In the cosmology of Traditional Oriental and Korean Medicine,
in between Heaven and Earth is the person. A person's state of
health is influenced by his or her relationship with Heaven,
or the natural order. To enjoy perfect health, we need to live
in harmony with Nature.
Teguk and Um-Yang
Um-Yang (음양 in Hangul, 陰陽 in Hanja) concept originates in ancient Chinese metaphysics, describing the two opposite and complementary forces constituting and driving the universe, originated in the Taeguk (태극 in Hangul, 太極 in Hanja), the essence of the universal existence. Um and Yang are the polarity forces through which Taeguk expresses its dynamics.
Um, the darker element, is the night, passive, cold, feminine, fertile, downward-seeking, and corresponds to the night; and
Yang, the brighter element, is the day, active, hot, masculine, creative and upward-seeking.
Um and Yang ar also parts of the permanent process of transformation of all things, in a continuous changes between the phases of a cycle.
Following this conceptual correspondence, Taeguk is the material expression of Do (도 in Hangul, 道 and in Hanja), which is the intelligent ordering principle in the Universe, beyond human understanding.
Everything can be described as either Um or Yang,
considering that Um and Yang are:
opposites.
interdependent.
can be further subdivided into Um
and Yang.
consume and support each other.
can transform into one another.
part of one is in the other, and vice-versa.
It is out of the scope of this Site to go into the complex Taoist Cosmology and I King (易經).
However, it is important to consider its omnipresence in the Korean Culture, influencing values and social behavior. The Taegukgi (태극기 in Hangul, 太極旗 in Hanja) or Korean flag, is the symbolic representation the importance given to this Cosmological view. The intermingling and omnipresent influence of the Chinese Culture in Korea is evident also, because the Tegukgi design was suggested by Ma Chiang Chong, a Chinese Ching Dynasty diplomat, in 1882.
Korean Flag with the four basic Palgwae Trigrams
Old Korean Flag, dated 1884, with the whole eight Palgwae Trigrams.
The four trigrams in the Korean flag are the cardinal Trigrams of the Palgwe (팔궤 in Hangul, 八卦 in Hanja). They are:
☰: Geon (건 in Hangul, 乾 in Hanja) or Force, meaning Heaven (天), Spring (春), East (東) and Virtue (仁);
☷: Gon (곤 in Hangul, 坤 in Hanja) or Field, meaning Earth (地), Summer (夏), West (西) and Justice (義);
☲: Ri (리 in Hangul, 離 in Hanja) or Radiance, meaning Sun (日), Fall (秋), South (南) and Courtesy (禮);
☵: Gam (감 in Hangul, 坎 in Hanja ) or Gorge, meaning Moon (月), Winter (冬), North (北) and Wisdom (智).
Five Elements Theory
The Five Elements Theory is one of the major diagnostic and
treatment protocols used in ancient Oriental Medicine. The
Five Element theory is based on the observation of the natural
cycles and interactions among natural phenomena, based on an ancient understanding of natural phenomena.
The Five Elemental Energies and their cycles provide a
practical working model through which the interrelationships
between human body and Nature was understood in ancient times. Then, it a very important concept to be understood by Kupso Chirigui students as it is the base of most traditional (pre-scientific) approaches to Ki point manipulation in the Martial Arts.
They are: Fire,
Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. And they interrelate following
cycles of creation and destruction.
Fire burns Wood to generate ashes, which became Earth.
Earth engulf ashes to generate minerals, which become Metal.
Metal can dig and destroy Earth, but can be melted into liquid,
simbolized by Water.
Wood grows by taking water, and is destroyed by Fire.
The Five Elements can also
be controlled by cross-relations (control, overacting and
insulting cycles).
As a rule, in
Traditional Kupso Chirigui theory, points were selected
and combined following the Conquest Cycle of the Five Elements
theory. Healing procedures are devised selecting points following
the Creation Cycle. There exist five points
in each meridian corresponding to each Element.
The Five Element Theory is of highly questionable scientific validity, and should not be used in Kupso Chirigui. In spite of many claims of traditionalist Martial Artists, it is unpractical and proven as useless.
