Tan Yunxian’s career in medicine began with the memorization of two classic texts, the Canon of Problems and the Canon of Pulses. This should not surprise us. Tan Yunxian came from a highly educated family. Her father and uncle were scholar officials, and both her grandfather and great-grandfather were physicians. Thus, she was raised in a world of reading and study, in a culture that placed an enormous value on the painstaking mastery of ancient knowledge and wisdom. Tan Yunxian’s approach to medicine, however, reflected more than just her family background. Chinese medicine and philosophy were deeply intertwined. Everything Chinese physicians did was rooted in core philosophical concepts, most importantly in Tao (Dao). By following Tao (or the Way), the individual achieved a state of harmony with the forces of the universe. The achievement of such a state resulted in good health and longevity. Conversely, disharmony led to poor health and, ultimately, death. Diagnosis and treatment, therefore, centered on identifying the sources of disharmony and bringing a patient back into balance with nature.

The images included here reflect this central concept of Chinese medicine. Each depicts an important component of Chinese medical practice. As you examine them, focus on the link they establish between medicine and philosophy. What types of treatments did Chinese doctors employ? How did they explain their effectiveness?