The influence of Ming-Qing classical scholarship on Wu Youke’s pleuroperitoneal membrane theory of epidemic diseases
明清经学风气对吴又可温疫病膜原理论的影响

摘要

本文探讨明代医家吴又可在《温疫论》中提出“膜原”作为温疫病位的理论背景与思想根源。本文认为“膜原”一词原出自《内经》，原为疟病病位，未提到与温疫病有直接关联。吴又可熟悉《内经》内容，却借用疟病“膜原”概念，反映出明清时代经学风气对医学理论建构的深刻影响。在当时尊经重古的学术氛围下，医者若无经典依据，难以提出新理论。吴又可为求理论合法性，遂借用经典语言体系中的病位名称，开展温疫辨证新说。此举虽具策略性，却导致后世医家普遍接受膜原为温病病位，甚至演译出其他概念。文章最后反思，崇古虽有助于医学传统的延续，但若过于拘泥，则可能抑制理论创新。

Abstract

This article explores why the Ming dynasty physician Wu Youke used the term pleuroperitoneal membrane as the disease location for epidemic illnesses in his book Wenyi Lun. The term originally comes from the Huangdi Neijing, where it refers to malaria, not epidemic diseases. Although Wu Youke was familiar with these classical texts, he still borrowed the concept of pleuroperitoneal membrane, showing how the scholarly culture of the Ming and Qing dynasties—focused on respecting ancient classics—shaped medical theory. At that time, ancient Chinese Medicine physician needed to base new ideas on classical sources to gain acceptance. Wu Youke used this classical term to support his new theory of epidemic disease. While this helped his theory gain influence, it also led later doctors to widely adopt and expand the meaning of pleuroperitoneal membrane. The article concludes that while respecting tradition is important, being too attached to the past can limit innovation in medical thinking.