I have begun an exciting project translating Huáng Yuányù’s work. Huáng Yuányù lived from 1704 to 1758 (Qīng dynasty, Qianlong era). To introduce the flavor of his work, I am posting a translation of an excerpt from an article I found about him[1]. The title of the article is 黄元御一气周流核心思维, Core Thinking of Huáng Yuányù’s One Qi Flowing in an Unbroken Cycle.

In truth, Huáng Yuányù does not present a formal doctrine named “One Qì Flowing in an Unbroken Cycle” in his texts. Instead, his work consistently assumes the unity of qi. It explains physiology and pathology in terms of the disruption of the circulation of that single qi, primarily through ascent and descent centered on the spleen–stomach axis. The modern term “One Qì Flowing in an Unbroken Cycle” is a retrospective synthesis of these ideas.

What is exciting to me about Huáng Yuányù’s work and perspective is that it so closely aligns with my own as it has developed throughout my career. I hope it interests you as much as it does me!

黄元御一气周流核心思维

Core Thinking of Huáng Yuányù’s One Qi Flowing in an Unbroken Cycle

清朝乾隆年间，有一个著名的医学大师叫黄元御。30岁那年，不幸罹患眼疾，因被庸生误治，左目失明，身体差点垮掉，因此满怀愤怒，以毕生心血精研《黄帝内经》、《难经》、《伤寒杂病论》等古圣经典，集中华经典医学之大成，开创“天人合一，一气周流”理论。

During the Qiánlóng reign of the Qīng dynasty, there was […]