Forum and Contention
The definition of "Hu-Chang" in Chinese external medicine
Li Jiahan, Xiao Yongzhi
Published 2023-01-28
Cite as Chin J Med Hist, 2023, 53(1): 56-60. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112155-20220923-00131
Abstract
The Hu-Chang theory is widely used in Chinese external medicine diagnosis and treatment, and it has been documented in many archives and recordings. However, its provenance and connotation were still confusing and unclear. It was believed that The Covert Prescription for External Medicine (Mi Chuan Wai Ke Fang) by Zhao Yizhen in the late Yuan and early Ming Dynasty was the earliest work with the use of provenance from the existing records of Hu-Chang. In terms of its connotation, it was believed by many scholars that the part of speech of Hu-Chang was an adjective-noun phrase, which means "defensive barrier", ie, "local swelling area in surgical disease". However, based on the textual research and analysis of relevant ancient documents, Hu-Chang should be a verb-object phrase, which means "the vital Qi prevents the diseased area from being infected or deteriorated". In this sense, the characteristic of Hu-Chang, the local swelling range of surgical diseases, can be named as "supervising and monitoring the field barrier".
Key words:
Hu-Chang; Hu-Chang theory; Chinese surgical medicine
Contributor Information
Li Jiahan
Institute of Traditional Chinese Medical History and Literature, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing100700, China
Xiao Yongzhi
Institute of Traditional Chinese Medical History and Literature, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing100700, China