초록
Objective The purpose of this study was to show that the characteristics of the Sasang Constitutional Medical theory(SCM) are different from the traditional medical theory by comparing their theories of humans and pathophysiology. Methods The establishments and developments of the traditional medical theory were reviewed. Then the hypothesis that the theoretical foundation of SCM is different from that of the traditional medical theory was tested by comparing the traditional medical theory and SCM with respect to the theories of humans and the reconstructed theory of pathophysiology. Results The main findings of this study can be summarized as follows. 1. The theory of SCM reconstructed the traditional medical theory by shifting the paradigm concerning the structure of human existence. 2. The theory for SCM reconstructed the theory of pathophysiology by expanding Confucian moral theory from an experiential perspective. 3. The theory of SCM categorizes humans into four constitution groups according to congenital individuality in emotional expressions and pathophysiological functions. The categorization is based on medical treatment through which it was found that there are congenital individuality in the expression of his moral feelings. 4. The reconstructed pathophysiological theory of the SCM provides the foundation for establishing a verifiable medical theory. Discussion and conclusion The Sasang Constitutional Medical Theory is based on the idea that humans do not follow the changes of Nature but pursue morality and wealth in the Sasang system of the Heavenly qi and human affairs. Therefore, the theory is founded on Confucian moral theory but develops its own view of the theory of pathophysiology by way of experiential interpretation.