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Yin and Yang: the Physical and the Symbolic in Chinese Medical

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Yin and Yang: the Physical and the Symbolic in Chinese Medical Yin and Yang: The Physical and modified in Chinese society. By analyzing the Symbolic in Chinese Medical the transformation of Chinese medicine over Practices time, it is possible to witness changes in Chinese beliefs and values, which creates a connection between the physical and the Shilo H McBurney symbolic within a culture that medical anthropology is useful for investigating. Introduction Anthropology has struggled to find a The Value of Medicine in Anthropology correlation between the physical and As seen when studying Chinese symbolic aspects of cultures for many years health care systems, the medical practices of now. There has even been a division a society allow for a dual-perspective where between sociocultural anthropologists, who both the beliefs and physical aspects of a mainly study the beliefs and structures of culture can be examined. Studying medicine cultures, and bioarchaeological anthrop- provides a view of intangible cultural ologists, who are primarily concerned with processes, such as a group’s comprehension the physical and material aspects of cultures. of the world, which are rooted in the visible The relatively new discipline of medical structure of the body. Medical practices are anthropology may find common ground functional, providing care for the physical between the two. It is valuable to study the being of a person, while they also reinforce health practices of present and past cultures, the beliefs and values of a culture. For this in part because they mark a point where the reason, medicine is an important area of physical and the symbolic meet. Health research for anthropology, as it connects the practices serve a functional role by caring symbolic and the physical. for the physical body, but they can also Medical anthropology, as a relatively display the unique beliefs of a specific new discipline, is involved with studying culture. The history of recognizing the value how illnesses are spread across the world medicine has in understanding thought and what social and economic processes processes within a culture reaches back to transform disease from one culture to anthropologists such as Claude Levi-Strauss, another (Dressler 2001). As globalization with his myth versus science arguments, and increases, with rural groups migrating into E. E. Evans-Pritchard, who studied Zande urban centres and elevated amounts of beliefs that were rooted in the body (Evans- chronic diseases, medical anthropology is Pritchard 1965; Levi-Strauss 1962). This becoming more important as an area of paper focuses on how particular aspects of examination. It employs a two-tiered Chinese medicine have changed over time in approach of studying how the environment order to attempt to examine how Chinese and beliefs of a culture come together to society has correspondingly transformed its affect the body; both the physical and values and beliefs. However, the symbolic symbolic need to be studied holistically to importance of studying health practices attempt to properly comprehend disease. within a culture is first discussed by Elevated amounts of chronic disease are employing Levi-Strauss’ (1962) and Evans- connected to social stresses and cultural Pritchard’s (1965) theories. Early Chinese change. Thus to resolve issues of disease, health practices and respective beliefs are anthropology is attempting to connect then investigated, which includes a behaviour, the physical body, and cultural discussion of how they have changed to constructs (Dressler 2001). Anthropology observe why and how key values have been has struggled in this area for a long time, as Witchcraft was noted as a fundamental part all of these aspects form society and are very of Zande society, as this form of health- difficult to separate. Health practices related ritual displayed the underlying consequently must be examined collectively values and beliefs of Zande culture (Evans- and through individuals. Although Pritchard 1965). individuals usually reflect the group Levi-Strauss (1962) focused on mentality, they can share personal scientific perspectives of cultures as a experiences that create a more holistic and whole, rather than specific medical detailed understanding of medical practices, practices. He recognized that myths and which are a link between the body and rituals were of equivalent value to science in culture (Dressler 2001). collecting information about the world. He Long before medical anthropology considered magic its own system that was was considered a discipline, well-known distinct from science, not simply an anthropologists such as E. E. Evans- inadequate form of science (Levi-Strauss Pritchard and Claude Levi-Strauss were 1962). Science and magic are two parallel studying the different medical and scientific methods for understanding and categorizing practices of cultures in attempts to examine the world, and in different situations either unique modes of thought. Evans-Pritchard can be more valuable. Both display the (1965) studied Zande witchcraft, which was mental processes of a particular culture. The considered to be the source, or control differences in the techniques and achieved mechanism, for diseases; witchcraft was outcomes of a ritual or scientific process used to structure Zande culture. Acute reflect the variation between cultures. Ritual illnesses were attributed to sorcery, while is used to structure patterns within cultures, chronic illnesses were caused by witchcraft whereas science primarily employs structure as the witch slowly consumed the ‘soul of (Levi-Strauss 1962). Levi-Strauss (1962) the organ’ (Evans-Pritchard 1965). recognized that Western science is not the Locations of bodily pain were areas believed ultimate form of logical understanding of the to have been shot by witches, while witch world, and that each culture’s modes of doctors were relied on to resolve these thought have value and rationality in their physical issues. How witchcraft was passed own right. This reflects on medical practices on from one generation to the next displayed too, as a form of science, as Western Zande beliefs of procreation and biology: medicine is not always the best solution in witchcraft is inherited, passing from father every health situation. Various cultural to son or mother to daughter. Azande practices are extremely valuable medically believe that if the father’s soul is more even if they are not considered as ‘scientific’ powerful, the child will be a boy, and if the or as ‘technological’ as Western practices. mother’s soul is more powerful, the child China recognizes this, and maintains will be a girl (Evans-Pritchard 1965). traditional medicinal practices along with Consequently, if the parent with a stronger integrating Western medicine into the health soul is a witch, the child will unavoidably care system. also be a witch. Witchcraft was further used Anthropologists need to attempt to to structure gender relationships: men were step outside of their own culture and usually affected by male witches, while scientific notions to properly understand women were typically only affected by medicine in other cultures. To adequately female witches, keeping both genders study health practices they need to be seen distinct in issues of health and disease. as a system of community, information, and identity (Zhan 2001). Medical systems (Beinfield and Korngold 1991). Tao was represent complex global interactions, thus defined as the continuous whole entity of the they are constantly shifting and changing as universe, which people formed a small part new ideas are integrated (Zhan 2001). of; a constant interaction occurred between Studying medicine from an anthropological humans and the environment around them perspective can make people aware of (Beinfield and Korngold 1991). Ch’i was the different modes of comprehension and essential life force found in the body which rationality found within other cultures, while was balanced through the opposite forces of showing that each has equal value. Aside Yin and Yang (Anderson 1992). When a from finding common ground between the person disrupted this balance, they became physical and symbolic aspects of cultures, ill. Yin diseases were due to particular foods this is where the value of medical and habits, while Yang diseases were caused anthropology lies. by evil winds, rain, cold, and heat (Anderson 1992). Everything in Chinese medicine was Ancient and Contemporary Chinese based on this fundamental relationship Medicine and Beliefs between the opposing notions of Yin and Yang and treatment was concerned with The Beginning recreating harmony and balance within a Chinese medicine is considered to person (Jingfeng and Zhen 2003). have begun around 2700 BC when The Chinese believed that everything Shennong, an emperor of legend, was in in the world was controlled by the five power (Ho and Lisowski 1997). He is famed elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and for initiating the Chinese medicinal practices water. Each of these elements was tied to a of acupuncture and herbs. Shennong is now certain bodily organ, sense, and season and understood to have been the period when thus, in addition to Yin and Yang, they also medicine appeared and not an actual person played an important role in diagnosing and (Ho and Lisowski 1997). While ancient treating diseases (Jingfeng and Zhen 2003). inscriptions were found on bones in China This notion of the five elements also which displayed knowledge of various reinforced the deep connection the Chinese illnesses, the first actual
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