five-element theory, this study provides a cognitive frame for the construc- tion of TCM（a medicine that originated in China, and is characterized by holism and treatment based on pattern identification differentiation） the- ory with the function of constructing a concept base, thereby implying further research strategies. Useful information may be produced from the cre- ative inferences obtained from the incorporation of five-element theory.