ISSN 0439-755X
CN 11-1911/B

›› 1963, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (02): 78-86.

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SOME PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL THOUGHTS IN THE BOOK OF TSO CHUEN

CHEN CHONG-KENG   

  • Published:1963-06-25 Online:1963-06-25

Abstract: The Book of Tso Chuen, a great work on the ancient history of China, was compiled over 2,000 years ago and serves as one of the most important source books for studying ancient Chinese literature and philosophical thoughts. The present article discusses: 1) the emphasis on psychological factors by the ancient Chinese in studying the mechanism of somatic and mental diseases. The psychological factors were always considered together with other causes, such as one's living habits, environmental and physical conditions. It was believed that one's daily life should be kept in equilibrium with the "six natural influences". Lack of such equilibrium caused the "six diseases", including diseases of the mind and delusions; 2) the importance of harmony of behavior as seen by the ancients in discussing the principle for maintaining good health; 3) the theories of emotion, its arousers and classifications. In their analysis of several cases of emotional disorders, the ancients held that mental activities sometimes are indicators of bodily states, and that mental conflict and psychic over-strain often induced or aggravated bodily illness; 4) the classification of the mentally and physically handicapped in the Book of Kuo Yu, parallel work of Tso Chuen. They were divided into 8 classes and were called "eight diseases". The job suitable for each type of sufferers were also suggested

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