CCCH9029

The Integration of Man and

Nature (天人合一):
Understanding Causes of Diseases

Zhang-Jin Zhang (張樟進)

Professor, School of Chinese Medicine
November 04, 2020

Contents of today’s lecture

o Origin of the universe and life:
modern and ancient perspectives
o The holism of nature and man
o The application of the holism theory
in TCM (life-preserving, prevention
and treatment)
oQ&A

1
 How the Universe was
created: big bang theory

Stephen W. Hawking

Hawking’s doctrine: big bang theory

2
 How the Universe was
created: big bang theory
p Space and time would have a beginning in the
Big Bang (宇宙大爆炸) and an end in black holes
(黑洞).
p Singularity (異點): an infinitely small, infinitely
hot, and infinitely dense subatomic particle,
formed around 13.7 billion years ago.
p Singularities exist at the core of "black holes."
p Black holes are areas of intense gravity which is
so intense that finite matter is actually squished
into infinite density.

How the universe was created

(cont’d)

Hubble Space
telescope A 15 Billion Year Stellar Dance

3
 Where the life come from: modern view
o Life including the human comes from the middle
of a star. When a star explodes (big bang), the
elements are scattered. the gravity takes hold,
creating the earth (planet). Then evolution takes
place and forms life and eventually humans.
n Theory 1: Deep sea hydrothermal vent (深海溝)
where contains all chemicals and energy for
the creation of life.
n Theory 2: Primitive life may come from either
out space or a nearby planet (外太空有機物體).

Mars

‘Pale Blue Dot‘, where we are living

Our world is just a "pale

blue dot", a small and
solitary orb where all of
our triumphs and
tragedies play out.

Taken by NASA Voyager I on February 14, 1990 at roughly 4 billion

miles (6.4 billion km) away from our earth home.

4
 The Origin of the Universe, Earth, and
Life: Ancient Chinese Mythology

Pan Gu created the earth

and the heaven (盤古開天地)
天地混沌如雞子，盤古生其中，
萬八千歲，天地開闢，陽清為天，陰
濁為地。盤古在其中，一日九變，神
於天，聖於地。天日高一丈，地日厚
一丈，盤古日長一丈，如此萬八千歲。
天數極高，地數極深，盤古極長。後
乃有三皇。《藝文類聚》

Pan Gu created the earth and

the heaven
o A very long time ago, Heaven and Earth were a chaotic
gathering of air masses, just like an egg. Pan Gu slept
inside.
o He slept for about 18,000 years and then awoke. He
found that he was in the dark, so he expanded his huge
hands and cut into the darkness. At that moment an
explosion happened: Heaven and Earth started to split.
Standing right in between the Heaven and the Earth,
hands holding out the sky, feet stamping on the ground.
o He grew taller and taller, hence the sky became higher
and higher while the ground became lower and lower.
o Because he was afraid that the sky and the earth could
come together again he stood there for 18,000 years.
Pangu gradually weakened and died.

5
 After Pan Gu died, his body turned
into all things
Eyes Sun and moon
Four limbs Mountains
Blood Rivers, lakes and seas.
Tendons/muscles Field
Arteries Roads and ways
Hair, facial hair Stars in the sky
Skin and body hair Flowers, grass, and woods.
Teeth and bones Rocks, glittering pearls and stones
Breath Wind and cloud.
Shout thunderbolt.
Sweat Rain
Insects on the body Living human beings

The Origin of the Universe, Earth, and Life

(天地萬物之由來): Ancient Chinese Philosophy

§ The Way produces one, one produces two.

§ The two produce the three and the three
produce all things.
§ All things submit to yin and embrace yang.
§ They soften their energy to achieve a
harmony.

《道德經》：道生一，一生二，二生三，三生萬
物。萬物負陰而抱陽，沖氣以為和。

6
The Way produces one, one produces two.
The Two is Yin and Yang
Yin Yang
The earth Yin 陰 Yang 陽 The heaven
The moon The sun
Water Fire
Night Day
Cloudy Clear
Dark Bright
Heavy Light
Downward Upward
Female Male
Death Life
Blood Qi

…
…

Yin-Yang is the root of

the nature
§ Yin and Yang are the Way of heaven and
earth.
§ The fundamental principles (governing) the
myriad beings.
§ Parents of all changes and transformations
§ The basis of birth and death.
§ The palace of spirit.

陰陽者，天地之道也，萬物之紀綱，變化之父母，生殺之本
始，神明之府也。(黃帝內經·素問·陰陽應象大論)

7
 Yin-Yang is also the root of
human beings
Man is born on the earth, hanging his life to
the heaven. The combination of Qi, the
heaven and earth gives birth to Man. Man
can adapt himself to the seasons as the
heaven and earth are his parents.
“人生於地，懸命於天，天地合氣，命之曰人。人能
應四時者，天地為之父母” 《素問·寶命全形論》.

Humans and the nature share the same

origination 人類與自然有著共同的生成本原

The human body should acclimate

to Yin-Yang of the nature
There are Yin (substances), Yang (Qi) and four
seasons in the nature. They constitute a
beginning and an end of every thing; they are
the basis of death and life. Catastrophe will
come if human oppose them; severe diseases
will not occur if one acclimates them.
《素問·四氣調神大論》: 故陰陽四時者，萬物之終始
也，死生之本也。逆之則災害生，從之則苛疾不起。

8
 Why man with the nature are
corresponding (天人相應)
q The human is one of things on the earth.
Human being, the heaven, the earth and all
things have the same origination.
q Physiological functions of the human body
are greatly influenced by the nature, in
particular
§ Four seasons
§ Day/night cycle
§ Geographic surroundings

The holism of man and

the nature
o The universe is the macrocosm (宏觀) and the
human body is microcosm (微觀).
o The nature provides man with various
necessities, such as sunlight, air and water.
o Various changes taking place in nature directly
and indirectly affect the human body and result
in physiological or pathological responses.

o Man is only a microcosm of the Heaven and Earth.

He relies on the Sun and Moon for his life and birth.
人與天地相參也，與日月相應也《靈樞·歲露》

9
 The Correlation Between Man and
Nature (天人合一): medical perspectives

o The man is an integral part of nature.

o Human body should harmonize to meet
seasonal, climatic and demographic
changes of the nature.
o All physiological activities of human body
are in order to adapt the body to
environmental changes.
o Diseases will occur when such adaptation of
human body reduces and fails.

The holism of man and

the nature

Daily and seasonal changes Nature Geographic surroundings

時間 地理

Physiological aspect Pathological aspect

生理 Man 病理

Seasonal cycles in the year, daily change of day and

night from dawn to dusk, geographic differences, etc.
all these exert important influence on the physiological
functions and pathological changes of the human body.

10
 The impact of nature on the
pathogenesis of human diseases
p Seasonal diseases: asthma, summer stroke,
seasonal depression in north Europe.
p Day/night cycle related diseases: night
blindness (夜盲症), Shift work sleep
disorder (SWSD).
p Endemic diseases (地方性疾病) associated
with geographic surroundings: endemic
malnutrition, Kashin-Beck disease (大骨節
病): a lack of trace element (selenium, 硒)
and intake o toxic food.

Seasonal characteristics:
ancient Chinese philosophy

p Spring is warm (春溫)

p Summer is hot (夏熱)
p Later summer is damp (暑濕)
p Autumn is cool (秋涼)
p Winter is cold (冬寒)

p Seeding and germination in spring (春生)

p Growth in summer (夏長)
p Harvest in autumn (秋收)
p Storage in winter (冬藏)

11
 Pulse corresponds with seasons
脈象與四季相應

p Pulse like fishes swimming on the surface of

water in spring.
p Pulse is fully felt just beneath the skin in
summer.
p Pulse is felt below the skin in autumn.
p Pulse is located in deep tissues near the bone
on winter.
春日浮,如魚之遊在波; 夏日在膚,泛
泛乎萬物有餘; 秋日下膚,蟄蟲將去;
冬日在骨,蟄蟲周密.《素問》

Physiological adaptation to
seasonal changes (順應四時)

o Spring and summer: Yang qi is

predominance, the skin is
loose and sweat pores are
open for sweating.
o Autumn and winter: Yang qi
gradually declines →The skin
becomes tense and sweat
pores are closed.

12
 The human body corresponds with
the day and night (人與晝夜相應)

o Qi and blood in the body also adapt

themselves to the changes with day
and night, morning and evening.
平旦陽氣生，日中而陽氣隆，日西而陽氣已
虛，氣門乃閉”《素問》。

noon

The change of Yang

morning qi in a day night

Visceral physiological function

corresponds with seasons
臟腑功能與四季相應

Visceral physiological activities are regulated,

nourished and promoted in specific seasons:
p Liver-qi grows in spring 肝氣應與春
p Heart-qi grows in summer 心氣應與夏
p Spleen-qi grows in later summer 脾氣應
與長夏
p Lung-qi grows in autumn 肺氣應與秋
p Kidney-qi grows in winter 腎氣應與冬

13
The human body corresponds with the
geographic surroundings

The skin is more thick

and tense
Dry and cold North

West Centre East

Heat and humid

The skin is more
thin and loose
South

江南多濕熱，人體腠理多疏鬆；西北多燥寒，人體腠理多緻密。

Climatic characteristics of
ancient China

North
(Cold)

West Central East

(Dryness) (dampness) (Wind)

South
(Heat)

14
 Pathogenic climatic factors
in seasons
o Six climatic factors (六氣)：Wind (風), Cold (寒),
Summer heat (暑), Dampness (濕), Dryness (燥),
and Fire (火)
Winter
Nature Pathogenic
Cold Wind
balance Spring excess

Autumn
Dryness Fire Summer
Summer heat

Six climatic factors Six pathogenic

六氣 Dampness evils 六淫
Late summer

Pathological changes
with day/night cycle
The severity of most diseases and
conditions is mild in morning, stable during
daytime, gets worse in late afternoon and
even becomes severe at night.

“夫百病者，旦慧、晝安、夕加、夜甚”《靈樞》

15
Pathological tendency with geographic
surroundings – The East
p People living in eastern areas like to
eat salty fishes. Salty meals often
produce internal pathogenic heat evil,
defeating the blood.
p Hence, Eastern people all have a black
complexion with coarse skin, easily
suffering from abscesses and ulcers.
故東方之域，天地之所始生也。魚鹽之地，海濱傍水，其民
食魚而嗜鹹。皆安其處，美其食。魚者使人熱中，鹽者勝血。
故其民皆黑色疏理，其病皆為癰瘍。

Pathological tendency with geographic

surroundings – The West

p The West is abundant in minerals. The

people enjoy rich and fatty food.
p Most diseases come from internal
pathological changes. “Toxic” drugs are
proper to treat these diseases.
p Hence, “toxic” drugs originate in the West.
西方者，金玉之域，砂石之處，天地之所收引也。其民陵
居而多風，水土剛強，其民不衣而褐薦，其民華食而脂肥。
故邪不能傷其形體，其病生於內，其治宜毒藥。故毒藥者，
亦從西方來。

16
 Pathological tendency with geographic
surroundings – The North

p The North is cold, windy and

mountainous. Its people like to reside
in wilderness and eat cheese-like food,
often resulting in coldness and fullness
of viscera.
p Moxibustion is a proper treatment of
these diseases.
北方者，天地所閉藏之域也。其地高陵居，
風寒冰冽。其民樂野處而乳食，藏寒生滿
病，其治宜灸焫 (ruò, 點燃, 焚燒)。

Pathological tendency with geographic

surroundings – The South
p The South is a hot and nourishing place,
with foggy and humid weather.
p The people love sour foods with a strong
flavor. Hence, they have tight skin and a
dark red complexion. They easily suffer
from cramp and numbness diseases.
p Fine needles are a proper treatment.
Therefore, nine forms of needles originate
in the south.
南方者，天地之所長養，陽之所盛處也。其地下，
水土弱霧露之所聚也。其民嗜酸而食胕 (zhǒu),故
其民皆緻理而赤色，其病攣痹，其治宜微針。故九
針者，亦從南方來。

17
 Pathological tendency with geographic
surroundings – The Centre
p The Center (Sichuan Basin, 四川盆地?) is a
wet basin rich in biodiversity.
p Its people like to eat diverse foods and
enjoy leisure life. Therefore, they have a
high prevalent atrophy and stroke
diseases with cold-heat dysfunction.
p Exercise and massage are an effective
treatment.
中央者，其地平以濕，天地所以生萬物也眾。其民食
雜而不勞，故其病多痿厥寒熱，其治宜導引按蹻。

The applications of the holism

theory in Chinese Medicine

Adapt to Seasonal Acclimate Geographic

and daily changes 因時 Surroundings 因地

Prevention Therapy
預防 治療

18
 Major life-preserving methods
養生的主要方法
Life-preserving is the most effective and
economic prevention approach of diseases.

Diet and living Physical Spirit and Healing with

habits exercise mood herbs
飲食起居 體育運動 精神情志 藥物調理

Acclimates four seasons and Yin-Yang

and nurtures mind-body as a whole
順應四時, 調和陰陽，協調身心

Principles of life-preserving with

four seasons 順應四時養生之原則

Principle One:
o Nourish Yang energy in spring and
summer, and store Yin substances
in autumn and winter.

春夏養陽，秋冬養陰

19
o Ancient sages say: nourishing Yang energy
in spring and summer and storing Yin
substances in autumn and winter follow
life’s law in accordance with development,
growth and aging of the universe.
Opposing this law will exhaust life essence
and damage one’s vital Qi.
《素問·四氣調神大論》：“聖人春夏養陽，秋冬
養陰。以從其根，故與萬物沉浮於生長之門。
逆其根，則伐其本，壞其真矣”。

How to nourish Yang energy and

provide Yin substances
p To nourish Yang energy, we can eat
§ cool food in spring
§ cold food in summer
p To provide Yin substances, we can eat
§ warm food in autumn
§ hot food in winter

Spring begins Vernl equinox Summer begins

Summer solstice

20
 Autumn begins Autumn equinox

Winter begins Winter solstice

p All lives appear in spring, grow in summer,

mature in autumn, and decline in winter.
p We should stay in a way of nourishing Yang
energy by saving our growing substances in
spring and summer; we should stay in a way
of nourishing Yin substances by storing our
genetic materials in autumn and winter.

Principles of life-preserving with

four seasons 順應四時養生之原則

Principle Two:
p Stay in warm in spring to nurture yang qi. To
achieve this, do not take off much clothes in
spring and early summer.
p Stay in cold in autumn to improve body
resistance to cold winter. To achieve this, do not
dress too many clothes in autumn and early
winter.

春捂秋凍：春季註意保暖禦寒，使得陽氣
不受損；秋季不宜添衣過多，適應冷空氣
刺激，增強耐寒力。

21
 Principles of life-preserving with four
seasons 順應四時養生之原則
Principle Three:
o Keep away from pathogenic climatic
evils (慎避邪氣) in seasonal transition,
because seasonal transition increases
risk of the spread of pathogenic evils.

Preserve life by maintaining healthy

living habits 調攝起居 (I)
o To best preserve life, wise man should
n acclimate with four seasons
n adapt to cold and hot weather
n avoid over-emotional reaction
n enjoy simple life style.
o All these are good ways to preserve Yang and Yin
and regulate hardness and softness.
o Such way will keep us away from invasion of
pathogenic evils and achieve longevity with
enduring vision.
《靈樞·本神》：智者之養生, 必順四時而適寒暑,和喜怒而安
居處, 節陰陽而調剛柔, 如是則邪僻不至, 長生久視。

22
 Preserve life by maintaining healthy
living habits 調攝起居 (II)
o Life essence will dramatically go down in
middle age rather than aged if one could not
well acclimate seasonally and have unhealthy
living habits. 起居無節, 故半百而衰也.
o To best preserve life, we should get up early
and sleep late in spring and summer; get up
and sleep early in autumn; but get up late
and sleep early in winter. 春夏三月, 夜臥早起;
秋三月, 早臥早起; 冬三月, 早臥晚起。

How to preserve life in

Spring 春季調攝 (I)

o It is so important to preserve life in spring, because spring

season brings about the revitalization in nature. It is the
time of birth; it is time of reborn of heaven and earth (春三
月, 此謂發陳。天地俱生，萬物以榮).
o The best moment is in spring season yearly and in
morning daily (一年之計在於春, 一日之計在於晨).
o One should sleep late and get up early in spring, walking
and doing exercise in courtyard and loosely hanging down
hairs. These will promote mentality by refreshing and
invigorating life essence, because life energy begins anew
and rejuvenates in spring (夜臥早起, 廣步於庭, 被髮緩形, 以使
志生).

23
 How to preserve life
in Spring 春季調攝 (II)

o Doing exercise greatly benefits to

maintain good physical energy by
promoting tendon and muscle
endurance.
o Doing exercise also greatly benefits to
stabilize mood and avoid indulgence in
anxiety, anger, depression, sadness, and
excessive emotion that damage visceral
organs. 此春氣之應, 養生之道也。

Dietary life-preserving with

seasons 因時施膳 (I)
§ Spring (rising and nourish): diet with warm,
acrid, and dissipate food, e.g., wheat, date, soy,
peanuts, green onions, and coriander. 春天宜食
辛溫升散之品: 麥, 棗, 豉, 花生, 蔥, 香菜等。
§ Summer (clear-away and nourish): water
melon, green bean soup, Wu-mei bean soup,
but avoid ice-cooled, fatty and sweet foods. 夏
天宜食清補之品, 不宜過食生冷: 西瓜, 綠豆湯, 烏梅小
豆湯為解暑佳品，飲食宜清淡, 不宜肥甘厚味。

24
 Dietary life-preserving with
seasons 因時施膳 (II)
§ Autumn (astringing and moisten dryness) : diet
more sour fruits and vegetables , sesame,
glutinous rice, honey, loquat, pineapple, and
milk. 秋天宜斂補潤補, 多食酸味果蔬, 芝麻, 糯米, 蜂
蜜, 枇杷, 菠蘿, 乳品等柔潤食物。
§ Winter (warm and nourish) : warm food, e.g.,
grains, lamb, black fungus. 冬天適宜溫補滋補: 宜
食穀類, 羊肉, 木耳等, 宜熱食熱飲。

Dietary principles with 24

Solar Terms (24節氣)

25
Dietary life-preserving culture of
Hong Kong 香港中醫飲食文化 (I)

o Braising soup (煲湯): Various Chinese herbal

and food materials are used in accordance
with four seasons and individual constitution.
根據四季規律和個人體質，加入不同的中藥材和食物。
o Most soup-braising packages are prepared to
nourish life and improve constitution, e.g.
lung-moistening and blood-nourishing
packages. 養生保健湯包, 主要是為了養生保健、
調理體質, 如潤肺湯、養血湯。

Dietary life-preserving culture of

Hong Kong 香港中醫飲食文化 (II)

o Some packages serve as supplemental

treatments, usually prescribed by Chinese
Medicine Practitioners, e.g. Sheng-hua
soup, Gastrodia-eucommia-celery soup.
輔助治療湯包, 一般由中醫師處方或指導，如生化
湯包、天麻杜仲芹菜湯, 桑寄生蓮子蛋茶.

26
 Dietary life-preserving culture of
Hong Kong 香港中醫飲食文化 (III)

o Cantonese herbal tea: The recipes may consist

of 10 and even more herbal materials, such as
Twenty-four herbal tea and five-flower tea,
mainly used to dispel heat and damp
pathogenic evils of the body, because HK is a
humid and hot place. 香港的涼茶鋪出售廣東涼茶,
包括廿四味, 五花茶。

Therapeutic principles with

four seasons
o Stay away from cold when employing cold
drugs; stay away from coolness when
employing cool drugs; stay away from warmth
when employing warm drugs; stay away from
heat when employing heat drugs. 用寒遠寒, 用涼
遠涼, 用溫遠溫, 用熱遠熱。
o These principles are also applied to drinking,
dietary and residing activities.

27
 Pathological characters with
geographic surroundings

North
(Cold)

West Central East

(Dryness) (dampness) (Wind)

South
(Heat)

Therapeutic principles with

geographic surroundings
Geographic Disease Treatment
surroundings Manifestations classification

Tightly closed Tonic and

West and North skin and tense dryness and long-term
muscle tone cold

South and East Sparse and loose Dampness, Light and

muscles heat and wind Dispelling
and acute

“凡用藥，皆隨土地所宜。江南嶺表，其地暑濕，其人皮膚薄脆，腠
理開疏，用藥輕省;關中河北，大地乾燥，其人皮膚堅硬，膜理閉塞，
用藥重複”。唐代名醫孫思邈

28
Life and Death: TCM Philosophy
When Yin is stable and Yang is firm, a harmony of
spirit, mind and body is achieved and maintained.
Divorce of Yin and Yang means the end of one’s life.

陰平陽秘，精神乃治; 陰陽離決，精氣乃絕。
《素問·生氣通天論》

Balance Imbalance

Quizzes/questions

o What are 4 key factors in

TCM life preservation?

o 中醫養生的四大要素是什麼？

29
 Quizzes/questions

o 飲食 diet
o 鍛煉 exercise
o 心境 mood
o 調適 adaptation

Summary
o The human is only a small part of the nature.
o Four key factors for your healthy life:
n Healthily eating
n Regularly doing exercise
n Be happy with temperate and positive
attitude
n Adapt to your living surroundings
o Healthiness is preserved daily, rather than
with medication.

30
 We are here!

Life is so
insignificant.
Doing something
is good for this
tiny blue dot.

Q and A
Any question, please contact:
Zhang-Jin Zhang
E-mail: zhangzj@hku.hk
Tel: 3917-6445

31