Comparison between the Six Modes of Depression and the theory of Rufus in his On Melancholy

Abstract

This paper examined the Six Modes of Depression proposed by Zhu Danxi and the theory of Rufus in his On Melancholy, compared and analysed the theories and treatments related to qi depression, phlegm depression, blood depression, food depression, heat depression and dampness depression (Six Modes) and the theory of Rufus on depression. It was found that similarities existed between the Six Modes of Depression and On Melancholy in terms of theories. Both of them paid attention to qi and food in depression while they were in different cultural and medical backgrounds. Additionally, they both had their unique insights into the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of depression, for instance, they had different views on 'dryness' (Gan in Chinese medicine) and 'wetness' (Shi in Chinese medicine) in depression pathogenesis. Such comparison interprets the commonalities and differences in the understanding of mental illness between the two systems of medicine and provides an important reference for broadening the cognition of mental illness and understanding Chinese medicine and Middle Eastern medicine.This paper examined the Six Modes of Depression proposed by Zhu Danxi and the theory of Rufus in his On Melancholy, compared and analysed the theories and treatments related to qi depression, phlegm depression, blood depression, food depression, heat depression and dampness depression (Six Modes) and the theory of Rufus on depression. It was found that similarities existed between the Six Modes of Depression and On Melancholy in terms of theories. Both of them paid attention to qi and food in depression while they were in different cultural and medical backgrounds. Additionally, they both had their unique insights into the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of depression, for instance, they had different views on 'dryness' (Gan in Chinese medicine) and 'wetness' (Shi in Chinese medicine) in depression pathogenesis. Such comparison interprets the commonalities and differences in the understanding of mental illness between the two systems of medicine and provides an important reference for broadening the cognition of mental illness and understanding Chinese medicine and Middle Eastern medicine.