Abstract
AbstractThis paper aims to construct a cultural model ofqiin Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) by probing into its conceptual metaphors based on a contextualized semantic analysis ofqiinHuang Di’s Inner Classic(HDIC). It is found that there are eight conceptual metaphors ofqi, each involving experiential correlation between source and target concept. To be specific,cause for effectbuilds up a major metonymic basis for the metaphorical mappings from the source concept ofqi(i.e.,substance) to the target concepts, includingphysiological function, breathing, climate, pathogenic factor, disease/syndrome, odor, property of drugsandtime. It is worth special noting thattimeis understood in terms of the motion ofqiin TCM. The conceptual metaphortime is qiis Chinese culture-specific. On the whole, conceptual metaphors ofqiform a conceptual network and further constitute a cultural model:qias the substance origin of human life is believed in TCM to function by ceaseless motion, giving rise to wellness or illness. This cultural model reflects a pair of inseparable concepts in ancient Chinese philosophy, viz. substance and (its) function, with the former being primary, essential and original, while the latter, secondary, concomitant and derivational.
Published Version
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