Yin and Yang: The Physical and the Symbolic in Chinese Medical Practices

Abstract

Studying health practices within various present and past cultures is a valuable area of research, in part because they mark a point where the physical and the symbolic meet. Health practices serve a functional role by caring for the physical body, but they can also display various beliefs within cultures. In researching the multiple healing methods of a culture, it is important to question what values these practices have and what beliefs they represent for the culture, along with studying what physical needs they fulfill. How does the comprehension of medicine within a culture show the thought processes of people? This paper focuses on Chinese medicine, which is currently comprised of traditional techniques as well as modern medical care. By examining how the Chinese health system has changed over time, through diffusion from other cultures and self-growth, the shifting values and beliefs within Chinese society become apparent.