The Tao and Methods of Health Preservation in Traditional Chinese Medicine
The Tao and Methods of Health Preservation in Traditional Chinese Medicine
People often refer to health-preserving activities as the "Tao of Health Preservation" or the "Art of Health Preservation." "Tao" refers to principles or laws, while "art" refers to specific methods or techniques. Its characteristic lies in being embedded in various daily behaviors.
Traditional Chinese methods for prolonging life and promoting longevity are termed as "Weisheng" (guarding life), "Yangsheng" (nourishing life), "Housheng" (cherishing life), or "Daosheng" (following the Tao of life). "Weisheng" means to protect life; "Yangsheng" means to nurture life; "Housheng" means to cherish life; and "Daosheng" requires that all these methods adhere to certain principles. The Tao Te Ching states, "Humans follow the earth, the earth follows the heavens, the heavens follow the Tao, and the Tao follows nature," reminding people to abide by the laws of nature and the universe.
Health preservation, in essence, refers to measures taken to maintain or enhance health, reduce diseases, and prolong life by following the laws of life, equivalent to modern medical health care activities. Health preservation is a cultural phenomenon, representing the material and spiritual wealth created by the Chinese nation in the historical practice of maintaining human health and racial continuity. It carries a certain national, traditional, and enduring character.
Since health-preserving activities involve the study of human life phenomena, their content naturally permeates various aspects of daily life, inevitably intersecting with diverse cultural phenomena. Therefore, ancient health preservation practices are often scattered across many cultural domains, such as medical culture, food culture, tea culture, religious culture, folk culture, and martial arts culture.
Throughout history, health preservation practitioners, based on their unique experiences and perspectives, have emphasized different aspects of health preservation. These include regulating diet and daily routines, using medicinal substances, employing medical techniques (acupuncture, massage, etc.), practicing martial arts and qigong, cultivating mental and spiritual well-being, moderating desires, and nurturing moral character. Each approach has its strengths and applications.
Basic Content and Features of Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Preservation
The Chinese nation's approach to health preservation broadly encompasses theories from medicine, diet, religion, folklore, and martial arts developed over thousands of years. Its content can be summarized in the following four points:
Following Nature: This embodies the concept of "harmony between humans and nature," emphasizing the need to align with natural laws and avoid violating them during health preservation. It also stresses the importance of unity and coordination between individuals and society. As the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon states, "To know the heavens above, the earth below, and human affairs in between is the path to longevity."
Nurturing Both Body and Spirit: Health preservation focuses not only on physical care but also on mental and psychological well-being. This is known as "nurturing both body and spirit," "preserving the spirit to protect the body," and "protecting the body to preserve the spirit."
Balancing Activity and Rest: While modern medicine advocates that "life lies in movement," Traditional Chinese Medicine also emphasizes that "movement generates yang" and promotes exercise for health. However, it equally advocates "finding stillness within movement" and "avoiding overexertion." As stated in the Zhouyi Waizhuan, "Movement and stillness are interdependent, forming the basis of all changes," and the Leijing·Yiyi notes, "All principles in the world arise from the interplay of movement and stillness."
Comprehensive and Adaptive Health Preservation: Health preservation is not limited to a single method or approach. It involves multiple pathways and methods, such as physical, mental, active, passive, dietary, and medicinal practices. Additionally, it requires tailoring methods to individual, geographical, and temporal differences, known as "adaptive health preservation" or "holistic health preservation."
