Exploration on the Orignal Meaning of “Temperament” by the Theory of Words’ Value (以詞的價值理論探求“脾氣”之本義)

Abstract

The original meaning of “temperament” 脾氣 was explained with “the function of spleen” or “the disease of spleen” by the previous scholars is wrong and the explanation of “the Qi 氣 of spleen” is ambiguous. The earliest record about the word of “temperament” 脾氣 comes from the Historical Records 史記, and this book belongs to the language system of the Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine 黃帝內經. By the Theory of Words’ Value, after analyzing the 593 words or phrases of including “Qi” 氣 in the Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine 黃帝內經, the orignal meaning of “Qi” 氣 and “temperament” 脾氣 is inferred. Finally, this paper concludes that the orignal meaning of “temperament” is an essence and a tiny particle which produced by the water and food in the spleen and stomach, and has the functions of maintaining the physiological activities of the spleen, nourishing the body and resisting diseases. 前人辭書將“脾氣”本義釋爲“脾的功能”“脾臟之病”有誤，而釋爲“脾的精氣”則表述模糊。“脾氣”最早見於《史記》，其文與《黃帝內經》屬同一系統。根據詞的價值理論分析《黃帝內經》593條含“氣”詞目，據以推測其“氣”“脾氣”的本義。結果表明：“脾氣”本義爲由脾胃中的水穀產生的，具有維持脾臟生理活動、滋養人體、抵禦病邪等功能的精微物質。