The Nei Jing

The Nei Jing is the earliest book on Chinese Medical Theory that is known. The earliest version dates back to around 100 B.C.E, but the text has been revised many times to incorporate mote modern knowledge. It is also called: The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic. Most historians are comfortable in stating that these texts serve to form the fundamental doctrine source for Chinese Medicine.

What is most fascinating about the Nei Jing is that the text is structured as a dialogue between the Yellow Emperor and one of his ministers or physicians. Most agree that it was during the Han dynasty that the Nei Jing gained its stature. It has also considered a major book in highlighting the Daoist theory and lifestyle.

In my humble opinion, the most important contribution of the Nei Jing is that it was one of the first known texts to depart from the shamanistic beliefs that disease was caused by demonic influences. Diet, lifestyle, emotions, age and environment are discussed, formally, as causes to disease. The significance of this, to TCM, is that the principles, of Yin/Yang, the five elements and eight principles differentiation were derived as methods to diagnose and treat an illness.

There have been many translations of the Nei Jing to serve a variety of purposes. As far as TCM is concerned, the two most widely used translations are: The Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor and Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal medicine. Again, the value of these translations is that it incorporates the fundamental ideology discussed in the Nei Jing with modern medical practice.

In future Blogs, I will discuss the impact that the Ne Jing has on modern TCM practitioners, like myself. I will also write about the “state” of Chinese Medicine in different periods of time. As I write this, I am reminded how fortunate I am to be practicing a trade that is influenced so much by the ancient thinkers in China.