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Clearly
the ancient eastern perception of human body is
not the same as todays western X-ray assisted
view;
and being born out of very different cultures
and technologies, eastern physiology does apparently
pay greater attention to function than it does
to form. In other words - what a thing does is
(to the eastern observer) more important than
what it looks like or where it is. This 'view'
is reflected in many aspects of Chinese medicine,
art and culture, and one only has to look at piece
of perspective defying oriental landscape art
to appreciate this difference in in the way of
seeing things.
In
the west our knowledge in human anatomy is based
upon post mortem studies of the deceased. This
approach is still treated with skepticism by by
traditional Chinese physicians who quite reasonably
point out that cadavers have no living energy
and that the organs are not functioning. They
believe that a dead body can not reveal anything
significant about the dynamics of life.
As
an aid to diagnosis and remedy with TCM methods
such as acupuncture and massage as well as as
the prescribing of potions of herbs and dietary
control, the five elemental energies theory is
a practical model of the human body in relationship
to its environment and external influences.
 Nourishment
and Control - Shen and Ko
The
image (left) is a graphical representation of
the functioning of the five elemental energies
'in balance'.
Within the image two distinct order sequences
are shown.
One, going clockwise in a circle represents the
Shen - nourishing or creative cycle.
Inside of this (in a pentagon or star pattern)
is shown the Ko - regulating or control cycle.
The
Shen/nourishing cycle is traditionally known as
the mother-son cycle.
In
this order each element enables or assists the
next. Thus, water nourishes wood, wood generates
fire, the ashes fertilize the earth, earth yields
metal by extraction and metal becomes liquid like
water when it is melted. The eastern notion of
metal also includes the air element.
The
Ko/control cycle is traditionally known as the
grandmother-son relationship.
In this order each element has the power potential
to control the next.
Over-controlling
and Counteracting.
Over-controlling happens when an element is
too strong and is controlling the other element
too much.
Counteracting is the reverse. A controlled
element reacts against its controller.
To
appreciate the relevance of the relationships
of mother-son and grandmother-son it important
that we (westerners) remember again that the culture
and social structure of China is as 'different'
to our own as is their medicine.
Whilst
the mother-son is almost universally understood
and functions in the east pretty much that same
manner as it does here in the west, the relationship
between elders and infants and adolescence is
very different. It has come to be that in the
west grandparents have a reputation for 'spoiling'
their grandchildren and perhaps turning a blind
eye to naughtiness when a parent would not. In
the east this relationship is very different and
grandparent normally take on the responsibility
of disciplining the children. Thus, the Shen -
nourishing and nurturing cycle is traditionally
seen as a mother-son dynamic of energy and the
Ko - control and regulating relationship is traditionally
seen as a grandmother-son dynamic. They both "mean
well"!
As
this factual description of difference in the
perception of a fundamental such as the role and
function of family members shows, any 'in depth'
understanding of TCM requires a similar understanding
of the culture or anthropology of China.
Nevertheless, the simple graphic used here to
illustrate the five elements theory does provide
us with a remarkably comprehensive and correct
model that can assist enormously in the study
and understanding of Tai Chi and all other ancient
or traditional eastern arts and sciences such
as Feng Shui ("wind" and "water")
and the reading of the I Ching.
Tai
Chi is most certainly one of these ancient and
traditional Chinese arts, therefore this same
theory of energy dynamics is intrinsic to its
practice. Tai Chi as TCM theoretically works by
encouraging the practitioner and patient, whom
are in this case one and the same, to simply 'go
with the flow' and follow a sequence of postures,
whilst turning to face particular directions and
all at the same time 'visualizing' a myriad of
'energy dynamics' and characteristics.
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