Traditional Chinese medicine (TKM – further in the text will be only the abbreviation TKM in the meaning of traditional Chinese medicine) is created 5000 years ago in Neolithic China. During the Spring and Autumn period (770 BC – 476 BC) and the period of the Warring States (475 BC – 221 BC), the theoretical basis of TKM was created. In this period, the most important works related to TKM are:

山海经 (Shanhai Jing) – “Classics of mountains and seas”

黄帝内经 (Huangdi Neijing) – “Medical canon of the Yellow Emperor”

神农 本草 经 (Shennong Bencao Jing) – “Shennong’s classic medicine class”

The basic principle of TKM is the holistic principle. TKM is based on the prevention of disease, the unity of man and nature (天人合一), the unity of body and mind, and the balance of Yin and Yang.

MYTHOLOGY AND TLC

In the emergence of Chinese medical science, mythology plays a major role, because at the very beginning of the development of human thought, man tries to explain the mystery and mystery phenomena through the myth. The basic Chinese myths related to the emergence of TKM are:

Pangu – The Creation Myth: When the forefather of mankind Pangu emerged from a chaotic egg, he first created Yin and Yang – the two basic elements of the creation. Everything that exists, including people, is created by the interweaving of Yin and Yang.