Musical Therapy in
Chinese Medicine
Changzhen Gong, Ph.D.
Romantic,
rejuvenating, cathartic, relaxing, energizing, empowering: music has touched these emotional chords in human beings for thousands
of years. In ancient China, physicians developed a systematic approach of
incorporating musical notes into the healing process. The use of music as
therapy is documented China’s first medical text, The Yellow Emperor’s Classic
of Medicine, written 2,300 years ago. Music therapy is an aspect of
Five-Element theory, which is foundational to traditional Chinese medicine. All
things in nature are composed of the elements of earth, water, fire, metal and
wood. Each of these elements has many corresponding aspects, such as season of
the year, internal organ, color, musical note, etc. Classical Chinese music was
composed from five notes or sounds – jiao, zhi, gong, shang, and yu – and was
performed on classical Chinese musical instruments such as drum, gong, flute,
and zither.
Chinese medicine uses the relationship between
internal organs and five-element correspondences such as musical notes to
achieve different healing purposes.
According to this theory, the “jiao” note (corresponding to E in Western
musical notation) belongs to the wood element, is the sound of spring, and influences
the Liver. It promotes the smooth functioning of Liver Qi, helping to relieve
depression. The “zhi” note (corresponding to G) belongs to the fire element, is
the sound of summer, and influences the Heart. It helps to nourish the Heart
and invigorate blood flow. The “gong” note (corresponding to C) belongs to the earth
element, is the sound of late summer, and strengthens the Spleen. The “shang”
note (corresponding to D) belongs to the metal element, is the sound of autumn,
and protects and nourishes Lung yin. The “yu” note (corresponding to A) belongs
to the water element, is the sound of winter, and helps to nourish Kidney yin,
protect Kidney essence, and reduce Lung fire.
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