Discussion of medical humanities in ancient China
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    Abstract:

    Medical humanities are an important symbol of the development of human civilization and the wisdom crystallization of historical practice. In ancient China, with a long history, medical humanities had rich connotations and profound thoughts, which were scarce resources shared by the whole world. The systematic thinking and experience accumulated by the ancients on disease, treatment, prevention, health and life are invaluable. Disease was not only a realistic description of an individual’s physical and mental illness, but often beyond the meaning of medicine itself and endowed with deep political, social, cultural, moral and other connotations. "Putting people first", "respecting morality and virtue", and "high medical excellence" were the ideological essence of medical humanities, which were multidimensional, interdisciplinary and comprehensive. "Medical benevolence" was the best expression of medical humanism. The essence of medicine was the pursuit of the truth of life and death, exploring the rise of life’s meaning and value. "Health" referred to the optimal functional state of individuals in which they were in a state of "consists of spirit and form", "reestablishment to yin-yang equilibrium" and "harmony between heaven and man". It is an ontological issue of medical humanities and has universal significance as a human community. The therapeutic perspective in the context of "great health" was an important foundation for the establishment of "medical humanistic spirit". Ancient China advocated "the use of the Tao to govern the arts", guided the application of medical technology with humanistic spirit correctly. The idea of "treating diseases before they occur" reflected the ultimate goal of medical practice, which was to advance from "treating diseases" as the main focus to "health" as the goal. The emphasis on "people-oriented" emphasized the integrity of "people" as medical objects, and emphasized the practical existence and spiritual problems of human life, fundamentally changing the "patient-centered" approach. Ancient China advocated using technology by Tao, i.e., to guide the use of medical technology with a humanistic spirit, and insisted on the principle of treating the disease before it happened, pushing towards the goal of health. Medical humanities in ancient Chinese could provide valuable ideological resources and references for building disciplines of medical humanities with Chinese characteristics, promoting the strategy of Healthy China and improving the human health index.

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郑倩茹.中国古代“医学人文”论[J].重庆大学学报社会科学版,2023,29(6):149~161

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  • Online: January 17,2024
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