Western biomedicine is built upon the foundation of classical physics, with study objects being tangible entities visible under anatomical dissection. Its epistemology is based on Newtonian mechanistic reductionism, with research methods emphasizing linear decomposition, reproducible experiments, and statistical analysis. Under such a scientific philosophy, applied foundational theories inevitably lead to an antagonistic clinical medicine focused on eliminating tissue lesions and suppressing pathogens.
Since the 1930s, the invention of sulfonamides and antibiotics dramatically controlled bacterial infections. From general surgery, thoracic surgery, neurosurgery to limb reattachment, organ transplantation, in vitro fertilization, gene recombination, cloning—each innovation radiates the brilliance of scientific rationality, rightly considered the mainstream medicine of the 20th century that benefits humanity.
However, humans are not merely machines that can be disassembled, replaced, or reassembled. Humans possess at least five distinct attributes: 1) natural beings, 2) social beings, 3) spiritual and psychological beings, 4) beings with syndrome information, and 5) beings with structural organization (organs, cells, molecules). Solely studying the structural attribute of humans and implementing disease prevention and treatment is insufficient to maintain maximum health. This insight is increasingly recognized by modern humanity (see WHO's definition of health).
Chinese medical theory, since the emergence of the "Huangdi Neijing" over 2,500 years ago, is based on the ancient Chinese philosophical concept of "Qi monism." From the beginning, TCM regards humans as a subsystem within the larger environment of heaven, earth, and nature. The core subject of study is the dual energies of yin and yang (yang qi and yin blood). This leads to the derivation of the meridian system (qi flowing through channels, blood governing collaterals) and the organic coordination of the five zang and six fu organs through mutual generation and control, forming a holistic self-regulating medical system—the theory of yin-yang and the five elements, meridians and zang-fu. It uniquely emphasizes harmony between heaven and humanity, unity of mind and body, integrating nature, biology, society, psychology, information, and syndrome into one. It stresses the unified coordination between local and whole, using the four diagnostic methods combined with introspection to perform comprehensive interpretation of the body's qi and blood information, implementing syndrome differentiation and treatment. It established a comprehensive natural therapy centered on herbs, acupuncture, massage, and qigong. It must be acknowledged that this traditional Chinese medicine has sustained the health and reproduction of the Chinese nation for five thousand years, enabling the existence of a vast country with hundreds of millions of people.
At the same time, we must clearly recognize that because TCM emphasizes intangible relationships in humans and relatively neglects the study of tangible entities, it cannot establish another analytical and experimental research methodology. Moreover, since TCM inherently views humans as a complex, integrated system, it cannot be decomposed into simple, linear systems for analysis, thus never taking the path of Western antagonistic medicine, avoiding the development of extensive surgical techniques and synthetic drug therapies. In the competition with modern Western pharmaceuticals, TCM has long been marginalized, discriminated against, and forced into reform. The fundamental reason for the decline of Chinese medicine over the past century lies precisely in the theoretical differences between TCM and Western medicine.
However, with the rapid advancement of modern science and technology, coupled with improvements in material and spiritual living standards and worsening ecological environments, the spectrum of human diseases has undergone structural changes. Modern syndromes, cancer, psychosomatic diseases, and iatrogenic illnesses have made humans acutely aware of the limitations of modern medicine, strongly calling for a "return to nature." The holistic medical thought developed over 2,500 years in China can theoretically and technologically supplement the shortcomings and deficiencies of modern biomedicine, thereby rescuing the crisis in modern medicine. This historical opportunity heralds the dawn of TCM's revival in the 21st century.
As previously stated, the research subjects and methods of Western and Chinese medicine differ fundamentally. The integration of Chinese life medicine and modern biomedicine cannot be seen as a mere technical overlay or simple knowledge amalgamation. The past 50 years of China's "integration of Western and Chinese medicine" history has proven this point. True theoretical integration between Western and Chinese medicine requires not only advances in modern basic sciences but also a renewed understanding of scientific philosophy: recognizing the pluralistic structure of human scientific development, acknowledging at least two origins and streams—Eastern and Western—and abandoning the sole criterion of Western modern analytical science as the standard for evaluating scientific progress. Only then can Eastern and Western scientific cultures successfully build a "bridge of integration" through mutual understanding and respect, establishing a fair and inclusive scientific evaluation system, enabling the fusion of Eastern and Western medicine into a unified new medicine in the new millennium.
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