The Cold and Cooling School: Liu Wansu
This section details the philosophy of Liu Wansu, who argued that diseases ultimately manifest as pathogenic fire. His approach, a critique of the warming methods of the Song Dynasty, laid the groundwork for the later Warm Disease (Wen Bing) school.
Core Philosophy
Liu Wansu proposed that even pathogenic cold could transform into heat. Consequently, cool and cold-natured herbs were central to his therapies. This was a significant shift from the prevailing emphasis on warming and tonifying treatments. His methods were considered most suitable for patients with strong constitutions.
Correcting a Misinterpretation
While influential, later generations often misinterpreted his school as using only extremely cold herbs. An analysis of his book, "Xuan Ming Lun Fang," reveals a more nuanced and balanced approach to treatment, with 66% of prescriptions using a combination of cold and heat, 21% biased towards warm and hot, and only 13% biased towards cold and cool.
The Purgation (Attacking) School: Zhang Congzheng
This section explores the aggressive "attacking" philosophy of Zhang Congzheng, a disciple of Liu Wansu. He believed diseases were caused by invading external pathogens, or "evils," and that treatment should focus on purging them. You can examine his key tenets and see the striking parallels between his ideas and the later Kohoha school of Kampo medicine in Japan.
Core Philosophy
Zhang Congzheng argued that most diseases arise from the invasion of exogenous pathogens. He challenged the belief that strong "righteous qi" (the body's defense) prevents illness. Instead, he asserted that eliminating the "evil qi" (pathogen) allows the righteous qi to recover naturally. His primary focus was to purge these harmful influences from the body.
Influence on Kampo: A Comparison
Zhang Congzheng's perspective closely aligns with the Kohoha school in Japan. The following comparison highlights the similarity in their radical views on treatment.
Zhang Congzheng's Tenets
"If you clear evil qi, righteous qi becomes stronger by itself... Expel evil qi with medicinal herbs, and tonify with diet and daily living modification."
Yoshimasu Todo (Kohoha School)
"Men only cure disease, not righteous qi, which heaven takes care of... All medicines are toxins, which cannot tonify."
The Nourishing Yin School: Zhu Danxi
This section covers the ideas of Zhu Danxi, the most recent of the four masters. His work represents a synthesis of his predecessors' thoughts. He agreed with clearing heat but uniquely attributed its origin to an internal deficiency of Yin. Explore his core philosophy and the treatment approach that combined both tonifying and purging methods.
Core Philosophy
Zhu Danxi's famous axiom was that "yang is always in excess, and yin is always deficient." He believed the root of many heat-related disorders was not an external pathogen, but an internal emptiness of Yin. Therefore, his treatments aimed to nourish the body's Yin, particularly Kidney Yin, to resolve heat from its source.
Treatment Approach
His prescriptions often combined both tonifying and purging methods. A common strategy was to employ formulas that nourished Kidney Yin while simultaneously extinguishing "ministerial fire" (a type of pathological heat arising from deficiency).
The Spleen and Stomach School: Li Gao
This section focuses on Li Gao, who proposed that most disorders stem from injury to the Spleen and Stomach system—the foundation of postnatal energy. Discover the three main factors he believed caused this damage and his holistic treatment approach, which significantly influenced the Goseiha school in Japan and the development of abdominal diagnosis.
Core Philosophy
Li Gao's perspective was that the majority of disorders stem from damage to the spleen and stomach. He identified a critical issue as the "sinking of the middle qi" and advocated treatments aimed at raising this qi. His approach was holistic, emphasizing the overall health and balance of the body's digestive and metabolic systems.
Causes of Disease
He attributed damage to the Spleen and Stomach to three primary factors: improper diet, overstrain, and mental irritation. His most famous prescription, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, exemplifies his approach to reversing this pathology.