INTERNAL CANON OF THE YELLOW EMPERORCOURSE INTRODUCTION

Stanley LiangPh.D., R.TCMP, R.Ac

About this course

This course provides an overview of the theoretical framework of Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor, the first and the most important literature of Chinese medicine

Two parts of this book Suiwen or Basic Questions: the theoretical foundation of

Chinese Medicine and its diagnostic methods Lingshu or Spiritual Pivot: meridian and the acupuncture

therapy

Course Components

12 lectures one presentation session (2 ~ 3 persons) Research essay (800~1200 words, 3~5

pages) Mid-term exam Final exam

Lecture topics

1. Introduction of Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor, its origin and academic system

2. The Yin-Yang and Five-Element theory3. The Zang-Fu system and the manifestation4. The meridian theory5. TCM etiology and pathology6. TCM syndrome (Zheng) system

Lecture topics - continue

7. TCM diagnostic methods8. TCM treatment principles9. TCM health management10. Acupuncture equipment and needling skills11. Circulation of meridian and its application for

acupuncture treatment12. Acupuncture techniques and treatment for specific

conditions

Learning Material

Lecture slides (available at: http://www.machinelearninghellix.site/)

Text book for reference: Paul U. Unschuld, Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen: Nature, Knowledge, Imagery in an Ancient Chinese Medical Text. University of California Press

Handouts for reading (available at my webpage)

Numbering system of reading material

Each lecture has reading material

Some will be presented and discussed in class

Some can be use as material for the essay assignment

Both Suwen and Lingshu have 81 chapters, numbered from S1 to S81. In a single section, the text is separated into subsections, e.g. S1.1, S1.2

For indexing, the paragraphs mentioned in the lecture will follow this numbering rule

Number of the chapter

Number of the paragraph

The reading material is uploaded in the course page

Need to download Acrobat Reader, the free software for reading PDF files at: https://get.adobe.com/reader/

Instructor’s brief introduction

Stanley Liang Ph.D. in Chinese Medical Sciences specializing in

Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine2013

MA in Information Systems and Technology, York University, 2017

R.TCMP & R.Ac (Gen. Class )in Ontario since June 2017

Grading metrics

Attendance – 10% Essay – 20% Presentation – 10% Mid-term exam – 30% (Lecture 1 – 7) Final exam –30%

Introduction of Inner Canon of the Yellow

An ancient Chinese medical text written between the late Warring States period (475-221 BC) and the Han dynasty (206 BC –220 AD)

Versions In 762 AD, Wang Bing, a Chinese official librarian

finished his revision of the book by collecting different version and fragments. He rearranged the book into 81 chapters, in which Chapter 72 & 73 are lost.

The “authoritative version” used today is based on the Again Broadly Corrected and Annotated Suwen by the 11th century Imperial Editorial Office from 1053 AD based on the Wang Bing’s version in 762

Contents and English Translation

Two parts of the book the Suwen (素問) or Basic Questions the theoretical foundation of TCM

the Lingshu (靈樞) or Spiritual Pivot Acupuncture therapy in detail

English translation English Translation:

Sinological Translation: Handbooks for Daoist Practice by Louis Komjathy

TCM Style Translation: The Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor, Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine, Yellow Emperor, Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine by Zhaoguo Li

Medical History Translation: Huang Di nei jing su wen: Nature, Knowledge, Imagery in an Ancient Chinese Medical Text by Paul U Unschuld 2003, The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine by Ilza Veith, 2002

Naming of the book

The name of Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine does not mean it is about internal medicine

The term internal – external, or upper – lower simply used as numbers

The term Canon means the book contains essential and fundamental knowledge

The term “Suwen” means the book is about the essential knowledge, or the basis for all TCM applications

The term “Lingsu” influenced by the concepts in Taoism of the editor. It means pivot, or lever fulcrum. It implies the book is about points in acupuncture, the alternative names of Lingsuinclude the Nine Volume, or Acupuncture Canon.

The TCM knowledge classics

Medical books in the Mawangdui Silk Textse.g. the Moxibustion Canon for the Eleven Meridians, 52 formula for diseases, Method of Pulse Diagnosis, Daoyin Exercise, etc.

Before 168 BC

The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine(475 BC - 220 AD) Wang Bing version (710 -805)

Tai Su (605-616)

Nan Jing or The Huang Emperor's Canon of Eighty-One Difficult Issues(25 - 220)

Pulse diagnosisMerideiansZangfu OrgansDisease / etiologyPointsNeedling methods

Shanghan Lun, or Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders

(before 220) Jin Gui Yao Lue, or Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet

By Zhang Zhongjing, a provincial governor in Han Dynasty

(17th ~ 18th century) School of Wen Bing, or Fever disease

The background context

The content outline

Diagnosis, treatment principles, methods, especially for acupuncture

Health management and maintenance Medical fundamentals and knowledge

framework, including philosophy, astrology & calendar, mathematics, sociology etc., e.g. Yin-Yang theory, Five-elements theory

The academic system

Based on observation and practice

Anatomy Physiology VerificationBy practice Chinese Philosophy

Yin-Yang, Five-elementsUnit to measure

The unique values of its academic system

A unique system different from other medical school Holistic view: human = physical + mental + social View to disease: focus on internal harmony, dynamic

balance, interactivity of internal organs and their functionality

Health management view: human-nature interaction, Zang-fu / meridian interaction, goal – keep or restore dynamic balance

The unique values of its academic system

Methodology Focus on functions, assess based on observations such as

pulse, symptoms, behavior etc. – summarize to Zang-fusystem

Holism and interaction: liver – spleen – gallbladder –thinking

Dynamic and relation to time: season, acupuncture Diagnostic technique

Observation, auscultation, olfaction, inquirypulse feeling

Treatment technique Acupuncture, Tuina,

The unique values of its academic system

Understanding of functionality Mental activities – resting in brain, created by heart,

affected by spleen

The trinity in TCM - society, mentality, physical fitness

Diagnostic system Pulse feeling technique Symptom focus Combined with western medicine

Conclusion

Internal Canon of the Yellow Emperor forms the fundamental framework of TCM

The study on this book helps to set up the philosophy system to guide your TCM diagnosis and treatment

Comparing with the fundamental courses e.g. TCM basic theories, this course introduces TCM in the original context

Frequently referring to the original text (English version) gives a first-hand view of TCM

Questions/Discussions

When the book is written The similar works during that time Its unique status The development of its theoretical

framework Its guidance to acupuncture and herbal

medicine