Introduction: In traditional medicine, theories concerning the causes of disease have historically developed in close association with Buddhist philosophical thought. This interrelationship is consistently reflected in the works of prominent physicians and scholars from India, Tibet, and Mongolia. Öösöö törsön ukhaan nert khanii tuuj by Undur Gegeen Zanabazar presents disease causation through symbolic and narrative expressions. A comparative examination of this work alongside classical medical treatises provides a conceptual framework for understanding the integration of philosophical doctrine and medical theory. Goal: The objective of this study is to comparatively examine the concept of disease causation articulated in Öösöö törsön ukhaan nert khanii tuuj and the explanations presented in the classical texts Four Medical Tantras and Altan Khadmal. Materials and Methods: The primary materials for this study consist of Öösöö törsön ukhaan nert khanii tuuj by Undur Gegeen Zanabazar and foundational classical texts of traditional medicine. The research employs an integrated methodological approach combining source criticism, hermeneutic analysis, comparative methods, and analysis–synthesis. Key terms, semantic meanings, and symbolic narratives within the selected sources were systematically analyzed and compared. Results The results demonstrate that the symbolic depictions of ignorance, anger, and desire in Öösöö törsön ukhaan nert khanii tuuj are conceptually consistent with the theory of distant (root) causes of disease as described in classical traditional medical texts. While classical medical texts articulate disease causation through structured philosophical and logical frameworks, the narrative form of the tuuj conveys equivalent theoretical content through imagery and symbolism, thereby enhancing conceptual accessibility.
These findings suggest that Undur Gegeen Zanabazar’s teachings constitute a comprehensive intellectual system integrating Buddhist philosophy, religious doctrine, and the theoretical foundations of traditional medicine. Symbolic narrative thus emerges as a coherent and effective mode for transmitting medical knowledge within the broader traditional epistemological context.