| Objective:By discussing the influence of the Cheng’s and Zhu’s Neo-Confucianism(hereinafter referred to as Neo-Confucianism)on Xin’an Medicine,this study aims to investigate the thinking mode,cultural connotation as well as philosophical foundation of Xin’an Medicine,thus providing references for the in-depth study of Xin’an Medicine in future.Methods:Firstly,a thorough investigation into the historical records on Neo-Confucianism and medical documents on Xin’an Medicine was conducted.Secondly,a comprehensive search on CNKI(keywords:Neo-Confucianism;Xin’an Medicine)was carried out.Thirdly,several times of field research was carried out by visiting the Medical History Museums,Cultural Centers and Heritage Halls.On the basis of comprehensively collecting,reading and analyzing the relevant documents on Neo-Confucianism and Xin’an Medicine,the study on Xin’an Medicine from the perspective of Neo-Confucianism was conducted.Results:1.Neo-Confucianism is the mainstream ideology influencing the ancient Huizhou people.Although it has widespread influence in the whole China,its influence in Huizhou is more conspicuous and profound.The Neo-Confucianism is highly esteemed and valued by the ancient Huizhou people,and therefore becomes their core ideology and spiritual prop.2.Under the influence of Zhu Xi’s teachings of "reading books for acquisition of knowledge",Huizhou became a place in high esteem of reading,writing,printing and collecting books,thus laying a solid foundation for fostering well educated and highly qualified Xin’an physicians.Under such an academic atmosphere,the Xin’an physicians were mostly both confucianists and doctors,thus creating favorable conditions for the development and transmission of Xin’an medicine.3.Neo-Confucianism has a profound impact on Xin’an physicians’approaches of academic research.Among them,"Zhu Xi’s reading methods"is the most important one.Huizhou is the native place of Zhu Xi,and that’s why the Xin’an physicians were so respectful for him and his methods of reading books.A Xin’an physician,Wang Ji,has written a book entitled Reading Medical Books in which the methods of reading medical books were introduced.It is a specific application of Zhu Xi’s reading methods in the field of medicine.Under the influence of Zhu Xi’s methods of academic research,the Xin’an physicians gradually formed the following styles of academic research:Being respectful and purposeful and reading books to acquire knowledge;being modest and reading meticulously for full understanding;learning by doing and integrating theory with practice;being brave to doubt and daring to innovate.4.Neo-Confucianism has laid an epistemological and methodological foundation for Xin’an Medicine.Neo-Confucianism integrated cosmism and ethics,and brought about educational development and academic prosperity in Huizhou.Under the guidance of Neo-Confucianism,the Xin’an physicians were good at independent thinking and rational exploration.They studied the phenomena of nature and thus acquired medical knowledge.Hence,it is considered that Neo-Confucianism is the epistemological and methodological foundation of Xin’an Medicine.Xin’an physicians were deeply influenced by the philosophies of "studying the phenomena of nature to acquire knowledge","integrating profundity with simplicity","employment of essence and function","emphasis on universal variety" and "lucid exposition of outline" in Neo-Confucianism.5.Neo-Confucianism greatly enlightened and supported the theoretical construction of Xin’an Medicine,especially Wang Ji’s theory of "Ying and Wei sharing the same qi";Luo Zhouyan’s theory of "primordial yin and primordial yang";Sun Yikui’s theory of "moving qi in mingmen";Fang Youzhi’s theories of"re-compilation of disordered bamboo slips" and "tripartite confrontation of the three cardinal guides".6.Neo-Confucianism also improved the moral standards of Xin’an physicians.Xin’an physicians’ good medical ethics was long nurtured by the"benevolence virtue" of Neo-Confucianism.Cheng Hao’s view of "fulfilling filial piety by learning medicine" is not only the leading motive for Xin’an physicians to choose their medical career,but also the power for them to assiduously study medicine and write medical books.Therefore,"filial piety" became the perfect binding point of "Confucianism" and "medicine" in Xin’an Confucian physicians.Conclusion:Neo-Confucianism has a deep and profound influence on Xin’an Medicine.Neo-Confucianism shaped the spirit of scholarly research of Xin’an Physicians,nurtured their good medical ethics,laid a solid epistemological and methodological foundation for Xin’an Medicine,and enlightened the theoretical construction of Xin’an Medicine.In a word,Neo-Confucianism is one of the most important factors contributing to the development and prosperity of Xin’an medicine.Under the profound influence of Neo-Confucianism,Xin’an Medicine gradually evolved into a regional school of medicine marked by integration of medicine and culture,thus becoming the epitome of traditional Chinese medicine.Traditional Chinese medicine is a blend of medicine and philosophy,and Chinese culture is essential to the emergence and development of traditional Chinese medicine.Hence,any attempt to fracture the cultural identity of traditional Chinese medicine,or westernize traditional Chinese medicine,is undesirable. |
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