Shen,HunandPoinChineseMedicine

LecoeurasesraisonsquelaRaisonneconnaitpoint

Pascal,LePensees

Whereisfancybred,intheheartorthehead?

Shakespeare,TheMerchantofVenice

GiovanniMaciocia

SHEN 神

TWOMEANINGSOF “SHEN”

1)Shenindicatestheactivityofthinking,consciousness,insight,emotionallifeandmemory,allofwhichdependontheHeart. Itranslatethisas"Mind".

2)Shenindicatesthecomplexofallfivemental-spiritualaspectsofahumanbeing,i.e.theMinditself,theHun,thePo,theYiandtheZhi. Itranslatethisas"Spirit".

The “LingShu"inchapter8says:"LifecomesaboutthroughtheEssence;whenthetwoEssences[ofmotherandfather]unite,theyformtheMind". ZhangJieBinsays:"ThetwoEssences,oneYin,oneYang,unite...toformlife;theEssencesofmotherandfatherunitetoformtheMind". ThereforetheMindofanewly-conceivedbeingcomesfromthePre-natalEssencesofitsmotherandfather. Afterbirth,itsPre-natalEssenceisstoredintheKidneysanditprovidesthebiologicalfoundationfortheMind. ThelifeandMindofanewbornbaby,however,alsodependonthenourishmentfromitsownPost-natalEssence. The"SpiritualAxis"inchapter30says:"WhentheStomachandIntestinesarecoordinatedthe5Yinorgansarepeaceful,Bloodisharmonizedandmentalactivityisstable. TheMindderivesfromtherefinedessenceofwaterandfood.".

ThustheMinddrawsitsbasisandnourishmentfromthePre-natalEssencestoredintheKidneysandthePost-natalEssenceproducedbyLungs,StomachandSpleen. HencetheThreeTreasures:

TheseThreeTreasuresrepresentthreedifferentstatesofcondensationofQi,theEssencebeingthedensest,Qithemorerarefied,andtheMindthemostsubtleandnon-material. TheactivityoftheMindreliesontheEssenceandQiasitsfundamentalbasis. HencetheEssenceissaidtobethe"foundationofthebodyandtherootoftheMind". ThusifEssenceandQiarestrongandflourishingtheMindwillbehappy,balancedandalert. IfEssenceandQiaredepleted,theMindwillsufferandmaybecomeunhappy,depressed,anxious,orclouded. ZhangJieBinsays:"IftheEssenceisstrong,Qiflourishes;ifQiflourishes,theMindiswhole".

SHEN 神(ofHEART)

IstheQithat:

•Formslife(butalsowithPoandHun)fromtheunionoftheJingoftheparents

•Allowstheindividualtobeconsciousofhisorherself

•Permitsthecohesionofvariouspartsofourpsycheandemotions

•Definesusasindividuals

•Feelsandassessestheemotions

•Isresponsibleforperceptionsandsenses

•Isresponsibleforthinking,memory,intelligence.Wisdom,ideas

•Determinesconsciousness

•Allowsinsight

•Isresponsibleforperceptionandcognition

•Determinessleep

•Governsthe5senses(sight,hearing,smelling,taste,touch)

THEETHEREALSOUL(HUN)

HUN

CLOUDS(YUN)

OLDCHARACTERFORGUI

Headofdeadpersonwithoutabody

Swirlingmovementofthe “ghost” ofdeadpersonintherealmofspirits

TheHunentersthebody3daysafterbirthandisimpartedbythefather.Etherealinnature,afterdeathitsurvivesthebodyandflowsbackto"Heaven"(Tian).

ThefactthattheHunisimpartedbythefatherafterthatissignificantasitissymbolicalofthesocial,relationalnatureoftheHun(asopposedtothePo).TheHunisresponsibleforrelationshipsandourrelatingtotheotherpeopleinthefamilyandsociety. TheceremonyduringwhichthefatherimpartedtheHunandthenametothebabythreedaysafterbirthisthereforesymbolicalofthefactthat,throughthisceremony,thebabywasassignedhisorherplaceinthefamilyandsociety. TheHuncorrespondstoourindividuality,butanindividualitywithinthefamilyandsociety.

TheHuncanbedescribedasthatpartoftheSoul(asopposedtoCorporealSoul)whichatdeathleavesthebody,carryingwithitanappearanceofphysicalform.Fromthispointofviewtherefore,thesoulhasanindependentexistencejustlikeintheancientGreek-RomancivilizationandduringtheMiddleAges.Thecombinationofthetwocharactersfor"cloud"and “ghost"inthecharacterforHunconveystheideaofitsnature:itislikeaspirit/ghostbutitisYangandetherealinnature.

TherearethreetypesofHun:

Avegetativeonecalled ShuangLing"ClearLing”)commontoplants,animalsandhumanbeings

2.AnanimalonecalledTaiGuang(“BrilliantLight”)commontoanimalsandhumanbeings

3.AhumanonecalledYouJing("DarkJing”)foundonlyinhuman

beings.

WhendescribingtheHun,thethemeof “movement","swirling","wandering",etc.iseverpresent.TheoldformoftheChineseradicalwithinthewordhundepictstheswirlingmovementofthesoulofadeadpersonintherealmofspirit.TheHunprovidesmovementtothepsycheinmanyways:movementofthesouloutofthebodyasindreaming,movementoutofone'severydaylifeasinlifedreamsandideas,movementtowardstheothersinhumanrelationships,movementintermsofplans,projects. Excessivemovementofthepsycheoutofitselfmayresultinmentalillness.

1)SLEEPANDDREAMING

TheHuninfluencessleepanddreaming.IftheHuniswellrootedintheLiver(Liver-BloodorLiver-Yin),sleepisnormalandsoundandwithouttoomanydreams.IfLiver-YinorLiver-Bloodisdeficient,theHunisdeprivedofitsresidenceandwandersoffatnight,causingarestlesssleepwithmanytiringdreams.IfLiver-Yinisseverelydepleted,theEtherealSoulmayevenleavethebodytemporarilyatnightduringorjustbeforesleep.

TangZongHaisays:"AtnightduringsleeptheHunreturnstotheLiver;iftheHunisnotpeacefultherearealotofdreams".albae.

IncaseoftheHunwanderingatnightandcausingtoomuchdreamingitisnecessarytonourishLiver-BloodandLiver-YinwithsourandastringentherbssuchasMuLiConchaOstreae,LongChiDensDraconis,SuanZaoRenSemenZiziphispinosaeorBaiShaoRadixPaeoniae.

ThereisaninterestingcorrelationbetweentheastringentandabsorbingqualityofsuchherbsonaphysicallevelandtheiruseincalmingtheShenand"absorbing"theHuntodrawitbackintotheLiver.

The"TreatiseoftheGoldenFlower"inchapter2says:"InthedaytimetheHunisintheeyesandatnightintheLiver.Whenitisintheeyeswecansee.WhenitisintheLiverwedream".

Andalso: “DreamsconstitutethewanderingoftheHuninthe9Heavensand9Earths. Whenonewakesuponefeelsobscureandconfused[because]oneisconstrainedbythePo”.

TheHuninfluencesdreamingatnightand “life-dreams” inourawakestate. ThuswhentheHunisintheeyeswehaveexternalvisualization;whenitisintheLiverwehaveinternalvisualizationasindreamstothebordersofconsciousness(whichtheChinesedescribedasthe “9Heavensand9Earths).

TheHunSoulisrootedintheLiverandinparticularLiver-Yin(whichincludesLiver-Blood).IfLiver-Yinisdepleted,theEtherealSoulisdeprivedofitsresidenceandbecomesrootless.Thiscanresultininsomnia,fearandalackofasenseofdirectioninlife.TheHun,deprivedofitsresidence,wanderswithoutaim.

TheHunmayevenleavethebody:someChineseidiomaticexpressionsconfirmthis.Forexample,fanhun(literally"Hunreturning")means “tocomebacktolife”,asafterbeinginatranceduringwhichthesoulleavesthebody. Hunfeiposan(literally"hunflying,poscattered")means"tobescaredoutofone'swits"oralso"tobestruckdumb",e.g.bylove.

2)ASSISTSTHESHENINMENTALACTIVITIES

TheHunassiststheMindinitsmentalactivities.The"Five-ChannelRighteousness” (Tangdynasty),says:"KnowledgeisdependentonthesharpnessoftheHun”.TheHunprovidestheMind,whichisresponsibleforrationalthinking,withintuitionandinspiration. ItalsogivestheMind “movement” inthesensethatitallowstheMindthecapacityofinsightandintrospectionaswellastheabilitytoprojectoutwardsandrelatetootherpeople.

ThiscapacityformovementandoutwardprojectioniscloselyrelatedtotheLiver-Qiqualityofquickandfreemovement.Thewords'movement","comingandgoing","swimming“, “wandering” areoftenusedinconnectionwiththeHun.ThefreeflowofLiver-QiisthephysicalequivalentoftheHun’scapacityforsmoothmovementand “comingandgoing”.

TheHunisalwaysdescribedasthe “comingandgoingoftheShen” (suishenwanglaiweizhihun)or,toputitdifferently, “whatfollowstheSheninitscomingandgoingistheHun”.

Onpsychiclevel,thismeansthattheHunprovidestheShen(Mind)with “movement” inthesenseofintuition,inspiration,movementtowardsothers,relationships,creativity,dreaming(inthesenseoflifedreams),planning,imagination,projects,symbols,archetypes.TheHungivestheShenthenecessarypsychictensionofWood.TheShenwithouttheHunwouldbelikeapowerfulcomputerwithoutasoftware.

3)BALANCEOFEMOTIONS

TheHunmaintainsanormalbalancebetweenexcitationandrestraintoftheemotionallife,undertheleadershipoftheHeartandtheMind.The Hunpreventstheemotionsfrombecomingexcessiveandthereforeturningintocausesofdisease.ThisregulatoryfunctionoftheHuniscloselyrelatedtothebalancebetweenLiver-Blood(theYinpartoftheLiver)andLiver-Qi(theYangpartoftheLiver).Liver-BloodandLiver-QineedtobeharmonizedandLiver-BloodmustrootLiver-Qitopreventitfrombecomingstagnantorrebellingupwards. Onamental-emotionallevel,Liver-BloodneedstoroottheHunthusallowingabalancedemotionallife.

Thisbalanceonamental-emotionallevelcorrespondstotheLiverfunctionofbeinga “regulatingandharmonizing” organ. Chapter9ofthe “SimpleQuestions” says: “TheLiverhasaregulatingfunction,ithousestheHun...”. IfLiver-Bloodisdeficienttherewillbefearandanxiety;ifLiver-Yangisinexcesstherewillbeanger.The"SpiritualAxis"inchapter8says: “IftheLiverisdeficienttherewillbefear;ifitisinexcesstherewillbeanger”.

Hun “goingtoomuch”,emotional,anger,agitation

Hunnot “going” enough,notintouchwithemotions,stagnation

4)EYESANDSIGHT

TheHunisinrelationwiththeeyesandsight.TangZongHaisays:"WhentheHunwanderstotheeyes,theycansee".The"TreatiseoftheGoldenFlower"inchapter2says:"InthedaytimetheHunisintheeyesandatnightintheLiver.Whenitisintheeyeswecansee.WhenitisintheLiverwedream". ThisconnectionwiththeeyescanbeeasilyrelatedtotherootingoftheHuninLiver-BloodasLiver-Bloodnourishestheeyes.

Onamentallevel,theHungivesus “vision” andinsight.

5)COURAGE

TheHunisrelatedtocourageorcowardiceandforthisreasontheLiverissometimescalledthe"resoluteorgan".TangZongHaisays:"WhentheHunisnotstrong,thepersonistimid”. The "strength"oftheEtherealSoulinthisconnectionderivesfromLiver-Blood.IfLiver-Bloodisabundant,thepersonisfearlessandisabletofaceuptolife'sdifficulties.IfLiver-BloodisdeficientandtheHunisdithering,thepersonlackscourage,cannotfaceuptodifficultiesormakingdecisions,andiseasilydiscouraged.

6)PLANNING

TheHunSoulinfluencesourcapacityforplanningourlifeandgivingitasenseofdirection.AlackofdirectioninlifeandasenseofspiritualconfusionmaybecomparedtothewanderingoftheHunaloneinspaceandtime.IftheLiverisflourishingtheHunSoulisfirmlyrootedandcanhelpustoplanourlifewithvision,wisdomandcreativity.

IfLiver-Blood(orLiver-Yin)isdeficient,theHunSoulisnotrootedandwelackasenseofdirectionandvisioninlife.IfLiver-BloodandLiver-Qiaredeficient theHunlacksmovementandthereisalsoalackofasenseofdirectioninlife.

7)RELATIONSHIPWITHSHEN

TheHunandtheMindarecloselyconnectedandbothpartakeinourmental-emotionallife.TheHunisthe"comingandgoing"oftheMind.Thismeansthat,throughtheHun,theMindcanprojectoutwardstotheexternalworldandtootherpeopleandcanalsoturninwardstoreceivetheintuition,inspiration,ideas,symbols,imagination,archetypes,dreamsandimagesderivingfromtheunconscious.

TheHun’sworldisasubterraneanworld,anundifferentiatedsea,itistheworldalsoofgui. TheHunistheguioftheMind'semotional-spirituallife.ThusifLiver-BloodisabundantandtheHunfirm,therewillbeahealthyflowfromittotheMindprovidingitwithinspiration,creativity,vision.IftheHun’s “movement” islackingitlacksinspiration,vision,creativity,etc. andthepersonmaybedepressed,withoutaimordreams,inspiration,vision.

TheMind “gathers” theHun.Thus,ontheonehand,theHunbringsmovementtotheMind,andontheotherhand,theMindprovidessomecontrolandintegration.IftheMindisstrongandtheHunproperly"gathered",therewillbeharmonybetweenthetwoandthepersonhascalmvision,insightandwisdom.

IftheMindisweakandfailstorestraintheHun(oriftheHunisoveractive),thismaybetoorestlessandonlybringconfusionandchaostotheMind,makingthepersonscatteredandunsettled. Thiscanbeobservedinsomepeoplewhoarealwaysfullofideas,dreamsandprojectsnoneofwhichevercomestofruitionbecauseofthechaoticstateoftheMindwhichisthereforeunabletorestraintheHun.

Ontheotherhand,iftheMindovercontrols(oriftheHun’smovementislacking),thepersonlacksvision,imagination,creativityandwillbedepressed.

AccordingtoJungtheunconsciousiscompensatorytoconsciousness.Hesaid:"Thepsycheisaself-regulatingsystemthatmaintainsitselfinequilibrium...Everyprocessthatgoestoofarimmediatelyandinevitablycallsforthacompensatoryactivity.” ThiscompensatoryrelationshipbetweentheunconsciousandconsciousnessresemblesthebalancingrelationshipbetweentheHunandtheMind. TheMinddiscriminatesanddifferentiates,whereastheHunislikeanundifferentiatedseawhichflowsaround,underandabovetheMind,erodingcertainpartsanddepositingfreshones.Thepsycheasawhole,i.e.thesumtotalofMind,Hun,Po,YiandZhi,containsallpossibilities,whereastheMindcanonlyworkwithonepossibilityatatime.Itisnowonderthatinmythsandfairytalestheunconsciousisoftensymbolizedbythesea. TheHunisanunderwaterworldandatotalimmersionoftheMindinitmeansinsanity.

Inmythsandfairytalestheunconsciousisoftensymbolizedbythesea(seealsoChristianbaptismandthepartingofthewatersbyGod). TheHunisanunderwaterworldandatotalimmersionoftheMindinitmeansinsanity. TheHunislikeanoceanthatisthesourceofarchetypes,symbols,ideas,images:theMinddrawsfromthisseathroughtheintermediaryoftheHun.ThematerialcomingforthiscontrolledandintegratedbytheMind,oneatatime.

6THINGSTHATSHOWTHEACTIVITYOFTHEHUN

  1. ART

ArtisticinspirationderivesfromtheHun,nottheMind.TheHunisthesourcefromwhichspringforthcreativityandinspiration.

2.CHILDREN

Fromtheageofabout2toabout7,childrenliveintheworldoftheHun,aworldofwildimaginationandfantasywhereinanimateobjectscometolife.Behavioursthatarenormalinchildrenwouldbementalillnessinadults.

3.DREAMS

Whydodreamsspeaktousinsuchasymbolicway?Whycouldourunconscioussimplyspeaktousinarationalway,inthelanguageoftheMind? BecausethepsychicmaterialofdreamscomesfromtheHun,nottheMindandsuchisthelanguageoftheHun.

4.GUIDEDDAYDREAMS

Theyareatechniqueusedinpsychotherapywherebythetherapistsetsacertainscenefortheclientwhoisaskedtoimaginehimselforherselfinthatsceneandtoproceedasifinadream.Theaimofthisexerciseistoby-passthecriticalanalysisoftheShenandbringforthpsychologicalmaterialfromtheHun(unconscious)asithappensindreams

Jungdescribedthistechnique: “Welearntositandsimplyobserveafragmentofadreamwithoutanyattempttoguide,controlorinterferewithit. Theaimistoallowtheimagetocometolifeofitsownautonomouspsychicenergy[=Hun],ourego[=Shen]lettinggoofallexpectations,presuppositions,orinterpretations.Afteracertainperiodofpracticeandinitialcoachingbythetherapist,thisinnerimagewillstarttomoveinsomewayandourobservingego[Shen]learnstoparticipateinthestoryverymuchlikeadream”.

5.COMA

Incoma,theMindiscompletelydevoidofresidenceanditthereforecannotfunctionatall,andyetthepersonisnotdead.Thismeansthatthereareothermentalaspectsatplay,andthesearetheHunandthePo.Thus,fordeathtooccur,notonlymusttheMinddie,buttheHunmustleavethebodyandthePoreturntoEarth.

6.SLEEP-WALKING

Insleep-walking,MindisinactivebuttheHunisactive:theHunwandersatnightandleadstosleepwalking.Infact,thepointBL-47Hunmen (theDooroftheHun)wasusedforsleep-walking.

THECORPOREALSOUL(PO)

ThePoresidesintheLungsandisthephysicalcounterpartoftheHun.Thebai(white)withinthecharacterisrelatedtothelightofthewaxingmoonandisalsophonetic.TheassociationwiththewaxingmoonisinkeepingwiththeassociationofthePowiththedarkforcesofgui.TheconnectionbetweenthePoandthemoonisalsorelatedtothePocomingintobeingonthe3rddayafterconception,analogoustothethincrescentofrisingmoononthe3rdday.

HencetheconnectionbetweenthePoandtheembryoniclunarlight(Yin)asopposedtothehot(Yang)sunlightoftheHun. Infact,intheoldtimes,thePowasalsocalled “Moon-Po”. OnecanthereforebuildacorrespondencebetweenWest(wherethewaxingmoonis)-white-Metal-Po-Lungs.

WEST-WHITE-METAL-PO-LUNGS

ThePoisinrelationwithgui.Confuciussaid: “QiisthefullnessoftheShen;thePoisthefullnessofgui”. HeShangGongsaid: “Theturbidandhumid5flavoursfrombones,flesh,blood,vesselsandthe6passions...thisguiiscalledPo. ThisisYinincharacterandentersandexitsthroughthemouthandcommunicateswithEarth”.

THECORPOREALSOUL(PO)

ThePocanbedefinedas"thatpartoftheSoul[asopposedtotheHun]whichisindissolublyattachedtothebodyandgoesdowntoEarthwithitatdeath". Itisclosely linkedtothebodyandcouldbedescribedasthesomaticexpressionoftheSoul,or,conversely,theorganizationalprincipleofthebody.ThePoisactivefromconceptionanditshapesthebody.Itcouldbealsodescribedastheorganizationoftheorganismandthecoordinatingforceofallphysiologicalprocesses.ZhangJieBinsays:"Inthebeginningofanindividual'slifethebodyisformed;thespiritofthebodyisthePo.WhenthePoisintheInteriorthereis[enough]YangQi". Asformovement,thePogivesthebodythecapacityofmovement,agility,balanceandcoordinationofmovements(theHungivespsychic “movement”). ThePodieswiththebodyatdeathbutitisthoughttoadheretothecorpseforsometime,especiallythebones,beforereturningtoEarth.

1)CORPOREALSOULANDESSENCE

ThePoiscloselylinkedtotheEssenceandisdescribedinthe"SpiritualAxis"chapter8asthe"exitingandenteringofEssence". ItderivesfromthemotherandarisessoonafterthePre-natalEssenceofanewbeingisformed.ThusthePo,closelylinkedtoEssence,isthefirsttocomeintobeingafterconception.BothEssenceandPorepresenttheorganizationalprinciplesoflifewhichshapethebodyfromconception(theextraordinaryvesselsarethechannelsthroughwhichthishappens).

Duringgestation,thefoetusis “allPoandEssence” andcommunicateswiththePoofthemother.TheconnectionbetweenPoandfoetallifeisveryancient:GranetcallsthePothe"soulofblood".Thefoetusdependsonthemother's CorporealSoul,BloodandEssencewhichguideandnourishit.

1)CORPOREALSOULANDESSENCE

Bygivingrisetothehumanformduringgestation,thePoiscentripetal,separating,materializing,aggregating,asitseparates,itaggregates,materializesintoaseparateexistenceinthefoetus.Asthisseparationisexpressedbytheskin(whichseparatesthebeingfromtheworld),thereisafurtherconnectionbetweentheCorporealSoul-skin-Lungs.Thisseparatingpoweralliesitselfwiththecentripetalforcesofgui,constantlyopposingand fragmentingandis,eventually,thegermofdeath.Withregardtofragmenting,thereisaresonancebetweenguiandkuai(guiwith"earth"infront)whichmeans “pieces”. TheCorporealSoulisthereforelinkedtoa"thirstforexistence",centripetal,materializinglifeforce,aggregatingintoaseparateexistence.

ThePoisrelatedtotheEssence,hencethe"SpiritualAxis” (chapter8)statementthat"ThatwhichentersandexitswiththeEssenceisthePo”. "Enteringandexiting""impliesanInteriorandExterior,i.e.aseparationoftheindividualfromtheenvironment. Italsoimpliesaverticalmovementasru(toenter)evokes"roots"andchu(toexit)evokes"branches".Thusthecentripetal,separating,materializingofthePoalsodependsontheverticalexitingandenteringoftheEssence.

ThePoisthemanifestationoftheEssenceinthesphereofsensationsandfeelings.JustastheHunprovidesmovementtotheMind("comingandgoingoftheMind'),thePoprovidesmovementtotheEssence,i.e.itbringstheEssenceintoplayinallphysiologicalprocessesofthebody.

WithoutthePotheEssencewouldbeaninert,albeitprecious,vitalsubstance.ThePoistheclosesttotheEssenceandistheintermediarybetweenitandtheothervitalsubstancesofthebody.InfactZhangJieBininthe"ClassicofCategories"says:"IftheEssenceisexhaustedtheCorporealSouldeclines;ifQiisscatteredtheEtherealSoulswimswithoutaresidence". ThePorepresentslifeandthelifeforceitself. XuDaChunsaidthatiftheHeart-Mindiscutoff,thepersonisinacoma...itisonlywhenthePoiscutoffthatdeathoccurs.

2)INFANCY

ThePo,beingtheclosesttotheEssence,isresponsibleforthefirstphysiologicalprocessesafterbirth.ZhangJieBinsays:"Inthebeginningoflifeears,eyesandHeartperceive,handsandfeetmoveandbreathingstarts:allthisisduetothesharpnessofthePo”.Thisconfirmsideathat"firstmonthoflifeinababyisallPo".

3)POandSENSES

Pogivesusthecapacityofsensation,feeling,hearingandsight.WhenthePoisflourishingearsandeyesarekeenandcanregister.ThedeclineofhearingandsightinoldpeopleisduetoaweakeningofthePo(hencenotonlyKidneysandLiver).

ZhangJieBinsays: “ThePocanmoveanddothingsand[whenitisactive]painanditchingcanbefelt”.Poisresponsibleforsensationsanditchingandisthereforecloselyrelatedtotheskinthroughwhichsuchsensationsareexperienced. ThisexplainsthesomaticexpressionontheskinofemotionaltensionswhichaffectthePoviatheMindandtheconnectionbetweenPo,Lungsandskin.

Infact,thePo,beingcloselyrelatedtothebody,isthefirsttobe affectedwhenneedlesareinserted:thealmostimmediatefeelingofrelaxationfollowingtheinsertionofneedlesisduetotheunwindingofthePo.Throughit,theMind,Hun,YiandZhiareallaffected.

4. EMOTIONS

ThePoisrelatedtoweepingandcrying. JustasthePomakesusfeelpainonaphysicallevel,italsomakesuscryandweepwhensubjecttogriefandsadness. EspeciallyunexpressedgriefconstrictsthePoandgivesrisetoaccumulations. Lung-Qistagnationaffectsthebreastsandmaygiverisetotheformationoflumps. AsthePoisthecorporealSoul,itisaffectedbyallemotions.

5)PHYSIOLOGICALACTIVITIES

SomemoderndoctorsconsiderthePothe “basicregulatoryactivityofallphysiologicalfunctionsofthebody”.InthissenseitisthemanifestationoftheLungfunctionofregulatingallphysiologicalactivities.

Chapter8ofthe “SimpleQuestions” says: “TheHeartisliketheEmperor,inchargeoftheSpirit(ShenMing).TheLungsarelikeaPrimeMinisterinchargeofregulation”. AftersayingthattheLungsarelikeaPrimeMinister,the “SimpleQuestions” saysthattheLungsareinchargeof “regulation”. Thismeansthat,justasthePrimeMinisterregulatesalladministrativefunctions,theLungshelptoregulateallphysiologicalactivitiesineveryorganandeverypartofthebody,justasthePrimeMinister’sofficecontrolsanddirectstheadministrativefunctionsofallgovernmentdepartments.

6)BREATHING

ResidingintheLungs,thePoiscloselylinkedtobreathing.BreathingcanbeseenasthepulsatingofthePo.MeditationmakesuseofthelinkbetweenbreathingandthePo.Byconcentratingonthebreathing,someonewhoismeditatingquietensthePo,theMindbecomesstillandempty,andthroughthistheHunbecomesopenandgetsintouchwiththeUniversalMind(orunconscious).

7)CORPOREALSOULANDINDIVIDUALLIFE

ThePoisrelatedtoourlifeasindividualswhiletheHunisresponsibleforourrelationswithotherpeople.JustastheLung'sDefensive-Qiprotectsthebodyfromexternalpathogenicfactorsonaphysicallevel,onamentalleveltheCorporealSoulprotectstheindividualfromexternalpsychicinfluences.Somepeopleareveryeasilyaffectedbynegativeinfluences:thisisduetoaweaknessofthePo.

8)ANUS

BecauseoftherelationshipbetweenPoandLungsandthatbetweentheseandtheLargeIntestine,theanusissometimescalledpomen,the"doorofthePo"asinchapter11ofthe"SimpleQuestions": “ThedoorofthePo[i.e.anus]isthemessengerforthefivevisceraanditdrainsoffwaterandfoodwithoutstoringthemfortoolong”.Infact,thepointBL-42Pohu(the"WindowofthePo")wasindicatedforincontinenceofbothurineandfaecesfromfright.

POANDDEATH-LIFE

InancientChina,thedeadweretemporarilyburiedinthehouseinthecornerofthehousewereseedswerekept.ThisallowedthesubstanceofthedeadtopenetratetheEarthinthehouse.Thebodyofthedeaddecomposedinthecornerwhereseedswerekepttosymbolizethesproutingofnewlifefromtheseeds.Inthesameplacewasthemaritalbedwherenewlivesareconceived.ThisallowedpeopletoimaginethatanewlifesproutedfromtheEarthinthehouseandfromthedeadancestorsasifthebabyhadtakenthesubstanceoftheancestors.

ThebodilessGuiwerehoveringaroundthemaritalbedwaitingforanewincarnation. Thiscontinuitybetweendeadandlivingallowedpeopletobelieveinanunbrokenfamilylineage,inaneternalfamilysubstanceliketheEarth.Adeathdidnotdiminishthisfamilysubstanceandabirthdidnotincreaseit.Thefamilywasformedoftwoparallelcommunities:theliving(withtheirindividualitiesinthePo)andthedead

COMPARISONBETWEENETHEREALANDCORPOREALSOULS

HUN / PO
Isthe"comingandgoingoftheMind" / the"enteringandexitingoftheEssence"
PertainstotheMind / Pertainstothebody
IstheQioftheMind / IstheGuiofthebody
FollowsthechangesofQi / Followsthechangesofthebody
IsYangandmoves / IsYinandisquiescent
Createsactionwithmovement / Createsactionwithoutmovement
RelatedtotheMind:whenQigathers,theHungathers / RelatedtotheEssence:whenthisgathers,thePogathers
AtbirththeHunjoinswiththePo / AtbirththePorestrainstheHun
AtdeathitswimsawayandreturnstoHeaven / AtdeathitdissolvesandreturnstoEarth
IsbrightanditlightsthePo / IsdarkanditrootstheHun
Islikeafire:themorethingsyouadd,themoreitburns / Islikeamirror:itshines,butholdsonlyareflection(oftheHun)
RepresentsthemovementoftheMindoutwardly / RepresentsthemovementoftheEssenceinwardly
IsrootedinBloodandYin / IsconnectedtoQiandYang
Disharmonycausesproblemswithsleepatnight / Disharmonycausesproblemsindaytime
Disharmonycauseslackofdirectionandinspiration,confusion / Disharmonycauseslackofvigourandvitality
ItisthelinkwiththeuniversalMind / Itispurelyindividual
Correspondstofullmoon / Correspondstonewmoon

THEHUNANDPO

TheHunisinvolvedinproblemsoccurringatnight(althoughnotexclusively),andthePoinproblemsoccurringindaytime.The"DiscussionofBloodDiseases"(1884)byTanglongHaisays: “RestlessnessatnightwithexcessivedreamingisduetoanunsettledHun;thisisYangandifatnightithasnoresting placethepersonisrestlessanddreamsalot.RestlessnessinthedaytimeandacloudedMindareduetoanunsettledPo;thisisYinandifYinisdeficientindaytime,restlessnessandmentalconfusionresult”.

HuaiNanZisays: “TheHunderivesfromHeavenlyQi,thePofromEarthlyQi”. TheWuXingDaYisays: “ThePoisliketheenvelope,theHunisthesourceofLife'sQi”. ThesestatementshighlightthenatureofthePoasthecentripetal,materializing,separatingforcewhichproducesFormandthebody,henceitislikean “envelope” separatingthebodyfromtheworld(Lungs-skin-Po). HencetheCorporealSoulisconstraining.

COMPARISONBETWEENETHEREALANDCORPOREALSOULS

TheHun,isthesourceofLife'sQi,itiscentrifugal,ithasanoutwardmovementandgoestowardslife.TheHuniscalledthe “EssenceofLife'sQi” andthePothe “AbodeofDeath'sQi”. TheconnectionofthePowithdeathisduetothefactthatitisseparating,constraining,materializinganditdieswiththebody.

TheWuXingDaYi says: “TheQioftheHunisthefullness[perfection]ofShen,theQiofthePoisthefullness[perfection]ofGui. Humanlifeincludesdeath.Atdeath,onereturnstoEarth,thatiscalledGUI”.ZhiXisaid: “QibelongstotheHunandthebodyisgovernedbythePo.TheHunisthespiritofYangandthePoisthespiritofYin...WhenapersonisabouttodiethewarmQileaveshimandrises.ThisiscalledtheHunrising.Thelowerpartofthebodygraduallybecomescold.ThisiscalledthePofalling”.

THEHUNANDPO

"Horizontality"meansthattheHunisconstantlyexploringtheboundsofconsciousnessintotheworldofideas,creativity,art,exploration,dreams,etc."Verticality"meansthatthePoisconstantlymaterializingintothebodyinthespheresofsenses,feelings,etc. Itisalsosaidthat “theQioftheHunisthefullnessoftheMind,theQiofthePoisthefullnessofgui”.

POandGUI

ThusGUIislikeadarkforceofthepsychethatitcloselyboundtothePo.Toputitdifferently,somesaythat “TheHunistheguiofthe5natures,whilethePoistheguiofthe6passions”. Infact,thefivenatures(xing)ofthefiveYinorgansarelikethe “Hun'saspectsofeachofthefivemental-spiritualaspectsoftheorgans”. Confuciussaidthat “Qiisthefullness[perfection]ofShen;Poisthefullness[perfection]ofGUI”.Thus,thereisacloseconnectionbetweenCorporealSoulandgui.

ThePoisthesubtle,centripetalmechanismofShen,itisits “demon” inthetrueGreeksenseofdaimon,i.e.aninternalforcewhichshapesthebodilyformduringgestation.

HeShangGongsays: “The5turbidandhumidflavoursformbones,muscles,blood,vesselsandthe6passions...theseguiarecalledPo”.

TheHunistheguiofthe5NaturesanditisYang;thePoistheguiofthe6EmotionsanditisYin. The5Naturesassociatedwiththe5Zangarethe “hunaspects” ofShen;the6Emotionsarethe “poaspects” ofShen.

OUTERBLADDERPOINTS

•Bl-52ZhishiRoomofWill-Power:strengthenswillpower,memory,drive,initiative,determination(JingXueJie:nocturnalemissionswithdreams)

•BL-49YisheIntellect’sShelter:ForSpleen’spensiveness,brooding,obsessivethoughts

•BL-47HunmenDoorofHun:strengthensHun’splanning,intuition,inspiration,ideas,life’sdreams,senseofdirection,projects,vision(JingXueJie:itstoresthe5Zangbuttheycanbeseenfromtheoutside,Hungoesinandout[throughthispoint],lungdiseases)

•BL-44ShentangHallofShen:strengthensShen,nourishesHeart,clearthinking,joyoflife

•BL-42PohuWindowofPo:strengthensPo,introspection,beingcomfortablewithoneself,alsosadness,grief.

GUI

TheconceptofguiinChinesephilosophyandculturehasimportantimplicationsinChinesemedicine.GuiisanimportantcomplementtoShen,Hun,Po,YiandZhiintheChineseviewofthepsyche.Theoldpictogramforguidepictsthebodylessheadofadeadpersoninitsswirlingmovementintheworldofspirit.Itthereforeindicatesthespiritofadeadperson.Initially,therewasnoevilconnotationtothisterm,i.e.thespiritsofdeadpeoplewereneitherbenevolentnormalevolent.AftertheintroductionofBuddhismintoChina,thewordwasusedtoindicatedemonsorpretas.

DuringtheShangdynasty(1751-1112BC)andearlier,theinfluenceofspiritsdominatedlifeandmedicine.Inmedicine,themaincauseofdiseasewasattackbyevilspirits.Thevocabularyofacupunctureisatestimonyofthis.

WiththeZhoudynasty(1112-476BC)andespeciallylaterduringtheWarringStatesPeriodthereisthebeginningofhumanismwhichreacheditsapexduringtheHanand,lateron,duringtheSong-YuanandMingdynasties.DuringtheShangdynastytheinfluenceofguispiritsonmankindhadbeenalmosttotal,fornoimportantthingscouldbedonewithoutfirstseekingtheirapproval.DuringtheZhoudynasty,theguiweretakenintoaccountbuttheydidnotdominatelife.TheBookofRitessays: “ThepeopleofShanghonourspiritualbeings,servethemandputthemaheadofceremonies...thepeopleofZhouhonourceremonies...theyservethespiritualbeingsguibutkeepthematadistance.Theyremainneartomankindandloyaltohim.”

GUIANDACUPUNCTURE

Demonicmedicine,i.e.thebeliefthatillnesseswereduetonegativeinfluencesfromspiritswhomwehavedispleasedandthattreatmentdependedonexorcismsandincantationstoridthebodyofsuchspirits,isindeedprobablytheoriginofacupuncture. Exorcistsandshamansusedtorunthroughthestreetsgesturingandfendingtheairwithspearsandarrowstoridtheinhabitantsofevilspirits. Itisquiteconceivablethatthestepbetweenfendingtheairwiththespearandpiercingthebodytoriditofspiritsisaveryshortone.

Spiritsandghostsusedtoresideinholesorcaves;theChinesewordforacupuncturepointisxuewhichactuallymeans “hole” or “cave”. Thisisanotherpossiblelinkbetweendemonicmedicineandacupuncture,i.e.theacupuncturepointswheretheholeswherethespiritsresidedcausingillnessandrequiringpiercingoftheskintobeeliminated.

Someoftheacupunctureterminologyalsowouldsupporttheconnectionwithdemonicmedicine. Forexample,thetermxieqi(usuallytranslatedas “pathogenicfactor”)literallymeans “evilQi” anditevolvedfromthetermxiegui,i.e. “evilspirit”.WiththetransitionfromdemonictonaturalmedicinethatoccurredduringtheWarringStatesPeriod,diseaseswerenotcausedby “evilspirits” anylongerbutby “evilQi”. ThetermZhongFeng(meaningWind-stroke)alsosuggestsademonicinfluenceaszhongsuggestsanarrowhittingthetarget:giventhesuddencollapseofapersonsufferingastroke,itwouldhavebeeneasytoattributethattobeinghitbythe “arrow” ofanevilspirit. ThetermJifor “illness” alsobearstestimonyofthedemonicthinkinginmedicine. Thischaracteriscomposedoftheradicalsfor “bed” and “arrow”:itsoriginalmeaningwasthatofa “personwhoisbedriddenbecauseofinjurybythirdpartieswithanarrow”. “Arrow” hereisasymbolofbeing “hit” byanevilspirit.

Insubsequentcenturies,demonicmedicinebecametobeintegratedseamlesslywithnaturalmedicine. Forexample,somedoctorsmaintainedthat,evenwhenillnesseswascausedbyademonicinfluence,thisattackitselfwasmadepossiblebyapre-existingorganicimbalance. XuChunFu(1570)saidapre-existingweaknessintheperson’sQimadeanattackbyanevilspiritpossibleandheadvocatedcombiningherbaltherapywithincantationinaveryinterestingpassage:

“Ifthesetwomethodsoftreatmentarecombined[herbaltherapyandincantation],innerandouterareforgedintoawholeproducingapromptcureoftheillness. Anyonewhoengagesanexorcistandavoidstheapplicationofdrugswillbeunabletoeliminatehisillness,foraprincipleislackingthatcouldbringaboutacure. Hewhotakesonlydrugsanddoesnotcalluponanexorcisttodriveoutexistingdoubts,willbecured,butreliefwillbeachievedslowly. Consequentlytheinnerandoutermustbetreatedtogether;onlyinthiswayisrapidsuccesspossible.”

Theclassificationof “inner” and “outer” methodsoftreatment(herbaldrugsandexorcismsrespectively)isinterestingandhisadvocatingacombinationofthesetwomethodsissignificant:itistemptingtosubstitute “psychotherapist” for “exorcist” andinferthatXuChungFuadvocatedcombiningaphysicaltherapysuchasherbalmedicineswithpsychotherapy. Itisalsointerestingtonotethedifferenceinoutcomewheneachtherapyisused:ifonerecursonlytoanexorcistheorshe “willbeunabletoeliminatetheillness”,whereasitonerecurstoaherbalist,heorshe “willbecured”.

THENEEDLINGMETHODINCASEOFEXTERNALINVASIONOFGUIDUETOTHELOSSOFSHENFROMNORMALLOCATIONOFTHE12ORGANS

LeiJingbyZhangJieBin,Chapter43,p. 1018.

ZhangJieBincarriedtheintegrationofdemonicwithnaturalmedicineastepfurtherintheLeiJing,1624.HuangDiasks: “WhenthebodyisweakShenescapesandlosesitnormallocation,itallowstheexternalinvasionofguileadingtoearlydeath. Howcanwekeepthebodyintact? Iwouldliketoknowtheneedlingmethodsforsuchacondition.” TokeepthebodyintactandkeeptheShenintact. WhenShenisintact,xiecannotinvadethebody. Thecombinationofweakbodyandinvasionofxie,maycauseearlydeath.

WhenthecoordinationoftheShenofthe12organsislost,topreventinvasionsofexternalfactors(xie),needletheYuanpointofrelevantchannel. Insertneedle,retainfor3breaths,theninsertanotherfenandretainforonebreath,withdrawneedleslowly. ExceptforthePericardiuminwhichcaseuseLaogongP-8.

ZhangJieBincarriedtheintegrationofdemonicwithnaturalmedicineastepfurtherintheLeiJing,1624. Hesaysthatdemonsdoexistbuttheyarecreationsofthehumanmindduetoaninnerimbalance. Heevencorrelatedthecolourinwhichthedemonappearstothepatientwitha5-Elementimbalance,i.e.iftheEarthelementis,weak,thepatientwillseegreendemons(becausegreenisthecolourofWoodwhichoveractsonEarth). IfLiverisdeficient,theEtherealSoulhasnoresidenceanditescapes “swim” awayandthebodyisinvadedbywhitegui. FirstuseG.B.-40andthenShupointofLiver(Ganshu)atthesametimeassayinganincantation. IftheHeartisdeficient,theEmperorandMinisterFiredonotperformnormalfunctions,bodyisinvadedbyblackgui. UseYuanpointofTB,TB-4andBL-15Xinshu.

SPXu,greengui,useST-42andBL-20Pishu.

LUXu,redgui,useLI-4andBL-13Feishu.

KIXu,yellowgui,useBL-64andBL-23Shenshu.

Thephoneticsimilaritybetweenthewordguimeaning “spirit” andguimeaning “toreturn” isnotcasual.Theghost-gui-isadeadpersonwhoreturnsasaghost. “Returning” hasalsothemeaningofto “ converge,tocometogether” indicatingthecentripetal,contractingmovementofagui.TheWuXingDaYisays: “Guiarethosethatreturn.Ancientpeoplecalleddeadpersons ‘thosewhoreturn’”. WangChong(27-100AD)said: “Whenapersondies,hisspiritascendstoHeavenandhisfleshandbonesreturntoEarth. Tobeanearthlyguimeanstoreturn..tobeaheavenlyshenmeanstoexpand.Whentheexpansionreachesitslimit,itendsandbeginsagain.Apersonisbornofguiandatdeathreturnstothem.YinandYangarecalledgui-shen. Afterpeopledie,theyarealsocalledgui-shen”.

Thecomingintobeingofaseparateexistence,ofalivingbody,takesplacewiththeforcesofseparationinnature,i.e.theguiarecentripetalpowershungryforlife:thesepowerslookforthefragmentationinto “pieces” ofseparateexistence.Thephoneticconnectionbetweengui(ghosts)andgui(pieces)isnotcoincidental.ThedarkpowersofguiareinherentwithShenandtheyconstantlyopposeitateveryturntoregaintheirfreedomofaction.Theguistrivetowardsfragmentation, “pieces”,centripetal,theshenstrivetowardsexpansion,wholeness.However,thistension,thisoppositionisrelativeandisasourceofdynamism.Itgeneratesopposition,desires,conflicts,butitisalsothemotiveforceoftransformationandmetamorphosisoftheSpirit.

WangChongsaid: “Qiproducesapersonjustaswaterbecomesice.Aswaterfreezesintoice,soQicoagulatestoformaperson.Whenicemelts,itbecomeswater.Whenapersondies,hebecomesaguispiritagain.Heiscalledguijustasmeltedicechangesitsnametowater.Aspeopleseethatitsnamehaschanged,theysayithasconsciousness,canassumephysicalform,andcanhurtpeople.Buttheyhavenobasisforsayingso”.

ZhuXi(1113-1200)said: “Isexpansionshenandcontractiongui?Theteacherdrewacircleonthedeskwithhishandandpointedtoitscentreandsaid:Principle[Li]islikeacircle.Withinitthereisdifferentiationlikethis.Allcasesofmaterialforce[Qi]whichiscomingforthbelongtoYangandareshen.AllcasesofmaterialforcewhichisreturningtoitsoriginbelongtoYinandaregui.

Intheday,forenoonisshen,afternoonisgui.Inthemonth,fromthe3rddayonwardisshen;afterthe16thdayitisgui.Thesunisshenandthemoonisgui.Plantsgrowingareshen,plantsdecayingaregui.Apersonfromchildhoodtomaturityisshen,whileapersoninhisdecliningyearsandoldageisgui.Inbreathing,breathgoingoutisshen,breathcominginisgui.” Thispassageclearlyshowstheimportantviewaccordingtowhichguiissynonymouswithacentripetal,contractivemovementandshenwithacentrifugal,expansivemovement. Thishasimportantimplicationsinpsychology.

Guiisoftenpresentedasthecounter-poleofshen.ShenpertainstoHeavenandistheHeavenlyspirit;guipertainstoEarthandistheEarthlyspirit.Inotherwords,theyarethetwopolaritiesofutmostYangandutmostYinintheworldofspiritandinourpsyche.

ThispolaritywasalwaysconsideredrelativeinChinesethinking.Itbasicallysignifiesthetension,conflictsandcontradictionsbetweenthesubtle,dark,centripetal,contractingpsychicforcesofguiandthesubtle,bright,centrifugal,expansivepsychicforcesofshen.ThispolarityismadeupofthetwopolesofYinandYanginthehumanpsycheandtheirinterplayanimatesourpsyche.Henceguiisanintegralpartofthehumanpsyche:itrepresentsthecentripetal,separating,desireforceseekingtoseparateitselfandwhichmustbenourished(likeonefeedshungrypretas).Inessence,guicanbeseenastheShadowwithinourpsyche.

ZhangCaisaid: “GuiandshenarethespontaneousactivityofYinandYang...therealityofguiandshendoesnotgobeyondthesetwofundamentalelements...ifYinandYangdonotexist,theOnecannotberevealed.Realityandunreality,motionandrest,integrationanddisintegrationaretwodifferentsubstances.Inthefinalanalysis,however,theyareone”.Also: “Whenathingfirstcomesintoexistence,materialforce[Qi]comesgraduallyintoittoenrichitsvitality.Asitreachesitsmaturity,Qigraduallyrevertstowhereitcamefrom,wandersoffanddisperses.Itscomingmeansshenbecauseitisexpanding;itsreversionmeansguibecauseitisreturning”.

Itisimportanttoseegui,HunandPoasacontinuumofpsychicforces:astheChinesecharactersclearlyshow,HunandPopertaintotheworldofgui,ofspirits. Infact,thecharacterforHunismadeoftheradical “gui” with “clouds” (yun)ontheleft:thecharacterfor “cloud” givestheHunitsYang,etherealnature. ThecharacterforPoismadeoftheradical “gui” with “white” (bai)ontheleft:thischaracterstandsfortherisingmoonanditgivesthiswordandthePoitsYin,corporealnature. Therefore,asitisclearfromtheChinesecharactersforHunandPo,guiisanintegralpartoftheEtherealandCorporealSouls.

Thegui(aswellastheHun)needstobeintegratedinthepsychetopreventdis-association,splittingofcontentsofthepsyche. Neurosis,psychosis,mania,etc.consistindis-associationofdarkcontentsofthepsyche.Whenthishappens,theguiareperceivedasexternalagents,evilspiritspossessingthepsychewhiletheyareactuallyaproductofthepsycheitself.AsJungsays: “Iftendenciestowardsdis-associationwerenotinherentinthehumanpsyche,partswouldhaveneversplitoff:inotherwords,neitherspiritsnorgodswouldeverhavecometoexist”.Thusweshouldlearntorecognizethepsychicforcessymbolizedbyguiandnotwaituntilourmoodsmakecleartousinthemostpainfulwaythatwe(i.e.theMind)arenottheonlymasterofourhouse. (Gui=Shadow).Traditionally,ghostsneededfoodofferingsdailytobeappeased:thisissymbolicaloftheneedtocometotermswithandintegratethedarksideofthepsyche.

Shen=heavenly,bright,ethereal,expanding,going,centrifugal,lifeGui=earthly,dark,corporeal,contracting,returning,centripetal,death.