The Tang Ye Jing Fa 湯液經法 , according to Zhang Zhong Jing's disciple Huang Fumi (214-282 AD) and to the illustrious erudite Tao Hong Jing (456-536 AD), was an ancient book which served as the basis for Zhang Zhong Jing's (150-219 AD) Shang Han Za Bing Lun. While most of this work was lost, a partial transcription by Tao Hong Jing is available to the modern reader (we will cover the book's fascinating history in class). This portion, which Tao Hong Jing named Fu Xing Jue Zang Fu Yong Yao Fa Yao 辅行诀脏腑用药法要 , contains 60 formulae which served as templates, or are exactly identical to, Shang Han Lun and Jin Gui Yao Lue formulae. As such, the study of these formulae is invaluable in the philological study of Zhang Zhong Jing's works.
The Tang Ye Jing Fa presents the world of formula making as a vast mirror of the human being's relationship to the greater cosmos. As such, the formulae are arranged in groups corresponding to the 4 cardinal directions and 5 elements. This categorization allows the reader to on the one hand relate physical symptoms and herbs to the influences of environment and climate, and on the other hand to extrapolate to seeing the human being as manifesting qualities of such or such cardinal direction, or element.
In addition, it is worthy to note that although the formulae of the Tang Ye Jing Fa are arranged in terms of the numbers 4 and 5, the very same formulae are used by Zhang Zhong Jing in the context of the 6 conformations.
How do we reconcile these approaches, and how does their convergence enhance the clinician's skill in diagnosing and treating disease?
In this class we aim to answer this question, via discussion of the medical and cosmological views in which this work is inscribed, and, very importantly, by a thorough analysis of all 60 formulae!
The Tang Ye Jing Fa presents the world of formula making as a vast mirror of the human being's relationship to the greater cosmos. As such, the formulae are arranged in groups corresponding to the 4 cardinal directions and 5 elements. This categorization allows the reader to on the one hand relate physical symptoms and herbs to the influences of environment and climate, and on the other hand to extrapolate to seeing the human being as manifesting qualities of such or such cardinal direction, or element.
In addition, it is worthy to note that although the formulae of the Tang Ye Jing Fa are arranged in terms of the numbers 4 and 5, the very same formulae are used by Zhang Zhong Jing in the context of the 6 conformations.
How do we reconcile these approaches, and how does their convergence enhance the clinician's skill in diagnosing and treating disease?
In this class we aim to answer this question, via discussion of the medical and cosmological views in which this work is inscribed, and, very importantly, by a thorough analysis of all 60 formulae!