On the Characteristics and Construction of Identifying Concepts in Traditional Chinese Medicine
10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2026.15.001
- VernacularTitle:论中医药标识性概念的特征及其构建
- Author:
Luqi HUANG
1
;
Zhan LI
2
Author Information
1. China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences，Beijing，100700
2. Postdoctoral Research Station of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
identifying concepts;
traditional Chinese medicine;
framework orientation;
autonomy;
extensibility;
inheritance;
cross-disciplinary nature
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2026;67(15):1585-1591
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
The construction of identifying concepts in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） represents a fundamental and prerequisite task for establishing an independent knowledge system of TCM. By defining the principles for the extraction and the methods for constructing TCM identifying concepts， this paper proposes that such concepts should possess the characteristics of being framework-oriented， autonomous， extensible， inheritable， and cross-disciplinary， and should follow a structural framework of "worldview-thinking mode-methodology". Based on this framework， typical TCM identifying concepts， including qi， yin-yang， five elements， visceral manifestation， meridians and collaterals， body fluids， xiang （manifestation）， four diagnostic methods， pattern differentiation， preventive treatment of disease， treating disease by seeking the root cause， prescription-syndrome， four natures and five flavors， and combination of medicinals， are extracted from four classical texts，i.e. The Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor （《黄帝内经》）， The Classic of Difficult Issues （《难经》）， Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases （《伤寒杂病论》）， and Shen Nong's Classic of the Materia Medica （《神农本草经》）. Their interrelationships are further elucidated. Exploring a pathway for constructing TCM identifying concepts will not only facilitate the development of an independent know-ledge system of TCM and promote its inheritance and innovative development， but also provide a reference for the establishment of independent knowledge systems in other disciplines.
