In Chinese Medicine, we have been endowed with ancient written records, dating back to over 2000 years ago. One of the most important texts for Chinese Medicine, philosophy and culture is the Huang Di Nei Jing (Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor), which has 2 parts: Su Wen (Basic Questions) and the Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot). In the Su Wen, the mythical Yellow Emperor, like a student, makes observations and poses the masters, Qi Bo or Lei Gong, with questions on health, medicine, Chinese philosophy, etc. He and the masters are in dialog with one another, discussing cosmological, Chinese philosophical and medical issues, not unlike what the Greek philosophers Socrates and Plato did with metaphysics and other themes, or even what we have these days in podcasts, which aren’t often written but are audio or video recorded.
In Chapter 2, The Art of Life through the Four Seasons, Huang Di describes the Summer season:
“In the three months of summer there is an abundance of sunshine and rain. The heavenly energy descends, and the earthly energy rises. When these energies merge there is intercourse between heaven and earth. As a result plants mature and animals, flowers, and fruit appear abundantly.
“One may retire somewhat later at this time of year, while still arising early. One should refrain from anger and stay physically active, to prevent the pores from closing and the qi from stagnating. One should not overindulge in sex, although one can indulge a bit more than in other seasons. Emotionally, it is important to be happy and easygoing and not hold grudges, so that the energy can flow freely and communicate between the external and the internal. In this way illness may be averted in the fall. The season of fire and heart also encompasses late summer, which corresponds to the earth element. Problems in the summer will cause injury to the heart and will manifest in the autumn.”
This is a description of the Yang of Summer revealed on our planet, which climaxes at the Summer Solstice. It manifests itself as the intense heat of sunshine together with enough rain, stimulates growth as well as ripens fruit. It is also a guidance for us humans to live our Yang energy in balance, on how we can live in harmony with our environment, the Earth and Cosmos, in order to remain healthy and thrive. These wise words were written in another era and place but still applicable in the present moment universally, even here in the West. It speaks of staying “physically active,” being “happy and easygoing” as well as of “communication between the external and the internal.” This is the power of Summer in balance, but when not in equilibrium we get scorched by its fires with no rain to nourish us, as we have observed this past June around the world in the northern hemisphere.
Huang Di ends Chapter 2 with a reminder and warning:
“The transformation of yin and yang in the four seasons is the basis of the growth and the destruction of life. The sages were able to cultivate the yang energy in spring and summer and conserve the yin energy in autumn and winter. By following the universal order, growth can occur naturally. If this natural order is disregarded, the root of one’s life will be damaged and one’s true energy will wane.
“Therefore, the change of yin and yang through the four seasons is the root of life, growth, reproduction, aging, and destruction. By respecting this natural law it is possible to be free from illness. The sages have followed this, and the foolish people have not.”
The Yellow Emperor reminds us that yin and yang are but natural expressions of life; growth, reproduction, aging, destruction and rebirth are stages of transformation in the nature of life on this planet. If we respect and accept these stages, we will not only be free of illness but also from suffering. Only the “foolish” resist and will pay the price of their folly.
Let us heed the advice of the ancients now, that we may learn what they already knew over 2000 years ago and consequently create a harmonious life on Earth for the present and future.
REFERENCE
Ni, Maoshing (1995): The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine. Boulder, USA: Shambhala Publications
Image Huang Di from Wikipedia
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