Study on the Meaning of Yin-Yang and Sasang in the 『Huangdineijing』

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how the term Yin-Yang and Sasang categorized in the book『Huangdineijing』. In order to investigate how the terms are used, we reviewed the text including the terms expressed in the manner of [(Yin/Yang) within (Yin/Yang)] and [Sasang]. We found three forms of expressions; [(Yin/Yang) within (Yin/Yang)], [Sasang], [(Sasang) within (Yin/Yang)]. Two paragraphs of [(Yin/Yang) within (Yin/Yang)] was found in one chapter, two paragraphs of [(Sasang)] was found in two chapters, and three paragraphs of [(Sasang) within (Yin/Yang)] was found in three chapters. We found five types of relation between [(Yin/Yang) within (Yin/Yang)], [Sasang], and five phases in 『Huangdi neijing』 as follows; ① Yang within Yin, lesser Yang, and wood ② Yang within Yang, greater Yang, and fire ③ ( ), ( ), and extreme Yin ④ Yin within Yang, lesser Yin, and metal, and ⑤ Yin within Yin, greater Yin, and water. And, as for the [(Yin/Yang) within (Yin/Yang)] and [(Sasang) within (Yin/Yang)], the classification criteria for Yin-Yang were brightness, abdomen/back or lumbar. The order of Sasang with the description form of [Sasang] or [(Sasang) within (Yin/Yang)] in 「Siqi Tiaoshen Dalun」 and 「Liu Jie ZangXiang Theory」 was lesser Yang, greater Yang, greater Yin, and lesser Yin, which is based on the meridian system or a plant-shaped change order. We discussed the results and its implication for the analysis of medical classics with the consideration of previous studies on Yin-Yang theories in 『Huangdi neijing』.