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    Chinese Writing: Quick Facts

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    Kathleen
    The document provides information on the history and evolution of Chinese writing from 1500 BCE to present. It discusses the earliest forms of writing such as Oracle Bones from the Shang Dynasty, as well as later scripts like Greater Seal, Lesser Seal, and Clerkly Script. It also gives an example of how the Chinese character "hao" meaning "good" was constructed pictographically. Finally, it provides an overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine, covering its principles of Yin/Yang and Five Elements, diagnostic techniques, and common treatments like herbalism, acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping.

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    Chinese Writing: Quick Facts

    Uploaded by

    Kathleen
    32 views7 pages
    The document provides information on the history and evolution of Chinese writing from 1500 BCE to present. It discusses the earliest forms of writing such as Oracle Bones from the Shang Dynasty, as well as later scripts like Greater Seal, Lesser Seal, and Clerkly Script. It also gives an example of how the Chinese character "hao" meaning "good" was constructed pictographically. Finally, it provides an overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine, covering its principles of Yin/Yang and Five Elements, diagnostic techniques, and common treatments like herbalism, acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping.

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    The document provides information on the history and evolution of Chinese writing from 1500 BCE to present. It discusses the earliest forms of writing such as Oracle Bones from the Shang Dynasty, as well as later scripts like Greater Seal, Lesser Seal, and Clerkly Script. It also gives an example of how the Chinese character "hao" meaning "good" was constructed pictographically. Finally, it provides an overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine, covering its principles of Yin/Yang and Five Elements, diagnostic techniques, and common treatments like herbalism, acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    32 views7 pages

    Chinese Writing: Quick Facts

    Uploaded by

    Kathleen
    The document provides information on the history and evolution of Chinese writing from 1500 BCE to present. It discusses the earliest forms of writing such as Oracle Bones from the Shang Dynasty, as well as later scripts like Greater Seal, Lesser Seal, and Clerkly Script. It also gives an example of how the Chinese character "hao" meaning "good" was constructed pictographically. Finally, it provides an overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine, covering its principles of Yin/Yang and Five Elements, diagnostic techniques, and common treatments like herbalism, acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping.

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    of 7

    CHINESE WRITING

    QUICK FACTS
    TYPE LOGOGRAPHIC
    GENEOLOGY SINITIC
    LOCATION EAST ASIA> CHINA
    TIME 1500 BCE TO PRESENT
    DIRECTION TOP TO BOTTOM

    The Earliest Chinese Writing & Evolution of Scripts


    Oracle Bones or Jiaguwen (甲骨文),

    The earliest form of writing in Chinese history dated back from the Shang
    Dynasty (1500-1000 BCE) which is known as the Oracle Bone or Jiaguwen.
    Ancient Chinese writing evolved from the practice of divination where they used the
    shoulder of blades of oxen or the plastrons of turtles. The diviner would carve the
    question into the bone then place it near the fire and by the time the bone would
    crack, there would be lines formed interpreted by the diviner. Oracle bones
    continued in use through the Zhou Dynasty (1046-226 BCE) when they were
    replaced by another form of divination known as the I-Ching (The Book of Changes)
    which relied on a written text of hexagrams to interpret the meaning of a pattern
    made by the questioner throwing yarrow sticks onto a table.

    Dazhuan (大篆), or Greater Seal

    This form Chinese writing started from the Late Shang Dynasty to the Western Chou Dynasties
    (1100 BCE to 700 BCE). The same as the Oracle Bones, it is also pictographic meaning the inscription
    represented an object that is linked to the concept. It is possible that Jiaguwen and Dazhuan are just the
    same script since they overlapped in time. Besides from Dazhuan being described as more refined and
    consist of more characters than Jiaguwen, both scripts also use different materials so their visual styles
    differ due to the quality of surfaces used. The images were inscribed on bronze and probably wood.

    Xiaozhuan (小篆), or Lesser Seal

    The Xiaozhuan was developed during 700 BCE and still in use today as calligraphy
    and seals. This script is said to be the parent of the modern and unsimplified Chinese
    writing because it exhibits systematic and extensive use of radicals much like modern
    Chinese. Unlike both of the past scripts, Xiaozhuan is more logographic than pictographic
    since they use symbols that represents the meaning itself instead of objects. It all start
    when the first Chinese emperor, the founder of Qin Dynasty ordered a standard writing system across
    the Chinses Empire. He required that the characters along with their meaning to be uniform.

    Lishu (隸書), or Clerkly Script

    This Chinese Script was developed during 500 BCE and used  Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BCE) up
    until the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE). Lishu was used by the government bureaucrats in need for
    complete documentation and an effiecient way to handle government affairs. The marked difference
    between this script and the Xiaozhuan is that Li Shu characters have less strokes and a more flowing
    style, therefore easily adaptable to brushes and pens. The scripts were written on bamboo scrolls tied
    together with a string.

    Below is an example of how some of the earliest Chinese characters were built.

    好 hao A woman holding a newborn in her arms, symbolizing goodness and happiness.
    CHINESE MEDICINE

    Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is based on balance, harmony an energy.

    Traditional forms of medicine have been used in China since the 3rd Century. Traditional Chinese
    Medicine (TCM) system consist three parts.

    PRINCIPLES: Yin and Yang, The Five Elements

    TREATMENT: Herbalism, Acupunture, Moxibustion, Cupping,

    PREVENTION: Qi gong, tai-ji, Meditation, Massage

    PRINCIPLES

    Yin and Yang

    In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the concept of Yin and Yang serves as the foundation for
    understanding health, as well as diagnosing and treating illnesses. Yin and Yang are two opposing
    principles when it comes to the human body where if one becomes unbalanced in the body, an illness
    will occur. Yin is associated to the lower parts of the body and the upper parts of the body is associated
    with Yang. There are also Eight Principles where it is understood as a group of four opposites.

    The concept of “qi”

    The basic concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine is Qi wherein


    described as a vital energy that flows through the body and performs
    multiple functions in maintaining health. It is believed that the body has 12
    qi or major meridians and each of it is connected with 12 major organs in
    TCM theory. If there is an imbalance of qi, illness can arise, with
    varying symptoms according to the type of qi and whether there is a
    deficiency or excess of qi.
    The Five Elements

    The Five elements in the Traditional Chinese Medicine provides a


    master blueprint that provides outline of the relationship between the different elements of the body
    and the nature on how they are connected each other. In medicine, the internal organs, body tissues,
    sense and other organs, emotions, and even properties of medicinal are all categorized according to
    these elements. One element can either increase the strength of another element or restrain the other
    which can be shown on the picture below. The outer arrow denotes of increasing the other element and
    the inner arrow denotes of restraining the other element. For example, the wood generates fire and the
    water restrains fire. When it comes to our body for example, the element water is related to winter, a
    cold climate, the north, the color black, the Kidneys, the emotion fear. These are things that share a
    deep, sometimes invisible, connection to each other. When it is winter there is a cold essence, it relates
    to and impacts in some way the Kidneys, the emotion fear is linked, though not always in an obvious,
    visible way. Health conditions arise when the five elements become imbalanced: one element will
    become too strong or active. 

    DIAGNOSIS

    The Four Pillars

    Inspection

    Inspection or “looking” focuses on the visual analysis


    of the outward appearance to know the patient’s condition. It
    includes observation of the skin, face, features and especially
    the tongue. As the exterior and interior corresponds
    immediately, when the inner organs run wrongly, it will be
    reflected through skin pallor, tongue, the facial sensory
    organs and some excrement. In Traditional Chinese Medicine
    the cornerstone practice in diagnostic process is a close
    observation of the patient’s tongue because it corresponds to
    particular zang-fu organ and can reveal a lot about a
    particular disease.

    Auscultation

    Auscultation refers to the analysis of sounds to collect messages through hearing. Practitioners
    generally classify the voice into these five types: shout, laugh, sing, weep and groan. Each type
    connects to different organs and provides information about which systems of the body may have
    ailments. Another way of diagnosing a disease is olfaction which is an extension of auscultation wherein
    the smell of body odor is being analyzed.

    Palpation

    Palpation refers to the analysis by feeling. The practitioner will palpate the various pulse points,
    including the radial artery, abdomen and the meridian points to diagnose the inner change of symptom.
    The technique of palpation in Traditional Chinese Medicine can take years to learn since it is considered
    to be complex as part of the Four Pillars of Diagnosis.

    Inquiry

    Inquiry refers to the analysis by asking questions about the specific or main complaint. A
    traditional Chinese medical diagnosis may involve ten questions, which range in subject from the
    patient's sleeping habits to their appetite to the characteristics of the pain they have. Additional related
    questions may follow these main areas of inquiry. After the recognition of the particular disharmony,
    prescription of treatment is given by the doctor. he treatment can include the more common practices
    of Traditional Chinese Medicine, such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, and tui na massage, but also less
    common practices, such as cupping.

    TREATMENT

    Herbal Therapy

    In Traditional Chinese Medicine they make use of


    herbs and herbal formulas to strengthen organ function
    and support good health. The practitioner chooses the
    herbal formula whose essence, or signature energy
    vibration, correctly stimulates or adjusts the body’s own
    energy vibration. The herbs used are often combined in
    formulas and given as teas, capsules, liquid extracts,
    granules or powders. Each ingredient has unique
    characteristics that work in harmony to boost Qi and
    balance Yin and Yang. The most commonly used Chinese
    herbs include:

    1. astragalus- ease symptoms of diabetes and to improve blood flow

    2.  dong quai- Dysmenorrhea

    3.  ginger- Morning Sickness in Pregnancy, Motion Sickness

    Acupuncture

    Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical technique for


    relieving pain, curing disease, and improving general health. It
    involves the stimulation of specific points on the body by inserting
    needles into the superficial skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscles at
    particular acupuncture points located over the 12 meridians and
    manipulating them. Acupuncture is believed to keep the balance
    between Yin and Yang by allowing the flow of “Qi” throughout the body. It is also used routinely in
    China as an anesthetic during surgery because the patients usually feel little pain to no pain at all.

    Moxibustion

    Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the


    burning of moxa or mugwort root made from dried Artimesia vulgaris (spongy herb) to
    facilitate healing, strengthen the blood and improve the Qi flow. Historically, it is a
    therapy used to treat menstrual pain and often is confused with cannabis because of
    its pungent odor. Moxibustion is for specific patients suffering from cold or stagnant
    constitutions so it can’t be used on anyone diagnosed with too much heat.

    Cupping

    Cupping is a type of Chinese massage in which glass or plastic cups


    are placed on the skin to create suction. The practitioners warm the
    insides of the cups with the use of cotton balls to remove oxygen then
    placed into the body. This form of Traditional Chinese Medicine mobilizes
    blood flow to promote healing of a broad range of medical ailments
    through suctioning.

    Qi-Gong

    Qigong is an ancient Chinese exercise and healing


    technique that involves meditation, controlled breathing and
    movement exercises that promotes the flow of Qi. The purpose of
    this exercise is to correct these bio-energetic imbalances and
    blockages that enables the body to strengthen and regulate the
    internal organs, the nervous system and the immune system,
    relieve pain, regulate hormones, and strengthen and release
    deep-seated emotions and stress. There are two types of Qigong:
    The External Qigong that is performed on a person by a Qigong
    master; and the Internal Qigong which is practiced by oneself.

    Meditation

    Meditation is a key component of TCM and were practiced


    by Chinese for thousands of years. It involves focusing on one thing,
    such as breathing patterns, while clearing all other thoughts from
    the mind. Meditation is used to replenish the flow of Qi which is a
    way of curing pain, physical and mental illness, and more. During
    meditation, the people doing it may experience various feelings
    such being overjoyed or extreme sadness. But the main benefit of
    meditation is that it prepares the mind and the body for everything
    else; it keeps everything stable and balanced which is essential to wellbeing in TCM. Meditation is also
    popular in Western countries as a means of stress reliever.

    Massage Therapy

    Massage Therapy in Traditional Chinese medicine is a combination of massage, acupressure, and


    other forms of body manipulation that has been used in China for centuries. The therapy will begin as
    the patient sits in a chair and remain clothed then the practitioner will ask a series of questions and
    begin the treatment.  Practitioners may use herbal compresses, ointments, and heat to enhance these
    techniques. This massage therapy is recommended for treating chronic pain and musculoskeletal
    conditions and just like any other therapy treat,et in TCM, it is used to stimulate the flow of Qi, blood
    and body fluids.

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