由死而觀生的中醫學

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract also in English.本文論述了傳統中醫對待死亡本質的看法對待死亡的態度和死從世界觀的基本觀點比較了中醫生死概與西醫生死觀的差異及其在安樂死、養生觀等問題上的反映。本文認為傳統中醫的生死觀點的特點是在死亡概念上重人的精神特徵和社會特徵的喪失在對待死亡態度上樂天知命安時而處順對待惡疾等迫生狀況認為迫生不如死如命當夭折便不以人助天中醫亦關注死亡的判斷問題但它的目的在於遠於死而近於生中醫貴生重己但以向死的生未死先死為養生之策略。雖天道自然但人道自己人壽可以力移死可以被超越。作者認為中醫的死亡觀將為世界性的死亡觀的討論提供有益的啟示。The theoretical basis of traditional Chinese medicine lies in Confucianism and Daoism. Hence traditional Chinese medicine's perspectives on death have continuity with both the Confucian and the Daoist views on death. This essay analyzes many ancient Chinese medical texts and tries to articulate their views on death and dying.Concerning the definition of death, traditional Chinese medicine offers two theories. One theory sees death as the loss of shen (spirit) or the separation of shen (spirit) from the body. Shen is located in our vital organs, not just in the brain. Another theory sees death as the dispersion of qi (vital force) away from human body. Both theories regard human death as not just a biological event; it is regarded as more spiritual and social than physiological. In other words, human death is not defined in the same way as death of other organisms is defined.Chinese medicine aspires not only to cure diseases but also to enhance health. In order to achieve this goal, medicine often uses death as a threat to remind people to keep fit and to cultivate healthy life styles. Only when one is constantly death-conscious will one be able to stay away from death. ln traditional idiom, the goal of medicine is to cure a disease before the disease arises.Many traditional Chinese medical codes of practice stipulate that doctors should terminate treatment when the patient is in a terminal condition rather than prolong the agony. A tormented life is considered worse than death and is detestable. Hence there has been a strong interest to detect vital signs other than breathing and heartbeat so that an early detection of death can be possible. One can then avert death when it just starts to arise. However, once death is diagnosed as inevitable traditional Chinese medicine deems that it is unfitting for human beings to meddle with nature through strenuous efforts to avert death.Though traditional Chinese medicine fully acknowledges human mortality, it also advises people to transcend death. While Confucianism emphasizes the cultivation of virtue, Daoism stresses the oneness with nature so that one does not fear death when death arrives and does not delight in life while one is enjoying life. In so doing, the negating and annihilating effect of death will be mitigated.DOWNLOAD HISTORY | This article has been downloaded 29 times in Digital Commons before migrating into this platform.