What kind of science is TCM? How to develop TCM that consistent with its inherent rule? To solve this problem,we should establish dimension research area of TCM,set up science of "theory study of TCM",evolve dimension research of TCM.We can gather a body of scholars of TCM that not only master TCM theory but also possess knowledge structure in terms of philosophy,logic,science philosophy and science epistemology et al,formation academic society,carry out research,discussion and argument.So to make clear that what kind of science is TCM,what are its theoretical structure,essential characteristic and developing rule,which aspect of biotic phenomenon,research method and thought does it study.In that way to recognize investigative aim of TCM science,establish rationality belief of science community of TCM,so as to accelerate us to choice TCM research thought that accord with its own inherent rule,advance clinical therapeutic effect and develop foundational theory of TCM.

Traditional Chinese medicine is not much of a experience fact delineation and record on human body vital movement,disease process and disease therapeutics,but a theory explanation on experience fact though making observed medical phenomenon come down to general law and principle;a dialectic-analogy logic system formed by applying logical thinking law of Chinese people to tidy up medical experience knowledge;a theory medical science formed by a concept-category system organized by a series of different decks of theory categories,which has highly self-support nature in interior of theory whole and logic consistency between propositions.

Qi was a basic concept of material existence in Chinese ancient philosophy.Qi was the flowing and microscopic existence in pre-qin dynasty,which was different from liquid and solid.Qi was the important conception of the flowing and microscopic existence in Inner Canon of Huangdi,which constructed the medical theory and explained the nature,human body,physiology and pathology.Thus,it made the TCM theory belong to materialistic epistemology.Qi explained the existence of life material which could not be cognized at that time,this made TCM theory do not need to study what material was,but to study what the changes of material were,then promoted the progress of medical science.

Yin-yang in ancient Chinese philosophy originally meant two kinds of qi,yin was cold and yang was warm.Its extended meaning originated from Yizhuan was two aspects opposite to each other during the whole world.In Inner Canon of Huangdi, the category of yin-yang was more than generalization of the law of the unity of opposites in nature,the basic principles of yin-yang were further revealed,which was the major content of the yin-yang theory of TCM.Thinking pattern of physicians through the ages had been effected by the yin-yang theory for more than two thousand years,which made TCM theory has a dialectical thinking mode.Therefore,a theoretical system of medicine with the property of dialectical logic was set up.

The category of five elements had consummated in the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States Periods.The five elements emerged from the observation of the various groups of dynamic processes,functions and characteristics in the natural world.It thoughts that the five elements are mutual united and supplementary.The category of five elements brings a new thinking mode into the theory of TCM,establishes a theory of man,as a microcosm,is connected with the macrocosm which is on the basis of five orientations,five kinds of elements and five organs.It makes integer conception,which regards five viscera as a center and considers human physiological and pathological activities from multiple factors and multiple levels,follow through the TCM theory.

"Human body" and "natural environment" is a pair of ancient,important philosophical categories in Chinese philosophy.Ancient Chinese philosophy produced and developed on the basis of "debate on human and nature".Especially in the Pre-qin and Han dynasty,"human body" and "natural environment" is the center subject of philosophic discussion,which also permeated into the fi elds of life science,and became the most important categories in theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine.This subject had signifi cant effect on formation of theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine and theory of "adaptation of human body to natural environment".

‘Body and spirit’ is a pair of category that indicates the relationship between body and spirit.The categogy of ‘body and spirit’ of Inner Canon of Huangdi shapes the theory of ‘somatic and spiritual harmony’.It makes the TCM grasp the relationship between body and spirit exactly,and introduce the cognitive method of ‘mind’ from pre-qin philosophy,master the method of discovering the essence of things from observing the phenomenon.Therefore,in the era of low productivity and limited technique,TCM can recognize the essence of life by study the vital phenomena of human body.

Observation is a necessary precondition of obtaining and constructing reliable knowledge,through which people can extract nature and low of things and lives from complex phenomenon.Therefore,widely and deeply observation is an important foundation and scienti c method category of forming TCM theoretical system.

In ancient times of China, thoughts of matter differentiation developed on basis of observation. It derived from primitive gather activities, its initial form was differentiation, then, formed into classification. As a scientific methods category, the development of thoughts of matter diffetentiation also had effect on traditional Chinese medicine. It effected and controlled that traditional Chinese medicine theory showed solicitude for sorts but not structural analysis. It directed theory of traditional Chinese medicine to obtain experience, combine knowledge and construct theory system in way of methodology.

"Absorbing image "is an important method in establishing fundamental theoretical system of TCM.The term and concept of "nomenclature according to manifestations" is the starting point of theoretical thoughts and the results of scientific studies."Testing viscera via the state of internal organs" is a method of "understanding the interior from the exterior",which makes TCM surpass productivity level and practical tools of that time,finally aquire knowledge.The huge theoretical system of TCM is constructed on the basis of "classification according to manifestation",discovering unknown fields according to infinite knowledge.