The Presentation of Yin/Yang and the Five Elements
The Presentation of Yin/Yang and the Five Elements
The ideas of yin/yang and the five elements are center themes of Chinese medicine. In this paper I will attempt to compare and contrast the ways that Giovanni's The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists and Ikeda's The Practice of Japanese Acupuncture and Moxibustion present ideas of yin/yang and the five elements. I will note their similarities and differences in style, content and structure. I hope to gain a better understanding of these two authors' approach to Chinese medicine and their methods of transferring knowledge yin/yang and the five elements through their texts.
In both Giovanni and Ikeda's books the concept of yin/yang is presented as the structural basis for explaining acupuncture and how it works within the body. They both refer to patterns in the body that correlate with the excess/deficiency of Yin and Yang. Both texts bring up the application of Yin and Yang very early on as a grounds to explaining further ideas. Giovanni's Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Part 1 begins with discussing the history of yin/yang and how the idea developed throughout history. He then goes on to explain yin/yang in great detail. Similarly, Ikeda's book starts off with ideas of yin/yang saying things like "Yang qi has the basic properties of warmth and movement and thus constantly diffuses and circulates" (Ikeda, 4). I noticed that Giovani relates yang energy to 'Activity' on page 5 of his book. Another parallel between the two books is the use of tables and diagrams when explaining ideas. Both books are also outlined systematically in that a knowledge gradually builds off of previously stated ideas. They are, in this sense, geared toward a western audience. Chapter 1 of Giovanni's book starts off with basic principles but gets progressively more detailed with concepts of Yin/Yang and the five elements. Similarly, Ikeda's book gives a concise background of
The ideas of yin/yang and the five elements are center themes of Chinese medicine. In this paper I will attempt to compare and contrast the ways that Giovanni's The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists and Ikeda's The Practice of Japanese Acupuncture and Moxibustion present ideas of yin/yang and the five elements. I will note their similarities and differences in style, content and structure. I hope to gain a better understanding of these two authors' approach to Chinese medicine and their methods of transferring knowledge yin/yang and the five elements through their texts.
In both Giovanni and Ikeda's books the concept of yin/yang is presented as the structural basis for explaining acupuncture and how it works within the body. They both refer to patterns in the body that correlate with the excess/deficiency of Yin and Yang. Both texts bring up the application of Yin and Yang very early on as a grounds to explaining further ideas. Giovanni's Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Part 1 begins with discussing the history of yin/yang and how the idea developed throughout history. He then goes on to explain yin/yang in great detail. Similarly, Ikeda's book starts off with ideas of yin/yang saying things like "Yang qi has the basic properties of warmth and movement and thus constantly diffuses and circulates" (Ikeda, 4). I noticed that Giovani relates yang energy to 'Activity' on page 5 of his book. Another parallel between the two books is the use of tables and diagrams when explaining ideas. Both books are also outlined systematically in that a knowledge gradually builds off of previously stated ideas. They are, in this sense, geared toward a western audience. Chapter 1 of Giovanni's book starts off with basic principles but gets progressively more detailed with concepts of Yin/Yang and the five elements. Similarly, Ikeda's book gives a concise background of