Understanding of "Zheng" and "Xiang" in Chinese Traditional Medicine from the View of Modern Philosophy

For over a hundred years,the overall notions in traditional Chinese medical science all rooted in metaphysical philosophical theories on origin,which belongs to reductionism.It has been proved by modern science and traditional Chinese medical science that matter is not the universal principle and the only reality,the existence of relations is more basic and more abundant than matter. The zheng is the xiang of an illness,indicating the overall relations between man's life system and the nature,whose connotation and hidden messages are far bigger than the forming matter of the life system,and have governing functions over the life system.The treatment based on syndrome differentiation does not canvass the relations of cause and effect,but grasps all the relevant relations of cause and effect for rational treatment.The zheng and xiang in traditional Chinese medicine cannot find counterpart in Western medicine,as they belong to two different layers in cognitions that cannot be linked.The zheng in traditional Chinese medicine is a science field with its own individual system and infinite developing perspective.In the developing process of traditional Chinese medicine,all modern science and achievement of Western medicine can be taken use of,but the orientation of zheng/ xiang should never be abandoned,the overall inspection of the observed and the total natural status is to be maintained.Exceeding the binding of one-sidedness in philosophy is the fundamentals for the survival and development of traditional Chinese medicine;and at the mean time,in the struggle against such a dilemma,from the view of traditional Chinese medicine,the great achievement of Chinese ancient scientific thinking is more obviously demonstrated.Maintaining and upholding traditional Chinese medicine is not only the mission the epoch endowed us to develop the cause of Chinese medicine,but also the mission to develop the cause of Chinese science.