Towards a cultural model of qi in TCM
Based on the conceptual metaphors of qi in Huang Di’s Inner Classic
This paper aims to construct a cultural model of qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) by
probing into its conceptual metaphors based on a contextualized semantic analysis of qi in Huang Di’s
Inner Classic (HDIC). It is found that there are eight conceptual metaphors of qi, each involving
experiential correlation between source and target concept. To be specific, cause for effect builds up a major metonymic
basis for the metaphorical mappings from the source concept of qi (i.e., substance) to the target
concepts, including physiological function, breathing, climate, pathogenic factor, disease/syndrome, odor, property of
drugs and time. It is worth special noting that time is understood in terms of the motion of
qi in TCM. The conceptual metaphor time is qi is Chinese culture-specific. On the whole, conceptual
metaphors of qi form a conceptual network and further constitute a cultural model: qi as the
substance origin of human life is believed in TCM to function by ceaseless motion, giving rise to wellness or illness. This
cultural model reflects a pair of inseparable concepts in ancient Chinese philosophy, viz. substance and (its) function, with the
former being primary, essential and original, while the latter, secondary, concomitant and derivational.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Methodology
- 3.Conceptual metaphor and cultural cognition
- 4.
Qi: Origin, evolution and its entry into TCM
- 5.Conceptual metaphors of qi in HDIC
- (1)
physiological function is qi
- (2)
breathing is qi
- (3)
climate is qi
- (4)
pathogenic factor is qi
- (5)
disease/syndrome is qi
- (6)
odor is qi
- (7)
property of drugs is qi (of drugs)
- (8)
time is qi
- 6.A cultural model of qi in TCM: A usage-based generalization
- 7.Conclusion
- Acknowledgements
- Notes
-
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