Chinese medical ethics culture

Traditional Chinese moral culture is based on Confucianism, and Confucian ethics are fully reflected in traditional medical ethics and become the foundation of the "medical ethics" of traditional Chinese medicine. Confucianism is based on benevolence. "Medicine is practice of benevolence" is the core of Chinese medical ethics in Confucianism and medicine. The " benevolence " of medicine practitioners include: respecting life, benevolence and saving lives, expertise in skills, rich knowledge and experience, peaceful behavior, gentleness and humility, universal equality, equal treatment, honesty and integrity, not greedy for money etc. The most important aspect of all the professional ethics in the past, there is no requirement like medicine practitioners need to be an honest and upright character and not be greedy for money and status. Medical doctors must not only study hard in medical skills, but also become people with noble medical ethics.

The moral culture of traditional Chinese medicine takes "benevolence" as its core. Traditional Confucian culture provides a reference. The so-called "a benevolent person loves others" and "the heart of compassion is the basis of benevolence." According to the "Analects of Confucius", the main topics discussed by Confucius (551 BC to 479 BC) with his disciples involved benevolence, etiquette and music, faithfulness, filial piety, loyalty and forgiveness, respect etc. the one that appears most often is "benevolence". Fan Chi (515 BC - unknown year of death), one of the seventy-two virtuous disciples of Confucius, asked what "benevolence" is? , Confucius said: "Be respectful when you live, be respectful in your work, and be loyal to others. Even if someone is a barbarian, you should not abandon it." It shows that you must have a dignified attitude in your daily life, be respectful and conscientious in your work, and be loyal and sincere in your interactions with others. Although it was considered uncivilized barbarian areas in ancient times, it can now be interpret as different races or disadvantaged social classes, principles cannot be abandoned.

The core value of Traditional Chinese Medicine Medical Ethics is the core value of Confucius - "Benevolence". Among the vast literature of classical Chinese medicine, Sun Simiao (541-about 682), a physician in the Tang Dynasty, wrote an article at the beginning of his book Qianjin Yaofang: "The Great Doctor's Sincerity" can be called a model of medical ethics in the history of Chinese medicine. Sun said in the article: "Whenever a great doctor treats a disease, he must calm his mind. He must have no desires or demands. He must first have a heart of great compassion and be willing to save all the suffering souls. If someone comes to seek help in illness, he must not ask whether he is noble or inferior. The rich and the poor, old and young, beautiful and ugly, close and distant relationship, the Chinese and the barbarian, stupidity and wisdom are all equal etc..." This points out that the benevolence and practice benevolence in traditional Chinese medicine embody the spirit of Confucianism.

Confucianism combines medical ethics, and the term "Confucian medicine" began in the Northern Song Dynasty. In the narrow sense, "Confucian medicine" refers to those who are both Confucian and perform medical profession; in the broad sense, they are scholars who practice medicine, and their personal behavior and practice of medical work are in line with Confucian moral standards, so they are called "Confucian doctors". Medicine is not just a purely scientific "technique", but has been sublimated into a " morality " of saving the world that is rich in humanistic spirit and superb medical skills.

Xie Guan (1880-1950), a modern Chinese medicine profession who came from a scholarly family, said in "On the Origin of Chinese Medicine": "The Tang and Song Dynasties should be regarded as one major realm of Chinese medical skills. Since before the Tang Dynasty, doctors mostly followed specialized training techniques.... Since the Song Dynasty, medicine has become a profession of scholars. Non-Confucian doctors are not popular." The theory of traditional Chinese medicine originated from pre-Qin era philosophy. Dong Zhongshu of Han Dynasty (179 BC-104 BC) established a connection between Confucianism and medicine with the help of the theory of yin and yang and the five elements. Literati in the Tang Dynasty loved to talk about medicine, and there were even many poems describing diseases. Their poems are not only became written records of diseases and medical treatment in society at that time, but also proved that literati paid attention to diseases and health. The poet Du Fu (712-770) was a representative of the group of disease-related poets in the Tang Dynasty. His illness process was long and complicated. He left more than 100 poems about diseases.

The Song Dynasty was the peak period of the development of science and technology in ancient China. Noel Joseph Terence Montgomery Needham (1900~1995), a British scholar who studied the history of science and technology in China, believed that "the development of science and technology in ancient China had reached its peak state by the Song Dynasty, and in many areas in terms of technology, it has actually surpassed the level in Britain or Europe before the industrial revolution in the mid-18th century. " One of the ancient technologies includes medicine, and the rise of the practice of medicine among intellectuals in the Song Dynasty was the main driving force. It became fashionable for Confucian scholars to study medicine. " There is no Confucian who does not understand medicine. All doctors know Confucianism " Literati such as Su Shi, Shen Kuo, Ouyang Xiu, etc., most of them know medicine and are good at health care. Fan Zhongyan (989-1052), a statesman, writer, military strategist, and educator in the Northern Song Dynasty, famously said, “If you can’t be a good minister, you can be a good doctor.” This represents the attitude of the scholar-bureaucrat class towards medicine in the Song Dynasty. A large number of people with a Confucian background have embarked on the path of medicine. It has made the intellectuals in society have a strong trend of advocating medicine.

Gong Tingxian (1522-1619), a physician in the Ming Dynasty, placed "Keeping a benevolent heart" at the top of the "Ten Essentials of a Medical Doctor”.  He proposed "a benevolent heart is a good guideline, which can benefit a lot to everyone". Yu Chang (1585-1664), a physician in the Qing Dynasty, pointed out in "The Law of Medicine" that "medicine is also practice of benevolence. A benevolent gentleman must be devoted to affection, and if he is devoted to affection, he will treat others as himself, ask about their sufferings, and treat others with sincerity”. Literati and scholar-bureaucrat were familiar with the classic literature and also studied medicine. They could not only help themselves and others, but also improve their reputation by publish their medical works. As a result, they promoted Confucianism integrated into medicine. Medical ethics and Confucianism are integrated together. The classical medical books are not popular only discuss one theme in medical ethics, but you can find a lot of content on medical ethics in those books. Nowadays, Confucianism and medicine have been merged. Top students are prefer to study medicine as their major. Regardless of the type of medicine, all practitioners adhere to the purpose of traditional Chinese medical ethics. There is a very popular calligraphy plaque hanging on the wall of almost all clinic that showing " benevolent heart and benevolent execution".