Abstract
Objectives : To study the pediatric contents in the 『Maijing』, the most comprehensive compilation of pulse theory. Methods : First, the original meaning was understood comprehensively through careful translation of the original text. Next, the original texts from which 『Maijing』 quoted certain verses were traced. Then, contents of 『Maijing』 were analyzed through comparison with contents from later period texts such as 『Beijiqianjinyaofang』, 『Zhubingyuanhoulun』, 『Xiaoeryaozhengzhijue』, 『Zhengzhizhunsheng』. Results : The study of pediatric contents of Wangshuhe's 『Maijing·Chapter9·Determining Pediatric Diseases 9th』 revealed that he set the standards of 'normal pulse' in terms of number of pulsation and pulse xiang[脈象] differently for children compared to adults. He summarized the most common disease patterns to be wind epilepsy[風癎], indigestion of breast milk[乳不消], and fright seizure[客忤氣], and described the pulses that reflected these conditions's physical characteristics. He also described the pulse and symptom patterns of 'growth fever[變蒸]' and 'heat in bone part[骨間有熱]' based on his observation, which contents were quoted and developed in 『Zhubingyuanhoulun』 and 『Xiaoeryaozhengzhijue』. For other miscellaneous pediatric conditions, he quoted prior texts such as 『Lingshu』 while adding words or making modifications to better reflect characteristics of children based on his observations in clinical pediatrics. Conclusions : It is concluded that 『Maijing·Chapter9·Determining Pediatric Diseases 9th』 not only describes pulse diagnostics but reflects in its contents pediatric theories and clinical knowledge of the Jin(晉)period, which affected pediatrics development of following periods.