"Renown Doctor" and "Understandable Doctor"...

Translated from the original blog post at http://www.LiYeSen.com

We had heard about this word “Renown doctor” or “Famous doctor” “名医” MingYi for many times. But, I wonder… have you ever heard of this word “Understandable doctor” “明医” MingYi? For both words in Chinese pronunciations are the same, pronounce as “MingYi“, but having totally different meanings.

“名” Ming that is fame, renown;

“明” Ming that is understand, clear, understandable, define.

In short, “Renown doctor” “名医” MingYi refers to famous and renown doctor; while “Understandable doctor” “明医” MingYi refers to understanding and understandable doctor.

According to ancient book records…

‘Marquis Wen of Wei’ (魏文侯) WeiWen Hou or also known as ‘King Wen of Wei’  (魏文王) WeiWen Wang (r. 403 BC-387 BC or 445 BC － 396 BC) was the leader of the Chinese state of Wei 魏 in the Warring States period 战国时期 to carry out extensive government reforms.

Bian Que

‘Marquis Wen of Wei’, had asked the renowned doctor, Bian Que 扁鹊, “The three brothers of you in your family are skilled in medicine. Among three you, who has the best medical skills?” Bian Que answered sincerely that his eldest brother is the best then follow by his second brother. While he himself is the worst among three of them.

‘Marquis Wen of Wei’ didn’t understand why Bian Que said so, as he was very famous and well-known. He asked Bian Que again,”Can you explain and elaborate more in details?”

Bian Que explained, “my eldest brother give medical treatment to patients before the outburst of illness. At that time, the patients themselves didn’t even notice that they were sick. However, his prescription not only cure the sickness but also eradicate the root cause of the sickness. The patients didn’t even notice the changes. It is difficult for people to recognize his medical skills. Thus, my eldest brother is not well-known, and he is highly praised and respected in our family.”

“As for my second brother, his way of giving medical treatment is at the beginning of the sickness, where the symptoms are not that obvious. The patients didn’t feel the pain, but easily get rid of the sickness after having the prescriptions from my second brother. This causes the patients and the people at the village, think that my second brother is only good at treating minor and small sickness.”

“As for myself, when I give medical treatment to patients is when their sicknesses are very serious that they are very painful. The family members of the patients are in panic and frantic. At this point, they saw me doing treatment such as putting needles, letting blood, putting poison drugs, doing operation… These help the patients to relieve pain and illness, or even cure and recover very fast. And this is how I am famous to the world.”

‘Marquis Wen of Wei’ understood.

It is clear that, the level of the doctor and his reputation is not in correspondence. Just look at Bian Que, a doctor with great medical skill and good reputation. But… now a day how many “renowned doctors” are unworthy of the name? From the above records, it is clear that the three brothers of Bian Que are “Understandable  doctors”. Their eldest brother had the greatest medical skill, followed by his second brother. While Bian Que is the last. But, among three of them, the really renowned doctor is only Bian Que. Thus, understandable doctor may not be renowned and well-known, and renowned doctor may not be an understandable doctor as well.

So, how to consider as “understandable doctor”?

To be an understandable doctor, he must possess many criteria. From the point of Traditional Chinese Medicine, human corresponds with the nature. Just as stated in The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon 《黄帝内经 素问 – 离合真邪论》<>, “Sky has degrees; earth has rivers; human has meridians”. Saying that as a Chinese Medical doctor or Traditional Chinese Medical practitioner, it is necessary to know about astronomy, geography, things related to human. In other words, it means that as a qualified Chinese Medicine doctor, it is not just only to understand the disease itself. But also understanding and mastering of the natural environment, weather, the human’s mental factors, and the interpersonal relation impacts on the disease. At the same time, it is necessary of making the right judgement on the occurrence and development of the disease; the diagnosis of the disease; the treatment of the disease and the prevention for this disease.

Being a doctor, to be a “Understandable doctor” is my target, my goal. It is also a self demand.