Classics
黃帝內經
The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon
Compiled c. 1st century BCE
The single most important text of Chinese medicine. Composed in two parts — 《素問》(Suwen, Plain Questions) and 《靈樞》(Lingshu, Spiritual Pivot) — it establishes yin–yang, the five phases, qi, blood, the meridian system, and the dialogic teaching method that Chinese medicine has retained for two millennia.
Authorship
Anonymous, attributed to the legendary Yellow Emperor and his physician Qi Bo
Structure
Two books, 162 chapters
Suwen (81 chapters) is dialogue-format on physiology, pathology, and prevention. Lingshu (81 chapters) focuses on acupuncture and the meridians. CAAHM students read selected chapters in their first three years, with full-text capability expected by graduation.
Selected passage
上古之人，其知道者，法於陰陽，和於術數，食飲有節，起居有常，不妄作勞，故能形與神俱，而盡終其天年。
Those of high antiquity who knew the Way modelled themselves on yin and yang, harmonised with the calculations of seasonal cycles, ate and drank with measure, kept regular hours, and did not exhaust themselves with work — therefore body and spirit were one, and they completed their natural span.
Modern research
The Neijing’s framework of constitutional types (體質) underpins modern personalised-medicine research at universities including Beijing UCM and Korea’s KIOM. Its preventive-medicine emphasis (上工治未病 — the superior physician treats what has not yet become disease) parallels modern precision-prevention frameworks.
Place in curriculum
Required in Years 1–3 of the BMed program, with classical Chinese reading lab.