Reflections on Qian Xuesen's Writings About the Modernization of Chinese Medicine
1.
We know that Chinese medicine contains scientific truth—very precious scientific truth—but people "judge by appearances," doubting whether TCM contains truth, or going further to regard TCM as feudal dross.
Letter to Li Yinsheng, May 16, 1984—Selected Letters of Qian Xuesen, Vol. 1, p. 0088, National Defense Industry Press, 2008, 6
2.
TCM theory is a typical case method: from the various typical presentations of patients it has generalized the theories of yin-yang and the five phases. But even TCM theory, derived from a thousand years of observations of the human body, must not be treated as dead dogma; it should be adjusted appropriately according to the patient's actual condition. Every famous TCM physician in China makes appropriate modifications to formulas based on his own clinical experience; that is what makes a famous physician, not a quack.
Letter to Li Shihui, January 25, 1995—Selected Letters of Qian Xuesen, Vol. 2, p. 1010
3.
Does not medicine already have several thousand years of experience? A human life is full of change—birth, aging, illness, death—but the pattern is basically the same, repeated countless hundreds of millions of times over several millennia. So medicine, and especially Chinese medicine, has an empirical basis.
Letter to Wang Shouyun and five comrades, December 2, 1994—Selected Letters of Qian Xuesen, Vol. 2, p. 0992
4.
The yin-yang theory and five-phase theory in TCM, the zang-fu organ theory and meridian theory, the six excesses and seven emotions, and TCM's emphasis on syndrome differentiation and treatment—all of these stress a holistic view of the human body and of the relationship between humans and their environment and work. One should say this is consistent with Marxist philosophy and dialectical materialism. The shortcoming of TCM theory is that it cannot hook up with modern technology; the language and concepts are two different systems.
Qian Xuesen et al. on Human Body Science, p. 7
5.
Systems theory is a very important part of modern scientific theory, an important component of modern science. And TCM theory happens to be fully integrated with systems science. So there is further corroboration: human social practice and the development of science have already shown that this direction of TCM is correct.
Not only has TCM been proved by several thousand years and the practice of so many people on Chinese soil; on the other hand, the TCM view is consistent with the view of systems science, the most advanced and cutting-edge part of modern science—that is, the view of human body science as we speak of it at this institute. I have said again and again that more and more evidence proves our viewpoint is not wrong and our direction is correct.
(Qian Xuesen's Panoramic View of Human Body Science and Contemporary Science and Technology Development, p. 301)
6.
From the standpoint of human body science, TCM has many points superior to Western medicine; but the medicine of the future will certainly be a new medicine that fuses Chinese medicine, Western medicine, and the medicines of all peoples into one.
(Letter to Xu Zhenlin, December 11, 1990—Selected Letters of Qian Xuesen, Vol. 1, p. 0553)
7.
I believe traditional medicine is a treasure, because it is the summation of several thousand years of practical experience, and it carries great weight. More importantly: TCM theory contains much systems-theoretic thought, which is a serious shortcoming of Western medicine. Therefore the modernization of TCM is the right path for medical development, and it will ultimately bring about the transformation of the scientific and technological system—a scientific revolution.
(Letter to Zhu Shienne, September 23, 1985—Selected Letters of Qian Xuesen, Vol. 1, p. 0191)
Note:
Mr. Qian Xuesen wrote extensively about TCM, more than can be recounted here. I have excerpted some of his more representative remarks for readers' reference. Qian was both affirmative of TCM and pointed out its shortcomings. These remarks of his are objective and rational and of considerable reference value.
Cybernetics of Systems is one of Qian's famous works. Qian excelled at viewing all sorts of problems, including social and medical problems, through the lens of systems-cybernetic thinking. In addition, Mr. Qian was deeply patriotic, so he greatly appreciated our nation's traditional medicine.
Qian himself was plagued by conditions including bilateral femoral head necrosis, lumbar vertebral fracture, bladder cancer, pneumonia, and hearing decline, and spent his later years bedridden. He consulted both TCM and Western doctors. Qian contributed enormously to the country and the nation, and the Chinese and Western physicians who treated him were all authoritative masters in their fields; he formed his own judgment of their clinical efficacy.
What he said about TCM makes very good sense.
TCM values holism and systematic study rather than dissecting the body's organs, tissues, and functions and studying each in isolation—this is a major strength. It often gives TCM unexpected efficacy in treating some refractory diseases; Qian must have experienced TCM's efficacy firsthand. I study both TCM and Western medicine and have accompanied teachers in clinical practice for nearly twenty years; under their supervision I have encountered over 100,000 patients of various kinds, and I feel this point very deeply.
But TCM's efficacy is also limited; in treating many diseases its effective rate is not as high as Western medicine's. We need to view this question with differentiation and realism. Historically, many famous TCM masters left writings that faithfully recorded the mass deaths they personally witnessed during great epidemics.
For example, Zhang Zhongjing of the Han dynasty wrote in the Shanghan Lun that two-thirds of his family of over 200 died in less than ten years; Li Dongyuan of the Jin-Yuan period wrote in the Neiwaishang Bianhuo Lun that during a great epidemic tens of thousands died daily in the capital; and Wang Qingren of the Qing dynasty wrote in the Yilin Gaicuo of the harrowing sight of children lying dead everywhere from epidemics. All this shows that the actual efficacy of ancient medicine must not be overestimated.
Nowadays many people who swagger under the banner of TCM run cons, belittling Western medicine to the extreme and blowing TCM's efficacy sky-high. This kind of false advertising does TCM's development more harm than good. Ordinary people are not fools; most have sought TCM treatment for illness in their daily lives, and they know full well whether it works and to what degree. Bombastic talk only breeds their aversion to TCM; it does not make them accept it more readily.
History is also full of fabricated tales that deify a particular physician's skill. For example, the biography of the Medical Sage Zhang Zhongjing recounts that he once declared Wang Zhongxuan would "lose his eyebrows and die" after the age of forty—and that it later came true.
Wang Zhongxuan was one of the Seven Masters of the Jian'an era, a famous historical figure who associated with Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, and others; the writings of Cao Pi and Cao Zhi mention that Wang Zhongxuan died of plague. With a little textual research one can judge the truth of such stories. But distinguishing right from wrong has never been easy, and historical scholarship also requires a deep cultural foundation and research skills.
As for the historically inaccurate content in Zhang Zhongjing's biography, I have previously cited historical sources and written a dedicated article, so I will not repeat it here. Those interested can search and read it on my WeChat official account or personal website (www.zhouzhiyuan.com); many of my articles are no longer available on the official account.
This deifying method is still used today—for instance, the contemporary Huoshen (Fire Spirit) school is also blown up enormously. Some of its masters, I have personally witnessed how they caused major problems for patients; some of their real treatment cases would count as typical medical malpractice, yet all this is concealed and unmentioned.
The extreme medical views they preach pose great risks to patients' lives, yet in the propaganda that passes from mouth to mouth, they have been deified by the credulous. In my view, this practice harms the healthy development of TCM. If academic exchange were carried out honestly, I believe it would be more conducive to TCM's progress.
Western medicine needs to progress, and so does TCM. Chinese and Western medicine can advance together through mutual learning, mutual reference, and each making up for the other's shortcomings. Qian Xuesen had keen insight on many issues, and I endorse this view of his: the medicine of the future will be a new medicine fusing Chinese medicine, Western medicine, and the medicines of all peoples.
As humankind's understanding of medical questions deepens, we have discovered that much of the experience in traditional medicine is invaluable, and also found certain defects and shortcomings in modern medical theory. Many people are now engaged in mining the essence of traditional medicine and correcting the deficiencies of the modern medical system.
I am optimistic that one day the combination of traditional and modern medicine will produce a new medicine of even better efficacy. Whether this new medicine is the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine, or the modern medical system absorbing the strengths of traditional medicine and growing upon them, does not matter. The ultimate purpose of medicine is to relieve the suffering of patients; sectarian disputes are truly unnecessary.
Qian Xuesen is our contemporary's most illustrious great scientist; I believe the vast majority of people are familiar with him. But many of his remarks were also quite controversial, and some controversies may require time to verify.
During the Great Leap Forward he once said that, in theory, per-mu grain yields could indeed reach over 10,000 jin. He calculated this from the formula for solar energy conversion into biomass, believing it theoretically attainable. This remark once plunged him deep into a vortex of controversy; his secretary once tried to write an article rebutting the criticism, but Qian stopped him, choosing to let time answer the question. Reports I saw a few years ago noted that, with modern agricultural technology, sweet potato now indeed achieves yields above 10,000 jin per mu.
Whether Qian Xuesen's vision for the modernization of TCM will ultimately be realized may also have to be proved by time. His vision coincides with my own life ideal, and the work I am currently doing is related to the modernization of TCM.
Whenever we mention the modernization of TCM, many people become very unhappy. Those opposed to TCM think it is mere dross with no research value at all; some conservative TCM enthusiasts fiercely oppose discarding unscientific traditions and modernizing TCM. So the road of TCM modernization is rugged, and those who work on it must also endure much abuse. But I believe that in the not-too-distant future, the goal of TCM modernization can be achieved.
Mr. Ji Xianlin wrote a book titled "Time Never Speaks, Yet It Answers Every Question." Let me close this article with that book's title!