Some Chinese symbolism

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This is some basic help for understanding some of the symbolism that

finds its way into TCM names of medical conditions, formulas, and

books on TCM. It also provides a basic for understanding 5 Element

terminology and symbolism as well as Feng Shui and some of the

symbolism in the I Ching.

 

Overall, the dragon is the symbol of Heaven, and the tiger of earth.

 

In 5 Elements, the blue-green dragon is associated with the Element

Wood, the direction East, and the Wood Organs Liver (Yin Wood) and

Gall Bladder (Yin Wood).

 

The red bird (sometimes called a Phoenix) is associated with the

Fire Element, the direction South, and the Fire Organs Heart (Yin

Fire) and Small Intestine (Yang Fire).

 

The white tiger is associated with the Metal Element, the direction

West, and the Metal Organs Lungs (Yin Metal) and Large Intestine

(Yang Metal).

 

The black tortoise is associated with the Water Element, the

direction North, and the Water Organs Kidneys (Yin Water) and

Bladder (Yang Water).

 

The Earth Element is located between these 4, and its color is

yellow. The Spleen is Yin Earth, and the Stomach is Yang Earth. When

you see the Pinyin word " huang " (with a small / over the a) in the

name of an herb, it very often means " yellow " . Later on you'll be

learning about the importance TCM pays to the color of herbs. This

isn't as far-fetched as some Western readers may think. Chemical and

healing properties are often associated with color. For example

yellow fruits and vegetables are loaded with beta-carotine, the

precussor to vitamin A. It's what gives them their yellow color. TCM

doesn't look at vitamins and other Western-defined chemicals, but it

has over many centuries noticed that certain colors often have

certain properties and an affinity for certain Elements and Organs.

The correspondences aren't 100% in the case of herbs and Organs,

but a general guide. For example, yellow herbs often do help the

Spleen and Stomach. (Not a 100% correlation.) Black sesame seeds are

particularly good for the Kidneys. Etc.

 

The word " huang " (with a small / over the a) doesn't always

mean " yellow " . Chinese has a number of words that are pronounced

the same, but written differently. Like to, too, and two in

English. But, chances are if you see the pinyin word " huang " (with a

small / over the a) in the name of an herb, it means " yellow " .

(Chinese doesn't use an alphabet. Instead words and concepts are

represented by pictograms. Pinyin is the use of a Western alphabet

to represent Chinese words. There are several words in Chinese that

are pronounced " huang " (with a small / tonal mark over the a), but

the way the words are written in Chinese are all different.

 

Chinese maps are the opposite of Western maps. Chinese maps put

South at the top, and North at the bottom. East is on the left

instead of the right, and West is on the right instead of the left.

This is one of those little differences that can be confusing to

Westerners when they first began to study things having to do with

China.

 

The Yin Organs are " solid " - Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lungs, and

Kidneys. The Yang Organs are hollow - Gall Bladder, Small Intestine,

Stomach, Large Intestine, and Bladder. The hollow Organs are

referred to as " bowels " , but for simplicity's sake all often are

referred to as Organs in English. The names of TCM Organs are

capitalized because TCM Organs are not equivalent to the anatomical

organs. TCM Organs are collections of functions. What that means

will become clearer as those new to TCM learn more.