Wu Xing (“five elements”, or rather “five phases”) is an ancient Chinese model for describing nature or ‘the way the world works’. Wu Xing is an integral part of Taoist philosophy and explains the ever-changing interactions and relationships between phenomena of nature. It is not a static concept, but emphasizes processes. The five elements are wood, fire, earth, metal and water. They are usually depicted in a circle, which forms three cycles of which one is attributed as ‘enhancing’, ‘weakening’ and ‘controlling’ respectively. Each of the elements is associated with various aspects of nature such as colors, directions, forms of energy, climates, seasons, planets, the 5 tones of the pentatonic scale, or even livestock. The idea of the 5 phases still traceable in modern Chinese society and it is omnipresent in traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, in Feng Shui, astrology, music, diet and in martial arts such as Tai Chi Quan or Qi Gong.
The 5 phases have proven their validity over the last several millennia and have had an immeasurable impact on Chinese thought, culture, and everyday life. To most modern Chinese people, though, Wu Xing might seem ancient. In the Western world, the attraction of Eastern philosophical and religious ideas is growing, with an increasing number of people applying them to their personal life. Often, those ideas make their way back to the East, perhaps in slightly altered forms. Wu Xing aims at bridging two forms of culture to make use of an important notion from the East, let it migrate to the West and return to its origin in a new form. By reinterpreting one of the most influential theories of their own culture, Westerners can discover a new and fresh idea, while Asians are able to revive their own venerable cultural background. This is fulfilled through modernizing the concept and visual representation of Wu Xing such that it is more relevant and appealing to the target audience while retaining its unique style.
Words fail me in describing how awesome these mods are. These four gunpla represent the Four Symbols of Chinese (and Korean) mythology. Read more about the mythology at Wiki.
Click on the names of the gunpla to see more pictures.
The "Black Tortoise"of the North:
The "Vermillion Bird" of the South:
The "Azure Dragon" of the East:
The "White Tiger" of the West:
http://sabekujikaneda.multiply.com/journal/item/83/Gundam_Mod_The_Four_Celestial_Guardians
Chai Found 2009 Sizhu Composition Contest / Concert
General Information
Chai Found Music Workshop is proud to present its most recent project of Contemporary Music with 8 world premieres by 4 Taiwanese and 4 European composers. The theme of this cross-cultural musical production is Wu Xing, the five elements or phases in traditional Chinese philosophy.A competition for composers will be held. The Taiwan part is conducted by the Taiwanese section of the ISCM (International Society for Contemporary Music) and Chai Found Music Workshop. The International part is conducted by Chai Found Music Workshop alone.
The concert of Wu Xing will present the selected compositions from 4 Taiwanese and 4 European composers. It will take place on November 28, 2009 at Forum Music in Taipei. The music will be recorded and published as a CD.
The instrumentation includes the instruments of a classic Sizhu (Silk and Bamboo) Music ensemble: Erhu (Chinese Violin), Di (Chinese Bamboo Flutes), Pipa (Chinese lute), Gucheng (Chinese Zither), Yangqin (Chinese Dulcimer), Ruan (Chinese Guitar)/ Liuqin (Chinese Ukulele), plus the Chinese mouth organ Sheng.
International Competition
1 Purpose
The international competition of Wu Xing is hosted by Chai Found Music Workshop. The purpose is to motivate contemporary composers to write for Chinese instruments and to enhance communication between the composers and the performing ensemble.
2 Qualification
There is no age limit. Citizens of the European Union can apply.3 Theme
The compositions must be new creations, and/or never performed before. The compositions are related to the theme ‘Wu Xing’ (the 5 ancient Chinese elements). The formulation of this relationship is up to the composer.4 Prizes
There is no ranking in prizes. Each of the 4 winners will receive a commission of 350 Euro. The concert of Wu Xing will present the winning compositions of 4 Taiwanese and 4 European composers. It will take place on November 28, 2009 at Forum Music in Taipei. The music will be recorded and published as a CD. Each composer will receive 10 samples of the Audio CD.5 Instrumentation and Duration
The instrumentation has to include at least 3 up to 7 of the instruments of a Sizhu (Silk and Bamboo) Music ensemble: Erhu (Chinese Violin), Di (Chinese Bamboo Flutes), Pipa (Chinese lute), Gucheng (Chinese Zither), Yangqin (Chinese Dulcimer), Ruan (Chinese Guitar)/ Liuqin (Chinese Ukulele), plus the Chinese mouth organ Sheng. The duration has to be not less than 8 minutes, and not more than 12 minutes.6 Procedure
- The deadline for handing in the compositions is October 1st, 2009.
- The compositions have to be sent as a printable pdf-files (scores and parts) to promotion@cfmw.com.tw.
- The reception of the documents will be confirmed by Chai Found Music Workshop. Chai Found Music Workshop will go through and play all submitted works to select the
4 winners.
- The winners will be notified on November 1, 2009 and their names will be published on the Chai Found Music Workshop website www.cfmw.com.tw7 How to apply
Please refer to the application form.Feel free to contact us by phone under +886-2-25024960 Mr. Klaus Bru or write an email to promotion@cfmw.com.tw.
Please also visit our website for more information: www.cfmw.com.tw
What is Wu Xing
Wu Xing (“five elements”, or rather “five phases”) is an ancient Chinese model for describing nature or ‘the way the world works’. Wu Xing is an integral part of Taoistic philosophy and explains the ever-changing interactions and relationships between phenomena of nature. It is not a static concept, but emphasizes processes. The idea of the 5 phases still traceable in modern Chinese society and it is omnipresent in traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, in Feng Shui, and in martial arts such as Tai Chi Quan or Qi Gong.The five elements and their ascribed phases are:
Wood (mu) - Rising, Ascension
Fire (huo) - Activity, Action
Earth (tu - Change, Alteration
Metal (jin) - Maturity, Decay
Water (shui) - Calm, ContemplationEach of the elements is associated with various aspects of nature such as colors, directions, forms of energy, climates, seasons, planets, the 5 tones of the pentatonic scale, or even livestock. As shown in the diagram below, they are usually depicted in a circle, which forms two cycles of which one is attributed as ‘generating’, the other as ‘overcoming’. The ‘generating cycle’ (black) is like this: wood feeds fire, fire produces earth (ash), earth bears metal, metal carries water (for example in buckets), water nourishes wood. The ‘overcoming cycle’: wood (roots) parts earth, earth absorbs water, water quenches fire, fire melts metal, metal chops wood.
The concept of Wu Xing is a wide field. There are countless associations between the elements and their attributed phenomena. We decided to let you choose yourself from the plentiful of information which is available on the internet.
Here are some links from the English Wikipedia, which you can also search
in your own language.General overview of the topic:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_xingMore disciplines that apply the Wu Xing concept:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_astrology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Chinese_medicine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_ChingIf you find more and better information, please let us know: promotion@cfmw.com.tw
Why Wu Xing as a Theme?
The 5 phases have proven their validity over the last several millennia and have had an immeasurable impact on Chinese thought, culture, and everyday life. To most modern Chinese people, though, Wu Xing might seem ancient.In the Western world, the attraction of Eastern philosophical and religious ideas is growing, with an increasing number of people applying them to their personal life. Often, those ideas make their way back to the East, perhaps in slightly
altered forms.This is the starting point for the project: reflecting Chai Found Music Workshop’s interests and areas of activity, it is two-fold: a Taiwan portion and a European portion are brought together in a concert and the publishing of a CD. By involving composers from opposite ends of the world, Wu Xing aims at bridging two forms of culture.
The competition and the following concert make use of an important notion from the East, let it migrate to the West and return to its origin in a new form. Not only that, Eastern artists are given the chance for re-interpreting one of the most influential theories of their own culture. Thus, European composers can discover a new and fresh idea here, while Taiwanese composers can re-vive their own venerable cultural background. All this is done in the form of contemporary music played on the traditional instruments of Chinese music.
Just as in music, the balance between the five elements is always in motion and ever-changing, and can only be experienced with the passing of time. It will be interesting to hear, what ideas the composers will come up with: whether they take it literally or poetically, whether they focus on the cycles or on just one element, what they use, what they omit, what they emphasize, how they comment on it. Even more so, as the five elements also represent the five notes of the pentatonic scale.
Downloads
Project Information (pdf)
Instrument Information (pdf)
Application Form (doc)
Contact Information
Wu Xing
c/o Chai Found Music Workshop
2F, No. 13, Lane 295, Long Jiang Road, Taipei 104, Taiwan
Phone: +886-2-25024960
Fax: +886-2-25158533
promotion@cfmw.com.tw
www.cfmw.com.tw
Credits
Producer: Chai Found Music Workshop
Concept, Logo, Design: Klaus Bru
Translations: Jason Ying
Sponsor: ISCM (International Society for Contemporary Music), Section Taiwan
http://www.cfmw.com.tw/eng/WuXing/wuxing.html
Alright; I’m finally starting to put my work up, but I’m going to slowly work backwards…
[but if you're really hard up, there's a sample of more stuff at sjfbarnett.carbonmade.com. don't say I didn't try]
I’m happy to say my latest project has finally gone live. The Wu Xing Martial Arts studio opened it’s own doors this summer and required not just a website, but a complete brand identity.
After working with another studio, the partnership of Sifu Ali Siadatan and Shellie Siadatan decided it was time to expand their horizons and open Wu Xing Martial Arts, a multi-disciplinary studio that uses the 5-animal system of kung fu [Dragon, Leopard, Snake, Tiger and Crane] within its teachings and practices. Courses include academic, practical and spiritual sessions.
What the Siadatans had to start with was a new logo and a great vision for their studio. From there, we formed the brand id. After much discussion about what the Studio wanted to be and what they wanted to offer, it became clear that the Siadatans are purists and deeply passionate about their work. They’re not merely offering courses, but a way of life. Take the time to learn from them while following the methods of the 5 animals, and you can truly be on your way to becoming whole. So the brand BECOME was born.
After much consideration of what type of imagery would be best suited for the Studio [hundreds of image concepts were exhausted], it appeared that a hybrid of the students and the animals would best encompass the idea of becoming.
Working with photos specifically shot for the series, I began the painstaking task of creating truly hybrid images. Each figure is a collage of many different photos with tonnes of retouching [this is why I love the capabilities of a tool like Photoshop]. What resulted was a series of 5 Hybrid creatures that works as the brand champion for the Studio. Used in both print and web, these images represent what Wu Xing Martial Arts is about.
I love this guy’s face:
Sample of before and after:
Next steps were creating a web presence for Wu Xing, a place not only where you could quickly find out what the studio has to offer in terms of courses, but a real community where the instructors and pupils can learn and interact.
Sifu Ali is a deeply spiritual man and has much to offer his students. His desire to share knowledge requires a place to put it all, so the site includes a Media Centre where you can find articles, podcasts, blog posts and video clips.
Development credit goes to Jorge Villalobos, who’s site production skills—especially in WordPress—are amazing. The site wireframes I assembled in Photoshop were nicely translated into a seamless WP site that is easily editable on every page by the Siadatans [he also added some lovely liquid bits]. This is a nice contrast to what they had originally envisioned: a flash site with too many editing limitations. Now Sifu Ali can write to his heart’s content whenever he wants with immediate results.
The site is shiny and fresh, and is currently being populated with content written by the Siadatans. It may not be full just yet, but check it out to learn about the courses, instructors, schedules, and what Wu Xing truly means. So go get your Bruce Lee on [oh, and make sure to schedule an appointment with Shellie for fab massage therapy].
http://northpublik.ca/personalwork/
When the vote was put before the court, the justices were evenly split, six voted for a new Fuchi justice and six for the the Wuxing justice, with Saeder-Krupp representative, justice Jean-Claude Priault ending the stale-mate with his deciding vote to allow Wuxing to become a AAA megacorporation. It is believed that Wuxing, who received 200 million nuyen from the estate of the late Dunkelzahn, used that money to lobby their way onto the court. For the first time in over a decade the make up of the court has shifted and the voices of many AA corporations who claimed that the Big Eight (Ares Macrotechnology, Saeder-Krupp, Fuchi Industrial Electronics, Yamatetsu, Mitsuhama Computer Technologies, Renraku Computer Systems, Aztechnology, Shiawase) have long since made it impossible for any AA company to elevate themselves to AAA status. Now it seems that has proven to be false, it wasn't impossible, it just took 200 million nuyen in grease money. Wuxing is a relatively small megacorporation, but due to their clout within the large PPG it's considered worthy of the seat on the Corporate Court. It's a major hit to Fuchi's political clout, which they could've used in this time of friction between them and Renraku. http://www.wiredreflexes.com/srn/news/index.php?nav=107 |
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Tai Chi is a common sight every morning in the parks and gardens of the Chinese speaking world, where these graceful flowing exercises are practiced by groups and individuals. The Tai Chi form is a dance-like sequence of moves and postures looking sometimes like slow motion martial arts with an invisible opponent, which is what it actually is or at least was originally meant to be.
Why Tai Chi and Martial Arts?
Tai Chi is indeed derived from Chinese Martial arts and still is a system for self defence. All martial artists recognise the need to remain calm and focused. We will also talk about finding our root or being grounded, put simply remaining on our feet and not getting pushed over, which is some thing everyone wants, literally and metaphorically, Tai Ch does precisely this, which is why it has been shown to reduced falls and slips, in older civilians and alleviate arthritic conditions, whilst at the same time is practised by more athletic martial artists looking to hone their fighting skills. Push Hands (Tui Shou) >>
What does it mean?
The phrase T'ai C'hi Chüan or Taijiquan depending of systems of transliteration, means, starting with the "T'ai C'hi" bit, literally the supreme or grand ultimate and figuratively meaning the cosmos. The familiar Ying-Yang circle symbol is also known as the Tai Chi symbol, as it sums up the cosmos with the contrasting yet complimentary yin and yang aspects of all things. The chüan part refers to a method or balancing and usually relates to the use of the fist, and therefore can be translated as pugilism or boxing. So Cosmic fists, yin-yang boxing, the fists of the supreme ultimate, take your pick. Chinese Philosophy >>
The origins of Tai Chi Chuan
The story told of Tai Chi's origin, is usual the one regarding the hermit and alchemist Zhang San Feng, in about 1300 AD. He retired to a life of seclusion and contemplation on Wudang Mountain, here he witness or dreamt a fight between a snake and a crane or sparrow or magpie (the stories vary). Zhang was apparently a master of Shoalin Kung fu and the graceful movement of the snake evading the sharp beak of the bird and visa-versa, the crane evading the snakes bite, inspired him to create a new method of fighting based on soft and yielding moves as opposed to hard and quick attacking. Historical corroboration for this story is very thin on the ground, it does however resonant T'ai Chi Ch'üan principles and is adopted as a creation legend. More >>
Brian Kennedy & Elizabeth Guo
"Metal destroys wood, wood destroys earth, earth destroys water, water destroys fire and fire destroys metal; thus each of the five formed fists can conqueror and be conquered".Traditional teaching of Chinese martial arts
Metal and martial arts have long gone together. In modern times Mixed Martial Arts events like the UFC or PRIDE, have their contestants enter the ring to the ear shattering beat of some heavy metal tune. Beyond similar tastes in music, body piercings and tattoos are common to both heavy metal “head bangers” and to the “head bangers” who fight in full contact mixed martial arts events. But “metal and martial arts” is not just a recent phenomenon; in traditional Chinese martial arts there too has been a link between “metal” and “martial arts” albeit in a far different sense than metal music’s link with mixed martial arts.
Metal is one of the five “elements” or five “phases” that are a central part of traditional Chinese cosmology. In Chinese they are known as the wuxing and along with metal are wood, earth, fire and water. The wuxing are one of the fundamental ways of classifying things that has been a part of Chinese culture since very early on and the idea has much in common with classical Greek notions of the five elements of air, fire, water, earth and aether. The wushing are both the “stuff” of all reality as well as being the five basic processes through which all the things, the “ten thousand things” to put it in classical Chinese philosophical cant, of this world undergo change.
The wuxing concept figures in a whole range of traditional Chinese arts including traditional Chinese medicine, geomancy (fengshui), cooking, painting, fortune telling and martial arts. A good example of the latter is the use of the wushing concept in the traditional Chinese martial arts system known as Xingyiquan. Xingyiquan is a system of Chinese martial arts whose forte is hand strikes. The name literally means Form-Mind-Boxing. The implication of the name is that the mind gives rise to the “form” which the boxing takes. Put another way, the implication of the name is that the mind, more specifically the intent (“yi” in Chinese), is in harmony with the “form” (“xing” in Chinese) of the techniques. Xingyiquan, is one of the three major internal arts of China; the other two being baguazhang (8 Diagram Palm) and the well known taijiquan (Tai Chi Boxing).
Xingyiquan uses what they call the “5 Element Fist”, i.e. the “wuxing fists” as their core training method. The five fist forms are called splitting, drilling, crushing, pounding and crossing and the five fist are linked up to the wushing. Splitting, the first of the five fists, is metal. The image of metal being one of aggressiveness and strength, Xingyiquan teachers often tell their students that “metal fist is like an axe, rising and falling, breaking apart the opponent’ defense”. In contrast the next of the five fist is linked up with the water element of the wushing. It is flowing and soft and the idea is to dodge around the opponent’s attack. Next comes crushing fist which is tied to the element of wood, its “flavor” is being lively and aware and being able to react quickly to the opponent. Fourth is pounding fist which is linked to the element fire. The focus here is quick aggressiveness, charging in to cut off the opponent’s attack. The last of the five fists is crossing fist, which is the earth element. It is centered and calm and neutralizes the opponents attack.
Wuxing in Chinese martial arts is more than simply having five core movements, the concept of wuxing also carries with it the idea that each of the five core movements affects one of the five organ systems. In traditional Chinese medicine the wuxing idea also is used; for example there are five major organ systems or perhaps more accurately, five processes. In Xingyiquan each of these organ systems is strengthened by its corresponding fist form. Metal, which is splitting fist, strengthens the lung system. So what you have is a set of correspondences between the martial arts movement and the organ system.
Also too, the idea of the two cycles of wuxing figure into the idea’s use in martial arts. As the opening quote alludes to, in traditional Chinese thinking there is a cycle of creation and a cycle of destruction among the five elements. Metal for example overcomes wood (as an axe chops a tree), but in turn metal is overcome by fire (fire melting metal). This idea of mutual creation and destruction is carried over to the martial arts use of the wushing. Each of Xingyiquan’s five fists can conquer and be conquered by one of the other fist (see graphics).
So whether by music beats or by fist beats metal and martial arts go together.
Mr. Kennedy and Ms. Guo are the co-authors of Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals published by North Atlantic Books in 2005. They also are regular contributors to Classical Fighting Arts Magazine.http://taiwanease.com/features/martial-arts/metal-martial-arts.php
Here at wuxing wushu, Brighton (Five Elements Martial Arts) we are dedicated to the teaching of traditional Chinese skills, including taiji quan (tai chi chuan), shaolin gongfu (kungfu) and qigong (chi kung) at various venues in and around Brighton and Hove.
Authentic martial arts taught by a qualified, friendly Instructor.
These well-structured classes suit all abilities in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment.
Private lessons are also available.
 | Qigong (chi kung) * new term starting 16th March 2009 |
| Shaolin Quan (gongfu or kungfu) |
| Taiji Quan (tai chi chuan) |
| Older Adults Tai Chi |
| Childrens' Gongfu classes |
Wu Xing {pronounced wu-shing}, is actually the short form for “Wu Zhong Liu Xing Zhi Chi” or the five types of chi dominating at different times. As the earth rotates around the sun, 5 seasons are produced, late summer is counted as a season and is seen as a transitional time. These phases affect all life process on earth including the internal workings of the human body. The goal of our Healing Arts program to understand exactly how each of us are affected by this cycle and how to live harmoniously with it. It’s your choice whether you would like to study the Healing Arts on their own or become a Wu Xing Martial artist, where you combine the health system with the martial arts.
The 5 Animal System of Kung Fu is also referred to as Wu Xing: Dragon, Leopard, Snake, Tiger, Crane. {Tai Chi is considered Crane and Snake}. Each style has a different approach to movement and combat, and is ruled by it’s own psychology and personality. Together, they form a dynamic fighting system. By studying the various animal systems you will have the capacity to change your strategy as often as needed, putting you in harmony your opponent, turning your body into the ultimate weapon.
Crane
Develops strength in the tendons and ligaments, regulates the liver and helps with anger. This style improves concentration, balance and accuracy. The crane overcomes the opponent by remaining calm, it studies the weaknesses of the opponent and moves faster.
Dragon
Develops strength in the heart, cultivates joy and improves mental alertness. This powerful style is light, evasive and unpredictable.
Leopard
Strengthens the stomach and spleen and helps with worry and anxiety. This style builds strength and flexibility and cultivates agility.
Snake
The practice of this style builds strong internal energy, strengthens the lungs, develops sensitivity, and cultivates the skill of yielding to force; allowing the practitioner to take on opponents who are much stronger. Through time the body becomes like a chain or a whip. Snake style helps control grief in the body.
Tiger
This style builds deep strength in the bones and muscles, invigorates the kidneys and helps control fear by developing courage.
With a history of 2000 to 3000 years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has formed a unique system to diagnose and cure illness. The TCM approach is fundamentally different from that of Western medicine. In TCM, the understanding of the human body is based on the holistic understanding of the universe as described in Daoism, and the treatment of illness is based primarily on the diagnosis and differentiation of syndromes.
rural China
The TCM approach treats zang-fu organs as the core of the human body. Tissue and organs are connected through a network of channels and blood vessels inside human body. Qi acts as some kind of carrier of information that is expressed externally through jingluo system. Pathologically, a dysfunction of the zang-fu organs may be reflected on the body surface through the network, and meanwhile, diseases of body surface tissues may also affect their related zang or fu organs. Affected zang or fu organs may also influence each other through internal connections. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment starts with the analysis of the entire system, and then focuses on the correction of pathological changes through readjusting the functions of the zang-fu organs.
Evaluation of a syndrome not only includes the cause, mechanism, location, and nature of the disease, but also the confrontation between the pathogenic factor and body resistance. Treatment is not based only on the symptoms, but differentiation of syndromes. Therefore, those with an identical disease may be treated in different ways, and on the other hand, different diseases may result in the same syndrome and are treated in similar ways.
The clinical diagnosis and treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine are mainly based on the yin-yang and five elements theories. These theories apply the phenomena and laws of nature to the study of the physiological activities and pathological changes of the human body and its interrelationships. The typical TCM therapies include acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutritional therapy, massage (Tuina Anmo) and qigong exercises. With acupuncture, treatment is accomplished by stimulating certain areas of the external body. Herbal medicine acts on zang-fu organs internally, while qigong tries to restore the orderly information flow inside the network through the regulation of Qi. These therapies appear very different in approach yet they all share the same underlying sets of assumptions and insights in the nature of the human body and its place in the universe. Some scientists describe the treatment of diseases through herbal medication, acupuncture, and qigong as an "information therapy".
chinese pharmacy
Yin or Yang
Yin and yang (Pinyin: yinyáng) are generalizations of the antithesis or mutual correlation between certain objects or phenomena in the natural world, combining to create a unity of opposites. Liang Yi, also known as Yin-Yang or heaven and earth, have a similar meaning.
The dual concepts of yin and yang - or the single concept yin-yang - originated in ancient Korean philosophy and metaphysics, which describe two primal opposing but complementary principles or cosmic forces said to be found in all non-static objects and processes in the universe. This paradoxical concept is the cornerstone of Taoism and traditional Chinese medicine.
Yin ("shady place, north slope, south bank (river); cloudy, overcast"; Japanese: in or on) is the dark element: it is passive, dark, feminine, downward-seeking, and corresponds to the night.
Yáng ("sunny place, south slope, north bank (river), sunshine"; Japanese: yo) is the bright element: it is active, light, masculine, upward-seeking and corresponds to the daytime.
Yin is often symbolized by water and air, while yang is symbolized by fire and earth.
Yin (dark) and yang (light) are descriptions of complementary opposites rather than absolutes. Any yin/yang dichotomy can be viewed from another perspective. All forces in nature can be seen as having yin and yang states, and the two are in constant movement rather than held in absolute stasis.
(Yang light and Yin dark, both carry the symbol of the other in the middle = dark or light dot, indicating the mutual dependency)
Yang light and Yin dark, both carry the symbol of the other in the middle = dark or light dot, indicating the mutual dependency
Five Goings - Wu Xing
The theory of the five goings is the core of Chinese philosophy. This model began gaining importance from the beginning of 3rd century before Christ for the understanding of the dynamic development.
In traditional Chinese philosophy, natural phenomena can be classified into the Wu Xing (Pinyin: wuxíng), or the Five Elements: metal (Pinyin: jin), wood (Pinyin: mu), water (Pinyin: shui), fire (Pinyin: huo), and earth (Pinyin: tu). These elements were used for describing interactions and relationships between phenomena. Five Phases is the more appropriate way of translating wuxing - literally, "five goings". Traditional Taijiquan schools relate them to footwork and refer to them as five "steps". The original foundation is based on the concept of the Five Cardinal Points.
Chinese Medicine and Cosmology
| Element | Wood | Fire | Earth | Metal | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direction | east | south | center | west | north |
| Planet | Jupiter | Mars | Saturn | Venus | Mercury |
| Zang (yin organs) | liver | heart/pericardium | spleen/pancreas | lung | kidney |
| Fu (yang organs) | gall bladder | small intestine/San Jiao | stomach | large intestine | urinary bladder |
| Emotion | anger, frustration | over-excitation | worry, anxiety | grief, sadness | fear, lack of will |
| Finger | index finger | middle finger | thumb | ring finger | little finger |
| Sensory organ | eye | tongue | mouth | nose | ears |
| Sense | sight | speech | taste | smell | hearing |
| Taste | sour | bitter | sweet | pungent | salty |
| Heavenly creature | Azure Dragon | Vermilion Bird | Yellow Dragon or Yellow Qilin | White Tiger | Black Tortoise |
| Livestock | dog | sheep/goat | cattle | chicken | pig |
| Fruit | plum | apricot | jujube(dates) | peach | chestnut |
| Grain | wheat | beans | rice | hemp | millet |
| Season | Spring | Summer | Change of seasons (Every third month) | Autumn | Winter |
| Life | birth | youth | adulthood | old age | death |
Circadian or Diurnal Cycle and Other Cycles
According to Chinese medical theory, each organ is associated with one of the Five Phases. It is believed to be more efficacious to treat an organ during a particular time period appropriate to it. The citation order of the Five Phases, i.e., the order in which they are cited in the Bo Hu Tong and other Han dynasty texts, is Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. The organs are most effectively treated, according to theory, in the following four-hour periods throughout the day, beginning with the 3 a.m. to 7 a. m. period: Metal organs (see the list), Earth organs, Fire1 organs, Water organs, Fire2 (the "non-empirical" Pericardium and Triple Burner organs), and Wood organs, which is the reverse of the citation order (plus an extra use of Fire and the non-empirical organs to take care of the sixth four-hour period of the day). These two orders are further related to the sequence of the planets going outward from the sun (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, or Water, Metal, Fire, Wood, and Earth) by a star diagram similar to the one shown below.
Therapy
Pulse and Tongue are the diagnostic tools to evaluate the underlying syndrome. The TCM knows many ways of treatment. Acupuncture (or heat application with Moxa), Massage (e.g. Tuina, Gua Sha), Phytotherapy, Nutrition and Exercises (e.g. Taijiquan, Yoga und Qigong) are used to harmonize the unbalanced goings (Water, Earth, Wood, Fire, and Metal).
Acupuncture
Most of the main acupuncture points are found on the "twelve main meridians" and two of the "eight extra meridians" (Du Mai and Ren Mai) a total of "fourteen channels", which are described in classical and traditional Chinese medical texts, as pathways through which Qi and "Blood" flow. There also exist "extra points" not belonging to any channel. Other tender points (known as "ashi points") may also be needled as they are believed to be where stagnation has gathered.
Treatment of acupuncture points may be performed along several layers of pathways, most commonly the twelve primary channels, or mai, located throughout the body. The first twelve channels correspond to systems of function: Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen, Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder, Kidney, Pericardium, San Jiao (an intangible, also known as Triple Burner), Gall Bladder, and Liver. Other pathways include the Eight Extraordinary Pathways (Qi Jing Ba Mai), the Luo Vessels, the Divergents and the Sinew Channels. Ashi (tender) points are generally used for treatment of local pain.
Of the eight extraordinary pathways, only two have acupuncture points of their own: the Ren Mai and Du Mai, which are situated on the midline of the anterior and posterior aspects of the trunk and head respectively. The other six meridians are "activated" by using a master and couple point technique which involves needling the acupuncture points located on the twelve main meridians that correspond to the particular extraordinary pathway.
Many patients claim to experience the sensations of stimulus known in Chinese as de qi ("obtaining the Qi" or "arrival of the Qi"). This kind of sensation was historically considered to be evidence of effectively locating the desired point.
puppet with meridians
Phytotherapy
In TCM applied medications are individually composed for each patient, depending on the diagnosed syndrome. The herbs are administered as tea or decoction. Medications as well as food stuffs are attributed as either cold, cool, neutral, warm and hot according to their energetic potential and they are also divided regarding their taste (sweet, salty, bitter, sour, hot or neutral). The medication is selected regarding the desired characteristics.
classical herbal preparation in a chinese pharmacy
History
Much of the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine derived from the same philosophical bases that contributed to the development of Taoist philosophy, and reflects the classical Chinese belief that individual human experiences express causative principles effective in the environment at all scales.
During the golden age of his reign from 2698 to 2596 B.C, as a result of a dialogue with his minister Ch'i Pai, the Yellow Emperor is supposed by Chinese tradition to have composed his Neijing Suwen or Basic Questions of Internal Medicine, also known as the Huang di Neijing. Modern scholarly opinion holds that the extant text of this title was compiled by an anonymous scholar no earlier than the Han dynasty just over two-thousand years ago.
During the Han dynasty, Zhang Zhong Jing, the Hippocrates of China, who was mayor of Chang-sha toward the end of the 2nd century AD, wrote a Treatise on Cold Damage, which contains the earliest known reference to Neijing Suwen. The Jin dynasty practitioner and advocate of acupuncture and moxibustion, Huang-fu Mi (215 - 282 AD), also quoted the Yellow Emperor in his Jia Yi Jing, ca. 265 AD. During the Tang dynasty, Wang Ping claimed to have located a copy of the originals of the Neijing Suwen, which he expanded and edited substantially. This work was revisited by an imperial commission during the 11th century AD.
Huang di, the yellow emperor
Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) is notably different from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The Nationalist government elected to abandon and outlaw the practice of CCM as it did not want China to be left behind by scientific progress. For 30 years, CCM was forbidden in China and several people were prosecuted by the government for engaging in CCM. In the 1960's, Mao Zedong finally decided that the government could not continue to outlaw the use of CCM. He commissioned the top 10 doctors (M.D.'s) to take a survey of CCM and create a standardized format for its application. This standardized form is now known as TCM.
Today, TCM is what is taught in nearly all those medical schools in China, most of Asia and Northern America that teach traditional medical practices at all. To learn CCM typically one must be part of a family lineage of medicine. Recently, there has been resurgence in interest in CCM in China, Europe and United States, as a specialty. For example, see the program of Classical Chinese Medicine at National College of Natural Medicine. See also [http://www.classicalchinesemedicine.org Heiner Fruehauf's website covering topics related to Classical Chinese Medicine.
Contact with Western culture and medicine has not displaced TCM. While there may be traditional factors involved in the persistent practice, two reasons are most obvious in the westward spread of TCM in recent decades. Firstly, TCM practices are believed by many to be very effective, sometimes offering palliative efficacy where the best practices of Western medicine fail, especially for routine ailments such as flu and allergies, and managing to avoid the toxicity of some chemically composed medicines. Secondly, TCM provides the only care available to ill people, when they cannot afford to try the western option. On the other hand, there is, for example, no longer a distinct branch of Chinese physics or Chinese biology.
TCM formed part of the barefoot doctor program in the People's Republic of China, which extended public health into rural areas. It is also cheaper to the PRC government, because the cost of training a TCM practitioner and staffing a TCM hospital is considerably less than that of a practitioner of Western medicine; hence TCM has been seen as an integral part of extending health services in China.
There is some notion that TCM requires supernatural forces or even cosmology to explain itself. However most historical accounts of the system will acknowledge it was invented by a culture of people that were already tired of listening to shamans trying to explain illnesses on evil spirits; any reference to supernatural forces is usually the result of romantic translations or poor understanding and will not be found in the Taoist-inspired classics of acupuncture such as the Nei Jing or Zhenji Dachéng. The system's development has over its history been skeptically analysed extensively, and practice and development of it has waxed and waned over the centuries and cultures which it has travelled - yet the system has still survived this far. It is true that the focus from the beginning has been on pragmatism, not necessarily understanding of the mechanisms of the actions - and that this has hindered its modern acceptance in the West. This, despite that there were times such as the early 18th Century when "acupuncture and moxa were a matter of course in polite European society".