• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.25-43
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• 2021

Among the ancient ideas of East Asia, there is a myth about the symbol of the Four Gods who commands all directions in the east, south, west, and north, and this is also reflected in the medical field. However, although there is discussion about Qinglong Decoction (青龍湯), Baihu Decoction (白虎湯) and Xuanwu Decoction (玄武湯) in the 『Shanghan Lun (傷寒論)』, there is no content focusing on Zhuniao decoction (朱鳥湯). Considering the consistent perspective of 『Shanghan Lun』, which recognizes the disease-syndrome and seeks prescriptions based on yin and yang thinking, this is very unusual. Therefore, in this study, it was revealed that the concept of 'Sishen Decoction (四神湯)' itself was a concept that emerged when the authors of 『Shanghan Lun』 established the 'eight-principles syndrome differentiation (八綱辨證)' system in their recognition and response to diseases-syndromes. Based on this, I considered the following possibilities: They were able to present Qinglong decoction, Baihu Decoction and Xuanwu decoction, as appropriate prescriptions for 'exterior cold excess syndrome (表寒實證)', 'interior heat deficiency syndrome (裏熱虛證)', and 'interior cold deficiency syndrome (裏熱實證)'. However, it is possible that the name of the prescription 'Zhuniao decoction' was not intentionally used, because it was not possible to provide an appropriate prescription for 'exterior cold excess syndrome (表熱實證)'.