The Theory of Five Circuits and Six Qi

According to ancient beliefs, true effectiveness in medical treatment could only be achieved by a medical practitioner who possesses comprehensive knowledge of the line patterns in heaven above, the structures of the earth below, and the affairs of man in the center. For medical practitioners, understanding “the line patterns in heaven above” in the early days indicates to gasp the alternation of seasons, or the sequence of the four seasons in the yin-yang school (i.e., in spring there is the generation, in summer the growth, in autumn the harvesting, and in winter the storage), and its relationship with the physiology and pathology of the human body. In addition, it means to have insight into something about the mandate of heaven. It’s like what Sun Simiao, a great doctor of the Tang Dynasty (ad 618–907) said, “As a medical practitioner, it is essential to not only study various medical books, but also excel in fortune-telling, physiognomy, and divination. Then can one be considered a master of medicine. As a medical practitioner, it is imperative not only to thoroughly study diverse medical texts but also to excel in fortune-telling, physiognomy, and divination. Only then can one truly be considered qualified to be a master of medicine”.