Daoist theories and techniques of longevity and their influence on traditional Chinesemedicine  

作　　者：Bi-Sheng Peng 

机构地区：[1]School of Philosophy and Social Sciences,Lanzhou University,Lanzhou 730000,China.

出　　处：《Aging Communications》2023年第1期4-11,共8页衰老通讯

基　　金：supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.21lzujbkydx036).

摘　　要：Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has rich theories and techniques for health maintenance.Its cultural tradition of emphasizing health maintenance is not only related to its medical function of treating injuries and diseases and prolonging life span but also closely related to Daoism,which is the fundamental religious tenet of pursuing immortality in Chinese culture.As this paper reviews,the fanatical Daoist religious culture of pursuing immortality has influenced the formation of a medical culture in TCM that cares about longevity and values health and wellness.However,this health and wellness culture is more practical–it replaces immortality with longevity as the goal.The Daoist religious concept of longevity is preserved in the basic principles and ethical values of health care:it emphasizes the harmony and consistency of the spirit and the body.It turns a lifestyle of maintaining physical and spiritual health into the pursuit of an ideal state of life.As for the specific Daoist health techniques,there are various cases of inheritance,change or abandonment:TCM inherited most of the drugs and prescriptions from the Daoist longevity techniques based on natural medicines taking and formed a popular health culture of medicinal and dietary supplements;TCM also developed internal health techniques such as internal elixir and breathing practice from Daoist internal health maintenance techniques for physical health care and disease treatment;TCM did not completely accept recipe techniques such as inedia and sex manual from Daoism because they contradicted with its secularization concept,but their general value orientation of lightness and low desire also influenced its concept of health care.

关 键 词：DAOISM traditional Chinese medicine LONGEVITY WELLNESS 

分 类 号：X70[环境科学与工程—环境工程]