[Comments on the Confucian physician].
Confucianism gradually permeated and influenced the development of TCM from the Song dynasty, and the term "Confucian physician" is still in use today. With the impact of Confucianism, whether in the compilation of the medical classics or the explanation and conclusion of the medical theories as well as in medical education and ethics, all developed dramatically. But the Confucianism had also a negative effect on the development of medicine. For example, SU Dong-po cured the epidemics with "Sheng san zi", but he exaggerated its action and recorded it. The later intellectuals learnt from him without differentiation and many people suffered. Another example is, with the influence of ideas of "serve the parents" and "help the public", adult children treated their parents by cutting their own thigh. Even some wealthy and intelligent people blindly applied the prescription without differentiation.
Li
Jian-xiang
JX
The Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), The University of Chinese Medical Sciences, Taichung, Taiwan 404, China.
D032903:Confucianism / Q000266:history*; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000266:history*