This material is available only on bibliotequer
4 Feb 2021 
Claude 
Introduction
The concept of Yin and Yang is probably the most important and distinctive theory of Chinese medicine, it is a philosophy which has originated from the Chineseancients, and formed the basis of traditional Chinese medicine. TCM is composed of Yin-Yang, Zang Fu,Wu Xing, etc. In recent times, TCM has become popular as a complementary and alternative medicine across the world. In this essay, I am going to talk about the influence of China’s socio-politico-economic environment and the development of Yin and Yang theory.
Yin and yang theory. History of Chinese medicine
The earliest character of yin and yang was discovered in ’oracle bone’around14 century B.C .The first written record of these characters together appears in a verse from the Shagging (book of songs) ’viewing the hill, looking for YinYang.’ This explained that yang is the sunny side and yin is dark side of the hill. This effect of the sun exists over hill at that time. Yin and Yang is one of the most dominant concepts from Chinese history and philosophy. It explains how the ancient Chinese recognized the universe as a whole.(2)
Later on these concept were applied to the medical area which then became the fundamental theory of TCM. The Yi Jing (An ancient Chinese text, bc700) was probably the earliest reference of the yin and yang. (eight principles) Later it was applied to the temperature cold and warm of the weather and inside and outside of the position. Furthermore, humans learnt from their life experience, realising the relationship between Yin and Yang as complimentary opposites actually existed in most of life’s phenomena.
At the time of Shang and Zhou, Yin and Yang has as the initial and simple philosophical theory that related to thinking about the universe and all kinds of phenomena; specifically, the way of exploring and the world and universe through the lens of Yin and Yang theory. All phenomena may be ascribed to Yin and Yang, this may be expressed by duality, relativity, mutualconsumption, intertransformation. Yin-Yang theory greatly developed during the Warring States period. This period of time Yin-Yang theory spread widely in China and developed to be the important philosophy in China.
Influence of environment and development of theory
The experience of the war, many countries improved the policies and viewpoints from different scholars. At the same time, due to iron tool use and development of irrigation in agriculture, the economic flourished. Furthermore, the sciences were developed significantly, (5)
The Yin and Yang school was also established by Zou Yan during the Warring State due to the influence of many schools at this time, the medical area was also influenced by the ’Huang Di Nei jing’ being most important to Chinese medicine. In the Nei Jing, the human is an entirety, and human could maintain the balance of life which is balance of Yin-Yang to achieve longevity. Moreover, the Ying-Yang were also divided into three Yin and three Yang which are known as Taiyin, Shaoyin, Jueyin, Taiang yang, Shaoyang and Yangming in NeiJing.(8) All the developments during the warring States, contributed to advancementof Chinese medicine. One example, the book ‘Shang Han Za Bing Lun’Written by the Zang Zhongjing. He first mentioned the ‘Lui Jing Bing Zheng’as the principle of treatment. (8)
In conclusion, development of Yin-Yang theory is affected by the socio-Politico-cultural-economic environment during whole Chinese historyand is the fundamental base theory of Chinese medicine.Understanding the application of the theory of Yin and Yang to medicineis therefore of supreme importance in practice; one can say that there is no Chinese medicine without Yin and Yang.(4)