[Examining the collation of the formula for the five internal organs in The Key Use of 'Auxiliary Techniques' for Internal Medicine].

Abstract

The formula for the five internal organs (Wu Zang Da Bu Fang) in the existed versions of The Key Use of 'Auxiliary Techniques' for Internal Medicine (Fu Xing Jue Wu Zang Yong Yao Fa Yao) are discrepant in terms of prescription composition. It is difficult to trace back the reasons for such a discrepancy with emendation or proof reading because the original version of The Key Use of Auxiliary Techniques for Internal Medicine had been lost. This paper examines the five viscera and body relationship and five elements (Jin, Mu, Shui, Huo, Tu) interrelationship with reference to Auxiliary Techniques, and analyses the discrepancy in the formula for the five internal organs in the existed versions of The Key Use of 'Auxiliary Techniques' for Internal Medicine. It was found that the reasons for such a discrepancy in the formula was due to the fact that the textual critics in different historical periods took different accesses and approaches to different fragmentary and distorted copies. The prescription composition can be sorted out and derived into a reasonable version. The chronological order for each version formation can also be inferred.