In fact, characteristic of the ancient Theory of the Elements is that all biological and physical entities are divided into portions or quanta according to the basic rhythms of the universe. The theory could therefore very well be a cosmic quantum theory. But despite the fact that the basic rhythms of the universe have been incorporated into the founding formula of the ancient Theory of the Elements, and despite the fact that the basic rhythms have been incorporated into all the aspects of TCM, it is not. The physical essence of the theory was – and is – not understood (anymore).


This lack of understanding became the more apparent when Chinese scholars were faced with the spectacular developments of Western physics in the 17th century. Since then the old theory has been dismissed by both Western and Eastern scientists as a delusion from the first millennium before the Common Era. From that time on, the Imperial House of China refused to be treated with acupuncture any longer, and a few decades later, in 1822, TCM was banned from China entirely.

Nevertheless, especially the traditional Chinese doctors, the 'barefoot doctors', and the common people were so convinced of the intrinsic value of the old Theory of the Elements, that it continued to exist as an (esoteric) superstition. TCM also remained popular, particularly in rural areas. 


Yet TCM in China might still have died a quiet death if Mao Zedong (1893 – 1976) had not come to power in 1949. In those days there was by no means enough medical personel to take care of all Chinese people. TCM was therefore reinstated by him, but in order to reconcile it somewhat with Western medicine, it was stripped of its Theory of the Elements. Since than  TCM has been promoted in China as a strictly empirical science and is taught in universities. In China, and similarly in many Western countries, TCM is all but traditional and therefore apparently does not rely on a superstition. But alas, damage is done: A beautiful theory threatens to be lost forever. On the one hand because it is not known how the theory can have arisen, and on the other hand because the theory cannot be understood using the knowledge of physics from before Einstein.

Before we can reconstruct the Theory of the Elements, therefore, we first have to examine how the theory can have arisen. Next it should be determined how this beginning relates to modern physical insights like those of Einstein. I describe this part of the theory on this website in 'THE THEORY'. The actual reconstruction of the theory and the evidence  are presented in my book.

Go back to: Introduction

Continue to:
The THEORY

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