The origination, formation and development of the theoretical system of TCM
Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM), it has absorbed the quintessence of classical Chinese philosophy, culture and science, and summarized the experience of the Chinese people in fighting against disease. Hence, it is rich in theory and practical in treatment, it is still widely used even modern medicine is advance.

TCM originated in antiquity when the human beings began to accumulate their medical knowledge. In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring states, China philosophy is developed rapidly, at the same time the human was well understood to the disease and medical experience was further enrich. Such a rapid development made it possible to develop a new theoretical system of medicine by combining the medical knowledge passed on from the previous generations with latest theoretical ideas. The publication of “Huangdi Neijing”, the earliest extant medical canon in China symbolized the formation of such medical theoretical system.

Since the publication of “Huangdi Neijing”, TCM expert of all generation have made great effort to further enrich and improve the theory of TCM, “NanJing”, another important medical classic after “Huangdi Neijing”. It expounded the main contents of “Huangdi Neijing” and supplemented what “Huangdi Neijing” lacked. “NanJing” put forward a number of importance ideas, such as “taking pulse only at the area of cunkou” and “the left represent kidney; the right represent mingmen (life gate)” which exerted great impact on the theoretical development of TCM.

In the end of East Han Dynasty, Zhang Zhong Jing , based on “Huangdi Neijing” and “NanJing” as well as his own clinical practical experience, wrote “Shan Han Za Bing Lun” (Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Disease and Miscellaneous Diseases), the first monograph on clinical medicine. This book contributed much to the formation and development of syndrome differentiation and treatment in clinical medicine.

The Jin, Sui and Tang Dynasties witnessed extensive summarization, enrichment and completion of the theory and clinical practical of TCM. Wang Shu He (The Jin Dynasty) wrote “Maijing” (canon of pulse), the first monograph on diagnostics of TCM; Chao Yuan Fang (The Sui Dynasty) compiled the first monograph on pathogenesis and symptomology; Wang Tao (The Tang Dynasty) wrote “Wai Tai Mi Yao” (Medical Secrets of An Official) and Sun Si Miao wrote “Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang” (Valuable Prescription for Emergency) which thoroughly summarized the theoretical study and clinical practice made before the Tang Dynasty.

From the Song Dynasty to the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, various school of medicine appeared, promoting the development of TCM from difference angles. The representative of these medical schools as below:

1. Liu Wan Su, he believed that “fire and heat” were the main causes of diseases and should be treated with herbal cold and cools in nature. He is known as “the school of cold and cool”.
2. Zhang Cong Zheng, he believed that all diseases were caused by exogenous pathogenic factors and advocated that pathogenic factors should be eliminated by means of diaphoresis, emesis and purgation. Elimination of pathogenic factors ensures the restoration of the healthy qi and cure of diseases. He theory is known as “the school of purgation”.
3. Li Gao, he held that internal impairment of the spleen and the stomach would bring various diseases and therefore emphasize that the most important in clinical treatment is to be warm and invigorate the spleen and the stomach. He is regards as the founder of “the school for reinforcing the earth”.
4. Zhu Zheng Heng, he believed that “Yang” is usually redundant while “Yin” is always deficient, therefore “Yin” deficiency or fire-exuberance were the commonly encountered syndrome. He is known as “the school of nourishing Yin” while he usually used the prescription for nourishing Yin or reducing fire to treat disease.

In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, “Wen Bing” (seasonal febrile diseases) – a new branch in TCM appeared. Wu You Ke, Ming Dynasty is the first to notice that the cause of pestilence was difference from “Liu Yin” (Six abnormal climatic factors). He believed that it is a special pathogenic factor in the nature world. This is a new explanation of pestilence. In the Qing Dynasty, Ye Tian Shi, Xue Sheng Bai, Wu Ju Tong and Wang Meng Ying made extensive study on the seasonal febrile disease through clinical practice and establishing “the school of Wen Bing” - a theoretical system of seasonal febrile diseases. This theoretical system is now a specialty of TCM.