Heart and Kidneys

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Heart and Kidneys The Alchemy of the Organs with Peter Firebrace The Red Bird and the Dark Stag: the Heart and the Kidneys Vancouver, September 2012 TOPIC BREAKDOWN Day 1 Part 1 0-30 mins Overview. Inner alchemy tradition uses images such as the red bird and the dark deer for the heart and kidneys. Alchemical tradition texts eg 2nd cent AD Wei Bo Yang’s Cantongqi, 4th cent Ge Hong’s Baopuzi. Chinese herbs and food part of the external alchemy tradition, Waidan, using what is outside you. Neidan, Inner alchemy uses what is inside you, working with the ingredients of jing, qi, shen, blood, fluids. Sun Simiao (7th cent), King of Medicine, encyclopedic author, included ideas from alchemy, as did Li Shizhen, famous16th century herbalist and author. Preserved in centres of learning such as Baiyunguan, Daoist Temple of the White Clouds in Beijing, 30-60 mins Guan, important concept, to see like a bird, bird’s eye view, to observe, observatory, Si guan, 4 methods of observing, diagnosis in medicine. Overview of Neijingtu, Map of Inner Streams or Inner Landscape, that is regenerative and self-perpetuating. Water is crucial to this and the microcosmic orbit. Overview of Xiuzhentu, Map of Cultivating Perfection, Authenticity, realising true nature as human being. Importance of time and timing, solar and lunar periods. 60-90 mins The organs and guardian spirits for heart, lung, spleen, liver, gallbladder and kidneys. Five elements, in central stove, three passes on spine, three dan tian on front. Kidneys, crucial to this process. Alchemical text Huangtingjing, Yellow Court Classic. Neiguan, inner observation, essential, the quiet meditative mind. Li, conscious awareness and attunement. All part of the Yang Sheng, Nourishing Life tradition. Recommended literature: Catherine Despeux, Isabelle Robinet. Day 1 Part 2 0-30 mins Space, luopan, fengshui compass. Bei nan, north and south, cold and heat, light and dark, still axis of compass, of heart and kidney. Xuan, dark, undifferentiated mystery of the origin. Xuanlü, dark deer of the kidneys. Daodejing ch 6: ‘Gushen, the spirit of the valley, never dies, it is Xuanpin, the mysterious female’. Cf woman as the holder of the future, bearer of the child. Yuan, source, origin can be located between the kidneys. Also Ren 4 Guan Yuan, gateway to the source, yuan qi with Kid 13 and St 28 on same line, all points for fertility, link to fluids. Xuan wu, dark warrior of the north protecting against darkness. Snake and Tortoise of the north in united embrace. 30-60 mins Tortoise, slow, long-lived, wise, knows when to retire. Hibernates, suspended animation, retreat, regeneration, tortoise breath, contrast to yang lifestyle, night work, not sleeping, which destroys kidney yin. Cf wu wei, non-action, non-reaction. Snake sheds skin, also symbol of renewal, but fast, yang. Winter solstice, Cyclic characters, 1 The Alchemy of the Organs with Peter Firebrace The Red Bird and the Dark Stag: the Heart and the Kidneys Vancouver, September 2012 TOPIC BREAKDOWN cycle of sixty, hours, days, months, years. Tian gan, 10 heavenly stems, water stems 9, ren (Bl) and 10, gui (Kid). Tian gui and fertility. 60-90 mins Fluids related to the kidneys, eg, fluid in mouth, of different quality dependent on state of mind, central to inner landscape map, and vaginal fluids, wetness of woman in sexual arousal. Essential for regeneration and the generative power to give birth. Fire stems 3, bing (SI) and 4, ding (Ht). Di zhi, 12 earthly branches. Gb first branch, zi, water energy, another link with kidneys, initiator, opposite wu, fire branch 7, heart. Metal branch 10, you, is kidney branch, distilling, keeping, preserving. Day 1 Part 3 0-30 mins Trigrams and hexagrams. Yinyang, sixiang, four images, bagua, eight trigrams and relation to five elements. Li, fire, needs the yin within to burn. Kan, water, contains the yang line within the yin, like electric power latent within the dam. Li image of beautiful bird, brightness. Kan man fallen into a pit, danger. Li and kan retain opposite positions in both anterior heaven (horizontal, sleeping) and posterior heaven (vertical, awake) sequences, an inseparable pair. 30-60 mins Exchange between li and kan is central to the alchemical process, reconciliation of opposites, jing shen. Hexagram 29, double water, is danger, difficulty. Hex 30, Li, double fire is brightness, clarity of mind. Hex 63, Jiji, fire below water, is already completed, the perfect hexagram, but finished. Hex 64, Weiji, water below fire, is not yet complete, sign of potential. Neijingtu, Inner Landscape Map, shows embryo within a sac or container. Water seen in sea of marrow (brain), spinal stream with its three passes, sea around island of immortals, sea of kan below, spring in cave of mouth. Waterwheel treaders raise water up to nourish the brain and irrigate three dan tian. 60-90 mins With a quiet mind, regenerative water collects in mouth. Fire seen in true dantian below and fire of mingmen. Cf use of moxa in exhaustion and for longevity eg on Ren 6, Ren 4, St 36, Du 4. Landscape should be moving, (wheels turning, ploughing etc). Stillness in mountains above. Teacher and pupil, Laozi and Boddhidharma. Xiuzhentu, Cultivating Perfection Map, kidney only organ to be represented. Dark deer text similar to text of Huangtingjing, Yellow Court Classic, written by Weihuacun, woman in 4th cent AD. Dark deer two headed. Wu shaman, connects heaven and earth, danced for rain, fertility of land. Day 1 Part 4 0-30 mins Xiuzhentu text on the kidneys. Xuanlu two-headed deer, like Janus, Roman god who gave his name to January, looking back at old year and looking forward to new. 2 The Alchemy of the Organs with Peter Firebrace The Red Bird and the Dark Stag: the Heart and the Kidneys Vancouver, September 2012 TOPIC BREAKDOWN One of its names is Linger, magical child, either real child or inner child, regenerate being within, able to be spiritually effective, with magical powers. 30-60 mins Discussion of Daoist concept of the immortal embryo, rising to head and exiting out of head to the nine realms of heaven, achieving true or authentic human nature. Aims are health, longevity and immortality. Ascension of water back up to head starts in Weiluguan, the lower pass at the sacrum. Two kidneys authentic water and authentic fire, left, gate of kidneys, right, gate of destiny (ming men). Palace of qi of life, gate of qi of death. Zhi - wisdom to unfold life as it should be unfolded, eg jing, unfolding cycles of life in innate wisdom. Kidneys related to triple heater, fire organ with water energy, moves water as mist, pool and canal. 9 secretions. 60-90 mins Xuanpin, mysterious female linked directly to kidneys. Three hydraulic carts moving downwards for procreation, upwards (reversed) for immortality. Kidneys link to brain, eyes, mouth, under tongue to Yu quan, Jade Spring, revitalising fluids. Cf Ren 23 for dryness and restoring saliva flow. External kidneys are the testicles. Cruciform flower lower part related to kidneys, jing, kan trigram, lower dan tian. Phrase written there: ‘when the body does not move, the jing becomes firm on its own’. Stillness preserves and firms the jing. Day 2 Part 1 0-30 mins Kidney character, service and firmness. Nanjing 36 hexagram picture. Two kidneys, original couple, yin yang harmony, true yin, true yang. Bi cang, closing and storing, ineffective in old age, incontinence, dribbling, Kid 3, Tai Xi. Kid 23, Shen Feng, Spirit Sea, sealing and enclosing in scattered shen, nervous, anxious. Kid 24 Ling Xu, Spiritual Space, space to allow restoration of ling, spiritual power. Kid 25 Shen Cang, Spirit Store, storing the shen. All with respiratory or cardiac problems. Stillness, bu dong, firms the jing, essence. Zhi, willpower, will to live, standing up for yourself, determination, gives unparalleled stability. Ling shu 47 quotation on importance of zhi yi, will and intent. 30-60 mins Poem on Zhi yi, will and intent. Points to help zhi, will. Du 4, Bl 23, Bl 52. Discussion of kidney link to gallbladder, Gb 25, Gb 24, Gb 13. Zhi includes memory of what happened in past, keeps you on track. Zhi, wisdom, kidneys have deep- seated inherent body wisdom to unfold who you are through stages and cycles, cf jing. Fear, two types. Kong freezes, immobilises, paralyses, ‘inauthentic yin’. Jing, uncontrolled movements, twitching, jumpiness, nervousness, panicky, fright, scattering shen, ‘inauthentic yang’. Kid 4 Da Zhong, Large Bell or Goblet. Luo point to Heart protector and lumbar area, excellent for anxiety, fear, lack of self- confidence, esp when exhausted. Sun Simiao combination Kid 4 + P 4, mine Kid 4 + Ht 5. Kid 4 in premature senility, dementia with Du 20, Du 16, Gb 39. 3 The Alchemy of the Organs with Peter Firebrace The Red Bird and the Dark Stag: the Heart and the Kidneys Vancouver, September 2012 TOPIC BREAKDOWN 60-90 mins Ren 15 Jiu Wei, Dove Tail, alternative name Shen Fu, Spirit Storehouse, good for panic attack, unreasonable fear and anxiety. Kidney couples, soft and hard, hair and teeth, bones and marrow, skull and brain. He Yin Yang, sexual texts in Mawangdui tomb. Sex for mutual regeneration, not depletion and frustration. Retaining essence to nourish the brain. Ejaculation control, Ren 1, Hui Yin. Man, hard erection, woman, softness and fluids. Fertility, kidney link to uterus, bao luo. Points for infertility, esp Ren 5, Stone Gate (esp blockage), Kid 14, Si Man, Fourfold Fullness (esp stagnation), Kid 13, Qi Xue, Qi Hollow, alternate names, Zi Hu, Child, Door (right), Bao Men, Uterus Gate (left) (esp depletion and cold). Cases, amenorrheoa and infertility. Shou Xing, God of Longevity, archetype of longevity, full retention of functions and Xi Wang Mu, Queen Mother of West, ever-youthful, grows the peaches of immortality in her garden in the Kun Lun Mountains.
Recommended publications
  • Tai Chi Retreat Course Book
    . This book is created with love and distributed free. TAI CHI DANCEIt isOF meant THE PEACEFULto provide guidance WARRIOR and by counsel DAVE for WEST those Copyrightwho wish 2010 to practise. www.taichibali.com ‐ 1 ‐ 3 Nights 4 Days Luxury Hotel 3 Mountain Treks to Lakes and Waterfalls Hot Springs Canoing Kopi Luwak 10 Classes with Qualified Instructors Retreat Course Book and DVD Transport Service USD 495 per person USD 750 for couples T A I C H I B A L I M O U N T A I N R E T R E A T is hidden deep in the foothills of the volcanic forest, where the cool mountain air of North Bali is the perfect environment to relax and rejuvenate, deepen your TAI CHI , YOGA or CHI KUNG practice, and refresh yourself with natural healing energy. The aim of this retreat is to inspire you to develop a daily practice and holistic lifestyle that creates positive changes in all aspects of your life. During the retreat a natural force field develops within you that recharges your whole being with positive energy, vitality and inner peace. Experienced international instructors guide you through the course and mountain treks. Classes and retreats can be modified for all ages and levels. TAI CHI DANCE OF THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR by DAVE WEST Copyright 2010 www.taichibali.com ‐ 2 ‐ WELCOME TO TAI CHI BALI MOUNTAIN RETREAT Tai Chi Bali provides authentic wisdom and training from ancient China, India and Tibet, for living in health and harmony with the natural world. Opening the heart with meditation is the return to Truth and Love.
    [Show full text]
  • Making the Palace Machine Work Palace Machine the Making
    11 ASIAN HISTORY Siebert, (eds) & Ko Chen Making the Machine Palace Work Edited by Martina Siebert, Kai Jun Chen, and Dorothy Ko Making the Palace Machine Work Mobilizing People, Objects, and Nature in the Qing Empire Making the Palace Machine Work Asian History The aim of the series is to offer a forum for writers of monographs and occasionally anthologies on Asian history. The series focuses on cultural and historical studies of politics and intellectual ideas and crosscuts the disciplines of history, political science, sociology and cultural studies. Series Editor Hans Hågerdal, Linnaeus University, Sweden Editorial Board Roger Greatrex, Lund University David Henley, Leiden University Ariel Lopez, University of the Philippines Angela Schottenhammer, University of Salzburg Deborah Sutton, Lancaster University Making the Palace Machine Work Mobilizing People, Objects, and Nature in the Qing Empire Edited by Martina Siebert, Kai Jun Chen, and Dorothy Ko Amsterdam University Press Cover illustration: Artful adaptation of a section of the 1750 Complete Map of Beijing of the Qianlong Era (Qianlong Beijing quantu 乾隆北京全圖) showing the Imperial Household Department by Martina Siebert based on the digital copy from the Digital Silk Road project (http://dsr.nii.ac.jp/toyobunko/II-11-D-802, vol. 8, leaf 7) Cover design: Coördesign, Leiden Lay-out: Crius Group, Hulshout isbn 978 94 6372 035 9 e-isbn 978 90 4855 322 8 (pdf) doi 10.5117/9789463720359 nur 692 Creative Commons License CC BY NC ND (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0) The authors / Amsterdam University Press B.V., Amsterdam 2021 Some rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, any part of this book may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise).
    [Show full text]
  • Traditional-Chinese-Health-Secrets
    YMAA PUBLICATION CENTER YMAA is dedicated to developing the most clear and in-depth instructional materials to transmit the martial legacy. Our books, videos and DVDs are created in collab- oration with master teachers, students and technology experts with a single-minded purpose: to fulfill your individual needs in learning and daily practice. This downloadable document is intended as a sample only. To order this book, please click on our logo which will take you to this product’s page. An order button can be found at the bottom. We hope that you enjoy this preview and encourage you to explore the many other downloadable samples of books, music, and movies throughout our website. Most downloads are found at the bottom of product pages in our Web Store. Did you know? • YMAA hosts one of the most active Qigong and martial arts forums on the internet? Over 5,000 registered users, dozens of categories, and over 10,000 articles. • YMAA has a free quarterly newsletter containing articles, interviews, product reviews, events, and more. YMAA Publication Center 1-800-669-8892 [email protected] www.ymaa.com ISBN892 cover layout 1/31/07 12:02 PM Page 1 Alternative Health/Qigong/Fitness B046/892 Discover—and Use—the Wisdom of the Sages! T There's an old Chinese proverb which states, “Optimism will help you forget sor- R row.” It is widely believed that an optimistic, stable mood and mental balance calms A D the body's vital energies and spirit, aiding in the circulation of blood and Qi, thus TRADITIONAL I improving health.
    [Show full text]
  • The Daoist Tradition Also Available from Bloomsbury
    The Daoist Tradition Also available from Bloomsbury Chinese Religion, Xinzhong Yao and Yanxia Zhao Confucius: A Guide for the Perplexed, Yong Huang The Daoist Tradition An Introduction LOUIS KOMJATHY Bloomsbury Academic An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 50 Bedford Square 175 Fifth Avenue London New York WC1B 3DP NY 10010 UK USA www.bloomsbury.com First published 2013 © Louis Komjathy, 2013 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers. Louis Komjathy has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Author of this work. No responsibility for loss caused to any individual or organization acting on or refraining from action as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by Bloomsbury Academic or the author. Permissions Cover: Kate Townsend Ch. 10: Chart 10: Livia Kohn Ch. 11: Chart 11: Harold Roth Ch. 13: Fig. 20: Michael Saso Ch. 15: Fig. 22: Wu’s Healing Art Ch. 16: Fig. 25: British Taoist Association British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN: 9781472508942 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Komjathy, Louis, 1971- The Daoist tradition : an introduction / Louis Komjathy. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4411-1669-7 (hardback) -- ISBN 978-1-4411-6873-3 (pbk.) -- ISBN 978-1-4411-9645-3 (epub) 1.
    [Show full text]
  • 3 Techniques of Dantian Internal Rotaion and Use of Meridians in Chen Family Taijiquan by Bosco Seung-Chul Baek (白承哲) B.S
    3 Techniques of Dantian Internal Rotaion and Use of Meridians in Chen Family Taijiquan by Bosco Seung-Chul Baek (白承哲) B.S. Photo by Chris Soule Introduction Chen Family Taijiquan (陳氏太極拳: chénshìtàijíquán) is the mother form of Tajiquan from which all other Taiji styles are ultimately derived. The 9th generation of Chen Family representative, Chen Wangting, created Taijiquan from heritages of his past generations about 400 years ago. Unlike other Taijiquan styles, Chen Family Taijiquan still possesses explosive power (發勁: fājìn) expressed in the Cannon Fist forms. Authentic Taijiquan requires a harmony of 4 characteristics that are sturdiness, softness, fastness and slowness, and it is impossible to master Chen Family Taijiquan without these characteristics. Chen Family Taijiquan aims to acquire fangsong (relaxed and grounded) by practicing slowness such as Laojia Yilu (老架一路: lǎojiàyílù, Old Frame Fist Road) as it helps deeply relax the muscles, joints and spine while breathing naturally. Training with speed such as in the Laojia Erlu form (老架二路: lǎojiàèrlù, Old Frame Second Road) helps a practitioner understand the use of the fast energy exchange of the positive and negative force (yin and yang) to increase the power of one‟s dantian. If a practitioner practices with authentic instruction, he or she should be able to get the root of the dantian (丹田根:dāntiángēn) and control dantian internal rotation (丹田內轉: dāntiánnèizhuàn). Before these steps, it is required to open one‟s dantian and energy pathways so that the dantian circulates qi powerfully. In other words, the energy blocked areas in the body will be pierced out due to powerful qi circulation.
    [Show full text]
  • Li Shizhen and the Grand Compendium of Materia Medica
    Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences (2015) 2, 215e216 HOSTED BY Available online at www.sciencedirect.com ScienceDirect journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jtcms Li Shizhen and The Grand Compendium of Materia Medica Min Li, Yongxuan Liang* School of Basic Medical Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China Li Shizhen (courtesy name: Li Dongbi, assumed name: Li works extensively, and when he had got some perceptions Binhu; 1518e1593) was from Qizhou (present Qichun he would make notes and in this way he accumulated a County, Hubei Province). He came from a family lineage of large amount of knowledge. Meanwhile, he did not stick to physicians. His grandfather, an itinerant healer usually the saying of the ancient people and adhered to “seeing is walked the streets to treat poor people, and his father was believing”. He traveled around the country, traversing deep a famous physician in his hometown. He was brought up and mountains and forests and wading rivers to do field inves- nurtured by his family tradition and he expressed keen in- tigation. He interviewed old farmers, fishermen, woods- terest in medicine. Since childhood he started to study men, carters and hunters, and acquired plenty of herbal Confucian teachings, and at 14 he passed the imperial ex- specimen and folk recipes, which helped lay a solid foun- amination at the county level. When he failed the further dation for the compilation of the new book.2 What is more, imperial examinations three times, he gave up the thought he certified the effect of herbs by tasting them himself.
    [Show full text]
  • The Origin of Meridians
    Chinese Medicine, 2014, 5, 71-74 Published Online June 2014 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/cm http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/cm.2014.52008 The Origin of Meridians Li Lei, Ching Wo Tung, Kwai Ching Lo School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China Email: [email protected] Received 8 March 2014; revised 16 April 2014; accepted 2 May 2014 Copyright © 2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Abstract This article explores the origin of meridians. It suggests that the origin of meridians is closely re- lated to the imageries derived by ancient physicians experiencing the circulation of Qi in their bo- dies during Qigong practice. Based on the cognitive experience from Qigong practice, as well as the symbolic analogy of the flow of rivers and the irrigation system of agriculture, the meridian theory has constructed a model of Qi and blood circulation. Such model is abstract and yet concrete, di- alectic and yet intuitive, definite and yet vague, integrated and yet independent, having profound influence on the overall formation of traditional Chinese medicine theories. Keywords Meridian, Origin, Circulation of Qi and Blood, Qigong 1. Introduction Meridian theory is an important component of the basic theories of traditional Chinese medicine. The time of birth for the meridian concept is not yet clear. There was only a brief description of the eleven- meridians in the silk manuscripts excavated from Mawangdui Han Tombs [1], but later, around the time of the Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine, the meridian theory had matured in its development.
    [Show full text]
  • The Origin of Meridians
    Chinese Medicine, 2014, 5, 71-74 Published Online June 2014 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/cm http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/cm.2014.52008 The Origin of Meridians Li Lei, Ching Wo Tung, Kwai Ching Lo School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China Email: [email protected] Received 8 March 2014; revised 16 April 2014; accepted 2 May 2014 Copyright © 2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Abstract This article explores the origin of meridians. It suggests that the origin of meridians is closely re- lated to the imageries derived by ancient physicians experiencing the circulation of Qi in their bo- dies during Qigong practice. Based on the cognitive experience from Qigong practice, as well as the symbolic analogy of the flow of rivers and the irrigation system of agriculture, the meridian theory has constructed a model of Qi and blood circulation. Such model is abstract and yet concrete, di- alectic and yet intuitive, definite and yet vague, integrated and yet independent, having profound influence on the overall formation of traditional Chinese medicine theories. Keywords Meridian, Origin, Circulation of Qi and Blood, Qigong 1. Introduction Meridian theory is an important component of the basic theories of traditional Chinese medicine. The time of birth for the meridian concept is not yet clear. There was only a brief description of the eleven- meridians in the silk manuscripts excavated from Mawangdui Han Tombs [1], but later, around the time of the Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine, the meridian theory had matured in its development.
    [Show full text]
  • What Is “Chi Kung” Or “Qigong”
    Guelph Tai Chi for Health What is “chi kung” or “qigong” Definition: the work you do to produce energy or chi; cultivation of energy; breath work Qigong is usually divided into two categories, nei dan and wei dan . Nei dan : static, internal These forms of qigong are performed internally. They include all kinds of practices that exhibit very little external motion. Meditation is one example of nei dan qigong. Think of the body switching from energy consuming to energy restoring. Nei dan is practiced standing, sitting or lying down. The movement of energy around the body in the “microcosmic orbit” or “Universal post” exercise is another good example of nei dan qigong. Sometimes qigong is translated as “breath control exercise”. This is very important in nei dan practice. The breath is controlled in four ways: • Relaxing • Focus is on abdominal breathing • Sending breath to the abdomen by using directed thoughts • Use of certain words such as “ohm”, or the six healing sounds. The mind is very focused. Five major ways of focusing the mind are: • Focus the mind on specific acupoints – the top of the head (baihui), the soles of the feet (yongchuan) • Focus on beautiful or peaceful images • Focus on a specific person, idea, memory • Focus on the sound and meaning of words like “relax”, “be tranquil”, “let go” • Focus on specific lines, channels or meridians of energy Universal Post – standing meditation Wei dan: dynamic, external qigong Like nei dan, wei dan uses breathing and control of the mind to stimulate the flow of energy through the body, but unlike the static postures of nei dan, wei dan involves movement.
    [Show full text]
  • An Introduction to Chinese Medicine Dermatology
    AN INTRODUCTION TO CHINESE MEDICINE DERMATOLOGY 1 ITCMDA EDITOR’S PROLOGUE 凡大醫治病,必當安神定志,無欲無求, 先發大慈惻隱之心。誓願普救含靈之苦。 Whenever eminent physicians treat an illness…they must first develop a heart full of great compassion and empathy. They must pledge to devote themselves completely to relieving the suffering of all sentient beings.1 - Sun Si Miao, 6th Century Patients with skin diseases suffer not only from physical discomfort but also emotional and social challenges, and high dependence on medications. We are at a moment of great collaboration within integrative medicine. Our hope is that this cooperation will develop greater improvement in the lives of our patients. Chinese medicine dermatology as a specialty and the creation of the ITCMDA In ancient China, during the Confucian times of the late Warring States period (second to third centuries BCE), the practice of medicine was organized into four main specialties - Dietician, Veterinarian, Internal medicine, and Dermatology. Historical records indicate that the system was quite similar to our own modern medical system where a general physician refers patients to the dermatologist when needed, “Whenever those in the state are afflicted with illnesses, with ulcers on the head or with wounds to the body, he [the chief physician] visits them, and then sends them to physicians with an appropriate specialty to cure them.”2 From ancient times until today, Chinese medicine dermatology has been a separate specialty, needing specific training for its successful practice. As Chinese medicine dermatology has such a long history of specialization, it is especially important that there exist a modern organization to aid in the training of students of dermatology, and in assessing the reliability of those that practice Chinese medicine dermatology.
    [Show full text]
  • Time Manipulation in Early Daoist Ritual: the East Well Chart and the Eight Archivists
    time manipulation gil raz Time Manipulation in Early Daoist Ritual: The East Well Chart and the Eight Archivists aoism is deeply concerned with time. Its formative period, from D late Han through the Six Dynasties, was one of political chaos and social turmoil. Constant warfare, rampant epidemics, and natural disas- ters were perceived as symptomatic of a continuing cosmological crisis: the various cosmic cycles and the natural harmonies were disordered, leading to the disasters and depredations which inflicted suffering on the population. Scriptures from this period abound with descriptions of the sorry state of humanity and are filled with eschatological forebod- ing of the end of civilization, as well as hopes for those who convert and follow the correct path — the teachings of the Dao.1 The solution advocated by Daoists was twofold. On the one hand, Daoists were urged to adhere to a moral and ethical path, which called for following the precepts of the Dao as presented in a number of texts. On the other hand, they championed ritual reforms that would enable humanity to reestablish the original harmony within the universe. If one were to follow this twofold program, one would be able to cross over ৫.2 The use of this term in Daoism should not be confused with its use in Buddhist terminology, where it refers to the crossing over The author is indebted to John Kieschnick, Donald Harper, Marc Kalinowski, and two anony- mous reviewers for their valuable and insightful comments on earlier drafts of this paper. Texts in the Daoist Canon are referred to as H Y, followed by the number as listed in Weng Dujian ౖ ᗑ೜, ed., Combined Indices to the Authors and Titles of Books in Two Collections of Taoist Lit- erature, Harvard-Yenching Sinological Index Series 25 (Beijing: Yanjing University, 1925).
    [Show full text]
  • The Doctrine of the Elixir
    9 These notes were first published under the auspices of the Institute for the Comparative Study of History, Philosophy and the Sciences, Ltd. in 1981. Reprinted in this format 1982 by Coombe Springs Press. © R. B. Jefferson 1982 The Doctrine of the Golden Mercuric Sulphur (Cinnabar) The Fire of the Unitive Path THE DOCTRINE OF THE ELIXIR R. B. Jefferson According to Irwin Rouselle, the Doctrine of the Gold Elixir is the most significant tradition of living Taoism. It derives chiefly from the Patriarch Lu Tung-pin (b. 798). In it, a number of individual teachings and traditions have been fused into a single system for the transformation of man that embraces the quintessence of the entire Taoist tradition. Taoist alchemy is an ancient science which teaches the stopping of the flow of the generative force inherent in every man, so that instead of being discharged to procreate offspring or to waste away, it is retained in the body for purification and transmutation into positive vitality. This restores the original spirit which existed before the world came into being, so that it can return to its Primal Immortal state. The diagram representing the doctrine is taken from two sources: one a rubbing from a stone tablet found in the Monastery of the White Clouds near Peking, and the other a coloured scroll painting on which the tablet was based. The tablet is dated 1886. It is a symbolical representation of a lengthwise section of the (male) human head and torso, together with the spinal column. Nowhere is there any realistic anatomical portrayal, but various allegories are alluded to through symbols and human figures.
    [Show full text]