Functional Circle (TCM)

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The term functional circle was created in 1973 by the sinologist Manfred Porkert as an interpretation of the Chinese terms “zàng 脏” and “fǔ 腑”. Until then, these terms were translated as “storage organs” or “Zang viscera” or as “hollow organs” or “Fu viscera”. With his name, Manfred Porkert wanted to emphasize that the "organ" designations used in traditional Chinese medicine go further than the "organ" designations used in modern Western (European) medicine, the "organ" concept of which has essentially been defined since the 16th Century grown "anatomical thinking" is determined. The term “anatomical thinking” describes the tendency to judge normal and pathological phenomena in the body primarily on the basis of organ or cell changes.

A distinction is made between five storage function circuits (zàng 脏). They are added to the yin .

  1. The liver (gān 肝) controls the storage of blood (zhǔ zàng xuè 主 藏 血). It controls the resolution of blockages (zhǔ shù xiè 主 疏泄). It controls the "jin" (a comprehensive term for the functions of the tendons, ligaments, muscles and nerves) (zhǔ jīn 主筋). It opens to the eyes (kāi qiào yú mù 开窍 于 目). The liver corresponds to the change phase wood (mù 木). It is linked to the gallbladder (dǎn 胆) by an inside-outside connection.
  2. The heart (xīn 心) controls the blood vessels (zhǔ xuè mài 主 血脉). It stores the "shen" (spirit, soul, facial expression) (zàng shén 藏 神). It opens to the tongue (kāi qiào yú shé 开窍 于 舌). The heart corresponds to the phase of change fire (huǒ 火). It is linked to the small intestine (xiǎo cháng 小肠) through internal-external connections.
  3. The spleen (pí 脾) controls transport and transformation (fluid distribution and digestion) (zhǔ yùn huà 主 运 化). It controls the cohesion of the blood (prevents bleeding) (zhǔ tǒng xuè 主 统 血). It controls the muscles (zhǔ jī ròu 主 肌肉). It opens to the mouth (kāi qiào yú kǒu 开窍 于 囗). The spleen corresponds to the earth transition phase (tǔ 土). It is linked to the stomach (wèi 胃) through an inside-outside connection.
  4. The lungs (fèi 肺) controls the "qi" (breathing, but also the active energy of the whole body) (zhǔ qì 主 气) and directs the inhalation and exhalation (sī hū xī 司 呼吸). It controls the spread (of the defense energy against external disease factors) (zhǔ xuān fā 主 宣 发) and strengthens the body surface (wài hé pí máo 外 合 皮毛). It controls cleaning and sinking (zhǔ sù jiàng 主 肃 降) and opens the waterways (tōng tiào shǔi dào 通 调水 道) (directs the slag to the urinary bladder). It opens to the nose (kāi qiào yú bí 开窍 于 鼻). The lung corresponds to the conversion phase metal (jīn金). It is linked to the large intestine (dà cháng 大肠) through internal-external connections.
  5. The kidney (shèn 肾) stores the “jing” (essence, seed) (zàng jīng 藏 精). She controls the water (zhǔ shǔi 主 水). It controls the uptake of qi (zhǔ nà qì 主 纳 气) (the qi that is absorbed through the lungs and which replaces the used qi). She is responsible for the bones (zhǔ gǔ 主 骨). It creates mark (shēng suǐ 生 髓). It opens to the ear (kāi qiào yú ěr 开窍 于 耳). The kidney corresponds to the transition phase water (shǔi 水). It is linked to the urinary bladder (pǎng guāng 膀胱) by an inside-outside connection.
The kidney functions are further divided into kidney yin 肾阴 and kidney yang肾阳.
The kidney yin is identical to the jīng 精 (essence, seed). It is therefore responsible for reproduction, growth and development. The kidney yin is localized in the left kidney.
Kidney yang is also called mìng mén 命门 (gate of life force). It is the driving force for the normal functions of the body. The kidney yang is located in the right kidney.

In addition, six through-function circuits (fǔ 腑). They are assigned to the yang . Their characteristics are explained by their connection with the respective storage function circuit.

  1. Gallbladder (dǎn 胆) - linked to the liver (gān 肝). Corresponds to the change phase wood (mù 木)
  2. Small intestine (xiǎo cháng 小肠) - linked to the heart (xīn 心). Corresponds to the transition phase fire (huǒ 火).
  3. Stomach (wèi 胃) - linked to the spleen (pí 脾). Corresponds to the earth transformation phase (tǔ 土).
  4. Large intestine (dà cháng 大肠) - linked to the lungs (fèi 肺). Corresponds to the metal transformation phase (jīn 金).
  5. Urinary bladder (pǎng guāng 膀胱) - linked to the kidney (shèn 肾). Corresponds to the transformation phase water (shui 水).
  6. Triple heater (sān jiāo 三焦). Corresponds to the transition phase fire (huǒ 火). It is divided into:
    1. Upper heater (shàng jiāo 上 焦). Includes the functions of the heart and lungs.
    2. Middle warmer (zhōng jiāo 中 焦). Includes the functions of the spleen and stomach.
    3. Lower warmer (xià jiāo 下 焦). Includes the functions of the liver, kidney, colon and urinary bladder.

In order to enable a link for the triple heater as it is, for. B. is necessary for acupuncture treatment, a 6th storage function circle (zàng 脏) is postulated: heart-pouch (xīn bāo 心 包). It corresponds to the change phase fire (huǒ 火).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Manfred Porkert . The theoretical foundations of Chinese medicine: the system of correspondence. Steiner, Wiesbaden 1973.
  2. ↑ For example: Franz Huebotter . Chinese medicine at the beginning of the XX. Century and its historical development. Verlag der Asia major, Leipzig 1929, p. 42: “Zang guts (lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, heart) they are more or less massive, correspond to the yin , the female principle. Fu viscera (stomach, large intestine, small intestine, gall bladder, urinary bladder, Sanjiao) they are hollow, correspond to the yang , the male principle. "
  3. ↑ Henry E. Sigerist . Renaissance. The birth of western medicine. ... The birth of anatomy. In: Essays on the history of medicine. Presented to Karl Sudhoff . University Press, Oxford, 1924, pp. 194-200.
  4. ↑ Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine (zhōng yī rù mén 中医 入门). Volksgesundheitsverlag, Beijing 1963, pp. 18-22.
  5. ↑ Traditional Chinese Medicine (zhōng yī xué 中 医学). Volksgesundheitsverlag, Shanghai 1977, pp. 26-50.
  6. ↑ Basics of traditional Chinese medicine (zhōng yī xué jī chǔ 中 医学 基础). Volksgesundheitsverlag, Beijing 1978, pp. 31-58.

literature

  • Michael Eyl. Basics of traditional Chinese medicine . Zurich 1979. = Translations from: a) Introduction to traditional Chinese medicine (zhōng yī rù mén 中医 入門) . Volksgesundheitsverlag, Beijing 1963. b) Traditional Chinese Medicine (zhōng yī xué 中 医学) . Volksgesundheitsverlag, Shanghai 1977. c) Basics of traditional Chinese medicine (zhōng yī xué jī chǔ 中 医学 基础) . Public Health Publishing House, Beijing 1978.
  • Franz Huebotter . Chinese medicine at the beginning of the XX. Century and its historical development. Asia major publishing house, Leipzig 1929.
  • Manfred Porkert . The theoretical foundations of Chinese medicine: the system of correspondence. Steiner, Wiesbaden 1973.