• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 1993

This study is to know the concept and function of Vital Gate. The results are summarized as follows, 1. Vital Gate is the original of life, which is essential to life. 2. A physiological function of Vital Gate controls the physiological activity of the whole body through Triple Heater. 3. It is said that a partial establishment of Vital Gate is the concept of Hwang Jeong(黃庭) as the central point of the body. 4. It is effective that a clinical application of Vital Gate uses on the basis of Zoagyuyeum(左歸飮) and Woogyuyeum(右歸陰). 5. Fire of the Vital Gate means a original activity of life-activity and is different from the concept of the fire of Pericardium as a substitute for King Fire. 6. It is said that to explain the essence of Vital Gate in relation of kidney is to say the generative function. According to the above results, Vital Gate is understood as the control of physiological activity of the whole body as the original point of life-activity.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.253-266
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• 2013

Objective : There was no attempt to understand Moving Energy between two kidneys(腎間動氣) and Kidney on Left & Life Gate on Right(左腎右命門) by integration progress. So I have faced to study based on two parts with concerning as clues. One is 'Life Right (左 右)' and the other is 'Between(間)'. Methods : Revealing the source of the origin, Nanjingbenyi(難經本義) is given on the basis. Take a close look at publications related to Nanjing(難經) which is about Kidney on Left & Life Gate on Right and Moving Energy between two kidneys. Take a close look at Kidney, the Life Gate and Moving Energy between two kidneys. Look see the three-dimensional uplift movement of Gi(氣). Results : In Neijing(內經) and Nanjing, the basic point of view for Kidney is the same. That is explained in line with attributes of convergence(收斂). 'Life Gate(命門)' is a term to express the divergence feature(發散機能) of kidney. Moving Energy between two kidneys is used to mean the mainspring of human body activity. The Gi in human body loses altitude turning left(左旋而下降) and gains height turning right(右旋而上升). Conclusion : Watching on functional aspect, there are two names for kidney. One is 'Kidney(腎)' which collects the losing altitude turning left and the other is 'Life Gate' which rises turning right. Moreover, the fundamental power that effectuate the uplift movement is Moving Energy between two kidneys. This kind model is a way that can be understood syntagmatically the Kidney on Left & Life Gate on Right and the Moving Energy between two kidneys without any gainsaying the original of Nanjing.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Oriental Medical Informatics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.47-57
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• 2008

This paper aims at the comparative study of practicing Buddhism and Taoism related to "life gate". The term "life gate", as a physiological entity of disputed morphological identity, first appears in The Inner Canon where it refers to the eyes. Reference to a "life gate" as an internal organ body first appears in The Classic of Difficult Issues which states, "The two kidneys are not both kidneys' The left one is the kidney, and the right is the life gate." Successive scholars refers to life gate as a gi point of Taoists.. The question of the life gate invited little discussion until the Myeong and Cheong Dynasty, when various different theories were put forward. Especially Jin Sa-taek says "life gate" is the governor of the twelve place in the human body, throwing light on the meaning of it. Not that life gate denotes a local point, it does a system of life gate. Generally speaking, life gate designates cinnabar field. I think that the human body produces essence by way of life gate. That is, the human body is unified by the system of life gate. Life gate is not only the source of infusing the engine of the human body with vital energy but also as well as gi-point.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.85-102
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• 2007

Zhang thinks human life consists of body(形) and Shen(神 spirit). Body comes from Jing(精), Shen comes from Qi(氣). The common basic of body and Shen is Qi. Thus the elements of human life are Jing, Qi and Shen. Among the three life elements, Jing is the lowest level. To preserve Jing is the key to Life Care. To preserve Jing, we should rest body and Shen, and Shen rules body, so to rest Shen is necessary to preserve Jing. When Jing is full, it converts to Qi, and Qi converts to Shen. Shen is ruled by mind(心), so mind sould be quiet. There is a gate through which Jing and Qi pass. It is called Mingmen(命門), and it sould be closed tight to preserve Jing.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.795-802
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• 2007

The fire not to back to its origin(火不歸原) is said that source yang(元陽) of sea of qi(氣海) rises because fire(火) of lower energizer(下焦) can't return to its origin. Successive medical men regarded the cause of it as yang deficiency(陽虛) or yin deficiency(陰虛) generally, but Jangseoksun(張錫純) presented eight kinds of cause, they are syndrome of upcast yang(戴陽證), deficiency of qi(氣虛), yin deficiency, yin and yang deficiency(陰陽虛), thoroughfare qi ascending counterflow(衝氣上衝), heart fire(心火), yang deficiency with cold fluid retention(寒飮) in middle energizer(中焦寒飮), yang deficiency with sunken cold locked in(沈寒錮冷). The method of conducting fire back to its origin may be the treatment of fire not to back to its origin as an interpretation of the phrase in a broad sense, but it is limited to yang deficiency with sunken cold locked in besides syndrome of upcast yang as the treatment based on pathological conditions. By this standpoint Eunsuryong(殷壽龍) used conducting fire back to its origin to remove hidden cold(伏寒) and make rising false fire(假火) settle. The meaning of conducting fire back to its origin is not just raise yang qi(陽氣) but break sunken cold locked in by using the drugs like Buja(附子), Yukgye(肉桂). Jakyak(芍藥) can concentrate yang qi on the life gate(命門) by converging it, Sukjihwang(熟地黃) can supply yin essence(陰精) and check the intense nature of tonifing yang(補陽) drugs. So if we want to use the method of conducting fire back to its origin, we should confirm the symptoms of sunken cold locked in and yang deficiency not to misdiagnose yin deficiency.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.77-87
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• 2014

Objective : The writer has come to see that a study of the Theory of Ministerial Fire of JuDanGae presupposes a study of earlier theories of fire. Therefore, I have analyzed and studied the theories of fire presented by medical doctors since "Nae Gyeong(黃帝內經)" Method : To begin with, I have studied the concepts of grand fire(壯火) and small fire(少火), imperial fire(君火) and ministerial fire(相火) in "Nae Gyeong", and have construed the meaning of human fire(人火) and dragon fire(龍火) by Wang Bing(王冰), and fatty fire(膏火) by Sohn Sa-mak(孫思邈). Next, I have studied true fire(眞火) by Huh Sook-mi(許叔微) and true yang(眞陽) and pit fire(坎火) by Eom Yong-hwa(嚴用和), Theory on Right Kidney as the Gate of Life and Ministeiral Fire(右腎命門相火說) by Yu Wan-so(劉完素), and the reason why Jang Wan-so(張元素) asserted Theory of Three Burners as Ministerial Fire(三焦相火說). Result : I have understood the influence that the concepts of grand fire and small fire, imperial fire and ministerial fire in "Nae Gyeong"have exercised on the later medical doctors, and have also understood the physiological and pathological Fire that influences the human body. Moreover, I have seen that Fire, as discussed by scholars from Huh Sook-mi and Eom Yong-hwa to Yu Wan-so and Jang Wan-so, made great contribution to the later development of Theory of the Gate of Life, getting its entire picture in Eum Hwa. Conclusion : Seeing that the theories of Fire presented by medical doctors since "Nae Gyeong" and prior to JuDan-Gae had great influence on the later development of Theory of the Gate of Life, I have come to understand that along with Eum Hwa by Lee Dong-wan, they must precede a study of the Theory of Ministerial Fire of JuDan-Gae.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.4
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• pp.75-100
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• 1990

As a result, the investigation into Gyung-Ak (景岳)'s theory of Myungmun (命門) was led to the next conclusions. First, Gyung-Ak (景岳) defmed Myungmun as the gate of Suncheon (先天) and Whoocheon (後天), by which the life of Suncheon is obtained and the life of Whoocheon is maintained. He maintained that Myungmun is located between two kindneys, not sided to the right as in the Nankyeong (難經), and considered the substance of Myungmun as Jagung (子宮 ${\fallingdotseq}$ uterus) or the other names as such Jaho (子戶), Jajang (子腸) Danjeon (丹田), Hyeolsil (血室), etc. On the essence or function of Myungmun it was considered as Taegeuk (太極) of the body which shapes the North Pole in the center of the body, and as the hinge of rise and fall, as controller of Soowha-action (水火作用) and Eumyang-changing (陰陽變化), and as storage of Suncheon Jinil-ki (先天 眞一之氣), the source of life and vitality and as the spring of Twelve-Jang (十二藏). Thus, the function of Five-Jang (五臟 ${\fallingdotseq}$ Five-Viscera) and Six-Boo (六腑 ${\fallingdotseq}$ Six-Bowels) and actions of life is obtainded by Myungmun, and the life and death of man and the change of life is related to that. Bi-Wi (脾胃 ${\fallingdotseq}$ Spleen & Stomach) as well as Myungmun is the root of Five-Jang and Six-Boo, but since Bi-Wi is the base of postnatal nutrition to belong to the son of Wonyang (元陽), Myungmun is treated more important as the mother of Bi-Wi. Sin (賢 ${fallingdotseq}$ Kidney) was perceived as inseparably related with Myungmun, but in the course of theoretical development the function of Sin was considered to be ultimately operated by the action of Myungmun. In the Theory of Jineum (眞陰論), Gyung-Ak full accounted the diverse nature of disease and patholog from Soowha-shortage of Myungmun, and presented the laws and methods of medical treatment to those. Finally, in his theory related to Myungmun, some logical contradiction and confusion in conceptions was discovered and the anatomy of Present age proved that the location of Jagung and DanJeon, which he recognized as the substance of Myungmun is not coincided. Summerizingly, the Gyung-Ak's theory of Myungmun closely related the theory of Myungmun to the theory of Eumyang-Jungki (陰陽精氣論), by whole discourse of the characteristics of physiology possessing Soowha of Myungmun on the foundation of Eumyang-hogeun (陰陽互根) and Jungki-hosaeng (精氣互生). Gyung-Ak regarded the function of Myungmun as more important than any other Jang, discoursed more systematically and more specifically about the Myungmun than any others, and presented the theory of Sin-Myung (賢命理論) and prescription which is important to Care of Health and Medical Treatment (養生治病), thus influenced very greatly on the development of Oriental Medicine.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.137-187
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• 2005

This thesis study of the medical concept Qiu Zheng Lu (求正錄) is discussed in the Lei Jing Fu Yi (類經附翼), a book authored by Zhang Jie Bin (張介賓) a medical doctor during the Chinese Ming (明) dynasty (1368-1683). The meaning of Qiu Zheng Lu (求正錄) is "searching for the rightness." In his book Zhang Jie Bin (張介賓) intended to clarify Qiu Zheng Lu (求正錄) by delineating the concept into four categories. These are: Sanjiao Baoluo Mingmen Bian (三焦包絡命門 辨) the theory of the triple warmer, the Pericardium, the Gate of Life ; Da Bao Lun (大寶論) the theory of the great treasure of the human body; Zhen Yin Lun (眞陰論) the theory of true-yin fluid; and Shi Er Zang Mai Hou Bu Wei Lun (十二臟脈候部位論) the theory of the part of the pulse and its condition in regards to the twelve viscera. Sanjiao Baoluo Mingmen Bian (三焦包絡命門辨), the theory of the triple warmer, the Pericardium, the Gate of Life. The triple warmer (三焦: Sanjiao) is composed of three parts: the upper, middle, and lower. This concept is also connected with the functions and roles of the vital organs. The upper burner is related to the heart and lungs. The middle burner is related to the liver and spleen. Whereas, the lower burner is related to the kidneys. Bao-Luo (包絡) is the Pericardium, the envelope of the heart, serving as the protector of the heart. Ming-Men (命門) is the Gate of Life, reffering to the vitals of life. It functions as kidney-yang which is considered as the origin of yang-energy of the human body, and serves partly as the function of cortico-adrenal gland in modern medicine. Zhang Jie Bin (張介賓) discussed the Da Bao Lun (大寶論) as the most important function in the human body because the Da Bao (大寶/great treasure) is the true-yang (眞陽) which is the affective force for physiological functions, and as the source of energy for life activities. Moreover, true-yang (眞陽) functions both as a heater and thermometer that warms the human body and indicates vitality by levels of body warmth respectively. The Zhen Yin Lun (眞陰論) theory states that if true-yang (眞陽) is energy, then true-yin (眞陰) is the source of energy. This can be likened to a tree with roots which absorbs nutrients from the ground (source), and spreads the nutrients (energy) through its branches. Thus, true-yin (眞陰) is the root cause for later functional activities of true-yang (眞陽). In Shi Er Zang Mai Hou Bu Wei Lun (十二臟脈候部位論) the theory of the pulse (脈 /Mai) and its condition in regards to the twelve viscera, Zhang Jie Bin (張介賓) insisted that when a diagnoses by the pulse is made the five vital organs and the six viscera (五臟六腑) of a human body should be harmoniously arranged in accordance with its respective part of the pulse. Furthermore, Zhang Jie Bin (張介賓) supported his theory with evidence from earlier Chinese medical doctors. And, by stating that human beings must cultivate and preserve their true-yin (眞陰) and true-yang (眞陽) energies he therefore created four new prescriptions called: Zuoguiyin (左歸飮), Youguiyin (右歸飮), Zuoguiwan (左 歸丸), Youguiwan (右歸丸). To further clarify his theory Zhang Jie Bin (張介賓) considered that the function of true-yang (眞陽) and true-yin (眞陰) is expressed by Ming-Men (命門). This theory is that for humans to be spiritually and physically healthy they must live in accord with natural law. Also, within the framework of natural law, astronomical and geographical factors must be considered for complete, holistic, health. Thus, Ming-Men is the basis for healthy living in the modern world.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.31-51
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• 2009

The characteristics of Jin's ideas on clinic theory can be arranged as follows. 1. Jin emphasized warming and tonifying[溫補] in treatment and the part that shows this the best is the taking care of[調理] the Vital gate[命門], kidney, liver, and spleen. His ideas were based on his understanding of a human life's origin, and was influenced by Seolgi(薛己), Joheon-ga(趙獻可) and Janggaebin(張介賓)'s Vital gate and source Gi theory(元氣說) so scholastically, he has that in common with them but was later criticized by later doctors such as Oksamjon(玉三尊) as an 'literary doctor(文字醫)' who followed the ideas of "Uigwan(醫貫)". 2. The warming and tonifying school[溫補學派], who were influenced by Taoism, said in their theory of disease outbreak[發病學說] that since one must not hurt one's Yin essence and Yang fire [陰精陽火] there is more deficiency than excess, so that was why they used tonifying methods. Jin was also like them and this point of view is universal in internal medicine, gynecology, pediatric medicine and surgery and so on. 3. Jin, who saw the negative form of pulse diagnosis[診脈] emphasized following symptoms over pulse diagnosis using the spirit of ‘finding truth based on truth[實事求是]' in "Maekgyeolcheonmi(脈訣闡微)", but emphasized 'the combination of pulse and symptoms[脈證合參]'. He understood pulse diagnosis as a defining tool for symptoms, and in "Seoksilbirok(石室秘錄)" simplified pulse diagnosis into 10 methods : floating/sunken(浮沉), slow/fast(遲數), large/fine(大小), vacuous/replete(虛實) and slippery/rough(滑澀). 4. Jin used 'large formulas(大方)' a lot that usually featured a large dose, and in " Bonchosinpyeon(本草新編)" he thought of the seven formulas(七方) and ten preparations(十劑) as the standard when using medicine. He did away with old customs and presented a 'new(新)' and 'extra(奇)' point of view. He especially used a lot of Insam(人蔘) when tonifying Gi and Geumeunhwa(金銀花) when treating sores and ulcers. 5. In the area of surgery Jin gave priority to the early finding and treatment of disease with internal treatment[內治] and was against the overuse of acupuncture. However records of surgical measures in a special situation like lung abscesses(肺癰) and liver abscesses(肝癰), and anesthetic measures using 'Manghyeongju(忘形酒)' and 'Singoiyak(神膏異藥)' and opening the abdomen or skull, and organ transplants using a dog's tongue are important data. 6. Jin stated the diseases of Gi and blood broadly. Especially in the principles of treating blood, blood diseases had to be forwarded[順] and Gi regulation[理氣] was the number one priority and stated the following two treatments. First, in "Jeonggiinhyeolpyeon(精氣引血篇)" of volume 6 of "Oegyeongmieon(外經微言)", for the rules for treating blood he stated the pattern identification of finding Gi in blood and blood in Gi. Second, he emphasized Gi regulation(理氣) in blood diseases and stated that the Gi must be tonifyed after finding the source of the loss of blood.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.75-94
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• 2016

Objectives : The uterus plays an important role in the woman's body. In Korean Medical literature, the uterus is mentioned in various contexts according to different perspectives on its meaning and function. An examination of these various contexts is crucial in understanding the meaning of the uterus and to better understand and approach woman's body. Methods : Aside from the most widely used term Jagung(子宮), there were various terms used to refer to the uterus. Based on a list of these terms, the Siku Qianshu collection of medical literatures was investigated. Contents related to the definition, shape, location, function were extracted and examined. Results : Among the findings, first, there were various terms referring to the uterus similar to contemporary understanding. Some of them referred to the uterus as a whole, while others referred to specific parts, one of which is the placenta. Some reflected a broader perspective on the meaning of the uterus. Second, the functions of the uterus could be summarized as gate keeping, and the maintenance of uterine environment that is related to menstruation, pregnancy, and childbirth. Third, based on the examination of the meaning of the uterus and its functions, perspectives on the uterus in Korean Medicine could be summarized into two. Conclusions : One viewed uterus as an organ dedicated to reproduction, similar to today's common understanding. According to this view, uterus is a special organ specific to women, which functions as an incubator for the fetus. The other viewed the uterus as an intangible source of life in the woman's body. As a general source of life to all human beings, it is not a passive organ but functions as an active source in woman's life phenomena. The two perspectives are not in conflict, but rather reflect the broad range of thought on the concept of the uterus in Korean Medicine. In today's biomedical society, the diversity and flexibility of these perspectives could shed light on medical practices that have resulted from extreme views on the woman's body.