title: Features analysis of five-element theory and its basal effects on construction of visceral manifestation theory.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the Chinese ancient five-element theory, one of the philosophical foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory construction, from the perspective of comtemporary cognitive science, and to reveal the important functions of five-element theory in the construction of TCM theory.
  
  
  METHODS
  The basic effects of five-element theory in the construction of TCM theory are intensively expounded and proved from the following aspects: embodiment of five-element theory in cognizing the world, quasi axiom of five-element theory in essence, classification thery of family resemblance and deductive inference pattern of five-element theory, and the openness and expansibility of five-element theory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  If five-element theory is considered a cognitive pattern or cognitive system related to culture, then there should be features of cognitive embodiment in the cognitive system. If five-element theory is regarded as a symbolic system, however, then there should be a quasi-axiom for the system, and inferential deduction. If, however, five-element theory is taken as a theoretical constructive metaphor, then there should be features of opening and expansibility for the metaphor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on five-element theory, this study provides a cognitive frame for the construction of TCM (a medicine that originated in China, and is characterized by holism and treatment based on pattern identification differentiation) theory with the function of constructing a concept base, thereby implying further research strategies. Useful information may be produced from the creative inferences obtained from the incorporation of five-element theory.
authors.forename: Zimi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Chunhua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Haorong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Yanhuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miao
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008513:Medicine in Literature; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000266:history* / Q000523:psychology*; D010684:Philosophy / Q000266:history*; D012107:Research Design