Objective : Exploring the meaning of the 虛 in Shanghanlun through two cases.
Methods : We analyzed the original form of 虛 and the contexts in Shanghanlun. At the same time, we analyzed 2 clinical cases treated with Chijasi-tang according to the newly deduced definition of 虛.
Results : 虛 is composed of 丘 and 虍, which means a tiger on a large hill. Here the meaning 'empty' is derived. In both cases, sleep disorders and heart-stuffiness were the chief complaints, and it was confirmed that the chief complaints had occurred under 虛's circumstances. Therefore, Chijasi-tang was administered to two patients with a feeling of emptiness as a pathogenic factor. And the improvements were confirmed in both two cases.
Conclusions : In 15 provisions of Shanghanlun, 虛 is used as ‘a feeling of emptiness’ instead of the meaning of ‘deficient’ which is widely used previously, and clinically appears as ‘emptiness after being hurt by someone’. This was applied to two cases.
It is believed that further study of other characters is needed because the meaning previously used may be different in 15 characters provisions of the Shanghanlun.
Key words : 虛, Sleep Disorders, Heart Stuffiness, Chijasi-tang, Shanghanlun.