The “Materialist View” series has finally reached its conclusion.
In this final part, we’ll explore how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) understands disease — not merely as a collection of symptoms, but as a disturbance in the body’s energetic balance.
Let’s take a closer look at the causes and mechanisms of illness, with a touch of modern interpretation.

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Causes of Disease — The Concept of Evil Qi (邪気)

In TCM, the factors that cause illness are known as xie qi (邪気), or “evil qi.”
This refers to harmful influences that disturb the body, whether from internal or external sources.
They are broadly divided into external causes (外因) and internal causes (内因).

External Causes (External Evil Qi)

Factors that affect the body from the outside are called wai xie (外邪), or external evil influences.
These mainly refer to changes in the natural environment and weather.

• Wind evil (風邪): causes headaches, dizziness, and stiffness.
• Cold evil (寒邪): results from exposure to cold; may cause chills or joint pain.
• Damp evil (湿邪): due to humidity; leads to heaviness or swelling in the body.
• Dry evil (燥邪): from dryness; causes sore throat or cough.
• Summer heat evil (暑邪): from excessive heat; brings fatigue or heat stroke.
• Fire (heat) evil (火・熱邪): from internal or external heat; causes fever or inflammation.

These evil qi are believed to invade the body when its natural resistance is weakened, disrupting internal harmony.

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Qi of the Seven Emotions (七情) — Illness from Emotional Imbalance

Illness doesn’t only come from the outside.
Our emotions can also disturb the body’s internal balance.
TCM refers to these emotional factors as the Seven Emotions (qi qing, 七情):

Joy, anger, pensiveness, worry, sadness, fear, and shock.

When any of these emotions become excessive or persist for too long, they can disturb the function of the internal organs (zang-fu).
For example, “anger injures the liver,” and “overthinking weakens the spleen.”

In modern terms, this is similar to how chronic stress or emotional strain disrupts the autonomic nervous system and internal organ function.

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Neither Internal Nor External Causes (不内外因)

Some causes of illness fall outside the internal–external classification.
These are called bu nei wai yin (不内外因), meaning “neither internal nor external causes.”
Examples include physical injuries, overwork, sleep deprivation, poor diet, and lack of exercise.

In modern medicine, these would correspond to lifestyle-related disorders or stress-induced conditions.

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Zheng Qi (正気) — The Body’s Defensive Energy

Whether or not a person becomes ill depends on the strength of their zheng qi (正気), or “righteous qi.”
This refers to the body’s vital defensive power — roughly comparable to immunity or natural healing ability.

• When zheng qi is strong, evil qi cannot invade.
• Evil qi lingers where zheng qi is weak.
• Even when exposed to harmful influences, a person with strong zheng qi will not easily fall ill.

Therefore, TCM emphasizes that “strengthening zheng qi” is the key to preventing disease.
Balanced nutrition, sufficient rest, and emotional stability are considered essential ways to maintain it.

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A Modern Perspective on the TCM View of Disease

When TCM was first developed, microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses had not yet been discovered.
Yet the system’s theories — based on centuries of observation — still resonate with modern understandings of health.

• External evil qi → pathogens, weather changes, environmental stressors
• Seven emotions → psychological stress, emotional imbalance
• Zheng qi → immune strength, recovery ability, vital energy

Viewed this way, the traditional TCM model of disease aligns surprisingly well with modern concepts of health and wellness.

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This concludes the “Materialist View” series.
Over four parts, we have explored the philosophical foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine and how they relate to the human body.
Thank you sincerely for reading and accompanying me on this journey.

 

 

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