Eastern Metaphysics

The ancient Chinese philosophers tried to explain the meaning of existence of matter and their unique motion by using the concept of Ki (氣). With the general idea of Ki and more concrete idea of Eum Yang and O Haeng (five function), they illustrated the origin and change of matters. In the middle of Chosun dynasty Koreans have accepted the Eastern metaphysics from China and transformed it into our own system of thoughts. Although there are various branches of Eastern metaphysics, “The theory of Li and Ki” has the greatest influence to Korea’s framework of philosophy and medical foundation.

Li (理) can be defined as a metaphysical route. But it also means ‘the righteous way, which we are meant to follow’. Confucians say that something that is metaphysical has no form or shadow. And that is Li (理). When a matter is created there is a reason to it. Everything has its own reason for its existence whether it is natural or artificial, or even thoughts. Each Li (理) already exists before the present world materialized. Therefore Li (理), also known as the reason, is perpetual.

Ki (氣) is a sort of driving force of movement, the form of which is established in step with its maturity. If there is only Li in existence, the world cannot stay real. However, our world is formed by the existence of Ki imposed over the frameworks of Li. The Ki, also known as energy, is a corporeal matter, which can be described as raw materials for creating all things.

Ki is an energy that has the duty of a harmonious life cycle by itself. It also has clear variations of purity and impurity, openness and closeness. Therefore it needs to be regulated and controlled by Li. For an illustrative example, Yi Hwang,(a famous Confucius scholar in the Chosun dynasty) compared the relationship between Li and Ki by saying, “If a jockey has no horse he cannot go in and out.

But if a horse has no jockey it will derail”.

He compared Li as the jockey who controls Ki, and Ki as a horse, explaining that Ki acts out and Li controls.

Li (理) is expressed as “Four beginnings”.

Cheuk Eun ji shim (側隱之心 mind of pity) – feeling compassion when seeing other difficulties, which develops into virtue (仁).

Su o ji shim (羞惡之心mind of hatred against evil ) - feeling ashamed about their faults and disliking evil, which develops into justice (義).

Sa yang ji shim (辭讓之心 mind of concession) - yielding to others, which develops into courtesy (禮).

Si bi ji shim (是非之心 mind of right and wrong) – wanting to distinguish between what is right or wrong, which develops into wisdom (知).

Ki (氣) is expressed as seven different feelings;

Happiness (喜), Angriness (怒), Sadness (哀), Fear (懼),

Hatred (惡), Desire (欲), Pleasure (樂)

Eum Yang Theory

Eum Yang (yinyang in Chinese pronunciation) controls the total process of creation, change and disappearance of all the matters in the nature. Eum and Yang is a relative pair, which work as one. These relative forces exist everywhere in the world. It is revealed as particular characteristics. You can grasp a general idea of the properties of Eum Yang by looking at the table below. There is a hidden meaning of relativity and unity in the theory of Eum Yang and the way to make them harmonious is the greatest aim of Korean Medicine.

O Haeng theory

The word ‘O’ is a Korean letter for five and ‘Haeng’ means movement. Therefore ‘O Haeng’ (wuxing in Chinese pronunciation) is the five steps of transformation of the universe. In line with the Eum Yang theory, the viewpoint of O Haeng is a basis of Oriental philosophy. We can explain not only human lives but also all the phenomena in the world by applying them to the O Haeng theory. The universe is made up of five different energy or five meanings; WOOD, FIRE, EARTH, METAL, WATER. This does not simply mean five elements of composition. Every element and natural phenomenon is linked to the particular Haeng according to their properties. For example, WOOD has the property of ‘birth’ and has a tendency of growing outwards. This can be compared to the growth of a tree and the blue color for their leaves. The properties of spring when all the plants sprout is also similar. Liver which spreads out the Ki(氣) to all the parts of our body can be attached to it. The table below gives the idea of O Haeng theory.