| Yin and Yang is the core concepts in Basic Theory of TCM, Which was penetrated in all aspects of the TCM theory. This paper studies the theory of yin and yang from three aspects:Part I discusses the nature and mathematical properties of yin and yang. This is the most important part of the paper. We discuss in Four chapters:Chapters1discusses the nature and basic mathematical properties of yin and yang. We first define the basic meaning of yin and yang, then we distinguish concrete Yin and Yang from abstract Yin and Yang. Abstract Yin and Yang is an abstract concept, have no fixed meaning, rather vague and general. Concrete Yin and Yang is of specific properties, have fixed object, with observability, certainty and decidability.Yin and Yang is a relative concept, depend on the existence of each other, and so can be considered as a binary relation. Being a binary relation, Yin and Yang have mathematical properties such as anti-reflexive, anti-symmetry and transitivity.Attributes of an object can be divided into two types:Yang attributes and Yin attributes. Based on this understanding, we discuss the meaning and measurement of deficiency or sufficiency of Yin and Yang.Chapters2discusses six important types of Concrete Yin and Yang in TCM theory in great details.(1) Cold and heat. Cold and heat are two important syndromes of "eight principal syndromes" in TCM, and they are most important two syndromes for TCM doctors in their clinical practice. The meaning of cold and heat in TCM theory include the temperature of climate, cold and heat of the syndromes, as well as the cold and heat of the drugs. Cold and heat sometimes refer to as the objective temperature, but in most cases, they are subjective feelings of the patients or the doctors. The differences between the objective temperature of the patients and their feelings lead to the problems of true-false of cold and heat in TCM theory. The differences between the feelings of different people lead to the paradox on Traditional Chinese Herbalism theory. We also discuss the temperature measurement method in this paper.(2) Position. We discuss four types of Yin and Yang about position:left and right, front and rear, upper and lower, outside and inside. We analysis the Yin and Yang about position with blood left and Qi right theory, male left and female right theory, Qi ascend at left and descend at right theory, and find out many logical problems. We also discuss the mathematical representation of Yin and Yang about position. (3) Flavors and tastes. Flavors and tastes are core concepts of the theory of drug property in TCM. Our research has shown that, there are twelve logical problems in the theory of drug property in TCM. These issues should attract more academic attention.(4) Clear Qi and impure Qi. Clear Qi and impure Qi are core concepts of the theory of TCM. Analogy with buoyancy phenomenon, TCM have a theory of light, clear Qi tend to ascend and weightier, impure Qi tend to descend. This is an important theory of drugs in TCM; Unfortunately, this theory have logical problems. In this section, we discuss the problems in great detail.We also discuss the problems in the Yin and Yang theory of Ying and Wei, Zang and Fu in this chapter.Chapters3discusses Yin and Yang of the set. We give determination method of Yin and Yang of the set. We also discuss the differences and similarities of a whole divided into two and a whole divided into three.Chapters4discusses Yin and Yang of an object. We extended the concrete Yin and Yang from an attribute to an object. We define the concepts of compound Yin and Yang and attribute vector, which were used to describe the integrated Yin and Yang of an object with more than one attributes. We also use the compound Yin and Yang and attribute vector to describe the human health, drug attribute and prescription functionalities.Part II discusses the relation of yin and yang. This is the second important part of the paper. We discuss in two chapters:Chapters5discuss the relation of yin and yang. The relation of yin and yang is the core content of the theory of Yin and Yang. Related researches before are totally vague and general as their researchers haven’t distinguished concrete Yin and Yang from abstract Yin and Yang. We study the subject in four aspect:(1) The relation of yin and yang on a single attribute. We find that the traditional concepts, such as opposing and constraints, mutual root and interoperability, mutual transformation, are relations of yin and yang on a single attribute.(2) The relation of yin and yang between two attributes. Relation between attributes of an object may be positive correlation, inverse correlation, functional correlation or simply irrelevant. So, the theory that "yin grows while yang is generating, yang restrained and yin concealed" is simply a possible positive correlation between a yang attribute and a yin attribute. Also, the theory that "yin is decreasing while yang is generating, yang is decreasing while yin is generating" is simply a possible negative correlation between a yang attribute and a yin attribute. We can’t simply take any one of them as a truth and we need carefully analysis based on concrete conditions.(3) The relation of yin and yang between human beings and the outer environment. Yin and yang of human beings can be synchronously growth and decline with outer environment. They can also reverse ebb and flow with outer environment. Which mean that we need carefully analysis on concrete conditions when we use the theory of yin and yang.(4) The balance of yin and yang. The balance of yin and yang on a single attribute means that the attribute is in a condition of neither deficiency or sufficiency of Yin and Yang. The balance of yin and yang on object A means that all attributes of A are in the condition of balance of yin and yang.Chapters6discusses the debate between Zi yin School and and Fu yang School. We give definition of Zi yin School and and Fu yang School and then we make a detailed discussion on the origins, evolutions, primary physicians and their main points of each school.To sum up, There are three major issues in the two schools’controversy:1) the priority of Yin and Yang.2) The two main diseases, deficiency of Yin and deficiency of Yang, which is more general?3) How to treat the two diseases, deficiency of Yin and deficiency of Yang?Why these issues had been long debated, but cannot be solved until now? We think there are two main reasons for this question:1) The demonstration method is wrong. Ancient TCM physicians solve a controversy usually use such methods:analogy, appeal to authority, resorting to a special case, resorting to moderation, resorting to emotions, or even use personal attacks. These methods are not scientific and so ineffective.2) Neither of them have a clear understanding on the connotation of Yin and Yang. They haven’t distinguished concrete Yin and Yang from abstract Yin and Yang. And so the debate is vague and abstract.We propose four hypotheses to explain why the two opponent schools can coexist in long history:1) the positive feedback of patient.2) The active choice of patient.3) Master’s influence.4) One disease can have multiple treatments.Part III discusses three important concepts related to yin and yang:Qi, Si Xiang and Wu Xing. This is the third important part of the paper. This part has some sections that deserve attention:Chapters7discuss Qi theory. In section7.2, we discuss the motive force of Qi transformation in classical Qi transformation Theory.Chapters7discuss the Si Xiang Theory. Si Xiang is a subdivision of Yin and Yang. There are two method in how Si Xiang match four seasons:1) orthodox Si Xiang theory, which matches spring with Shao yang, summer with Tai yang, autumn with Shao yin, winter with Tai yin. This method was widely used in ancient books.2) TCM Si Xiang theory, which matches spring with Shao yang, summer with Tai yang, autumn with Tai yin, winter with Shao yin. This method was widely used in ancient TCM books. The two methods are based on different view of Yin and Yang and so be reasonable in different ways. Based on the two Si Xiang theories, there are two methods on how the Si Xiang matches with the five viscera in TCM theory. Chapters9discuss the Wu Xing Theory. In this section, our most important devotions are the new interpretation on Xiang-Sheng and Xiang-Ke of Wu-Xing. Current TCM academia tends to define Xiang-Sheng as Mutual generation and define Xiang-ke as Mutual restriction. This definition is not entirely reasonable. Xiang-Sheng has two level meanings:1. Continuous and extend of the time, space and attribute;2. the effect of promotion and facilitation. Xiang-Ke also has two meanings:1. Separation and difference of the time, space and attribute;2. the effect of suppression and obstruction. The first meaning is essential and absolute; the second meaning is derived and relative. A correct understanding of the meaning of Xiang-Sheng and Xiang-Ke has significance effects on avoiding logical confusion and improving the basic theory of TCM. |
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