中药“四气”概念的起源与嬗变

＂四气＂原本是气候术语,约西汉末被引进本草,借作为药物寒热理论的总称。北宋末寇宗奭认为＂气＂即香臭之气,倡言改＂四气＂为＂四性＂,但响应者稀。金元时＂四气＂概念发生嬗变,由药性寒热扩展为天气寒热,进而区分厚薄阴阳、升降浮沉,并与人体各脏腑产生对应关系。于是＂四气＂的作用从针对病因的寒热,扩大到针对不同的病位及脏腑发挥作用。明代医家曾尝试对嬗变后的＂四气＂理论进行条理与规范。用＂四气＂概括药性寒热理论是一个创举,无须更名。其含义在历代医疗实践中不断嬗变,以适应临床所需。

Origin and Evolution of the Definition of "Si Qi"in Chinese Medicine

＂Si Qi＂（four climatic changes）was the climatic terminology and it had been introduced in medical material in the late Western Han Dynasty and was taken as the general term in cold and heat theory of medicine.In the late Song Dynasty,Kou Zong-shi viewed that ＂Qi＂referred to fragrant or stinky smell and he advocated amending ＂Si Qi＂as ＂Si Xing＂（four properties）.But very few people responded.In Jin and Yuan Dynasties,the definition of ＂Si Qi＂was evolved.From cold or heat property of medicine,it developed to cold or heat climatic change,flavors,yin-yang nature,ascending,descending,floating and sinking of medical action direction as well as the correlation with zangfu organs.The effect of ＂Si Qi＂was expended to be related with the location of disease and zangfu functions,rather than cold or heat nature in etiology at the beginning.In Ming Dynasty,medical scholars had tried to normalize the evolved theory of ＂Si Qi＂.It is a great beginning to adopt the definition of ＂Si Qi＂ to summarize cold-heat theory of medicine property.This definition has been evolving in medical practice in past dynasties and it has been proved to be applicable for clinical requirements.