The ''Sasang'' constitutional medicine (
Hangul: 사상의학.
Hanja: 四象醫學) or ''Sasang'' typology is a
typological constitution medicine of
Traditional Korean medicine. It was systematized by
Yi Je-ma in his book ''Longevity and Life Preservation in Eastern Medicine'' (東醫壽世保元, 동의수세보원) in 1894. It divides people into four body types based on their biopsychosocial traits. The classification was derived from the five body types of
Traditional Chinese medicine described in an ancient Chinese medical book
Lingshu Jing
''Lingshu Jing'' (), also known as ''Divine Pivot'', ''Spiritual Pivot'', or ''Numinous Pivot'', is an ancient Chinese medical text whose earliest version was probably compiled in the 1st century BCE on the basis of earlier texts. It is one of two ...
of
Huangdi Neijing.
Table 1: TCM and SCM philosophical foundations.
Classification system
''Sasang'' typology divides people into four types based on their biopsychosocial traits with a combination of yin/yang and greater/lesser: ''tae-yang'' ( 태양, ) or "greater yang"; ''so-yang'' (소양, ) or "lesser yang"; ''tae-eum'' (태음, ) or "greater yin"; and ''so-eum'' (소음, ) or "lesser yin".
Each type consists of a classification of pathology, medicine and hygiene depending on personality, psychological status and organ functionality. It is considered that one cannot escape the category of biological body type, and the strengths and weaknesses of organs, both major and minor, depend on the type.
Body Types
''Tae-yang''
''Tae-yang'' have large lungs and a small liver. They have superiority in function, and often have feelings of inferiority.
''Tae-eum''
''Tae-eum'' have a large liver and small lungs. They are tall and the majority gain a lot of weight. They are patient and have a reserved personality. Therefore, if they are given a task, they will not give up, no matter what task it is. Because of this personality, they are prone to gambling.
''So-yang''
The so-yang type has a large spleen, and small kidneys. They have whitish skin. Like ''so-eum'', many of this type are skinny.
''So-eum''
The ''so-eum'' type have large kidneys and a small spleen. They are short, and many are skinny. Due to weak intestines, they very often have digestive problems. Many enjoy a meat diet.
References
{{Reflist
Further reading
* Soo Jin Lee, Soo Hyun Park, and Han Chae (December 2012)
"Temperament profiles of Sasang typology in a child clinical sample"
''Integrative Medicine Research'', Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 21–25. Elsevier
* Han Chae (March 2015)
"The multidisciplinary study on Sasang typology"
''Integrative Medicine Research'', Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 1–3. Elsevier
* Kyungwoo Sohn, Ansuk Jeong, Miyoung Yoon, Sunkyung Lee, Sangmoon Hwang, and Han Chae(December 2012)
"Genetic Characteristics of Sasang Typology: A Systematic Review"
''Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies''. Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 271–289. Medical Association of Pharmacopuncture Institute
* Soo Jin Lee, Soo Hyun Park, C Robert Cloninger, Yun Hee Kim, Minwoo Hwang and Han Chae (2014)
"Biopsychological traits of Sasang typology based on Sasang personality questionnaire and body mass index"
''BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine'', Vol. 14, No. 1. International Society for Complementary Medicine Research
Traditional Korean medicine