• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.1-20
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• 2021

Objectives : This study aims to examine the background of how the theory of there being no excess pattern of the Kidney has been carried on by looking at contents on Kidney excess patterns pre-Qianyi and at those negating the possibility of Kidney excess post-Qianyi. The history of the Kidney draining method for Kidney excess patterns was studied as well. Methods : Key words such as 腎實(kidney excess), 腎無實(no excess of the kidney), 瀉腎(draning the kidney) were entered into major database such as the Sikuquanshu to excavate contents on both Kidney excess and non-excess from medical classics. Results & Conclusion :In the Neijing, there are few mentions of symptoms due to Kidney excess. The theory of Kidney non-excess marks its beginning with Qianyi, who argued that Kidney manages deficiency in children only. Afterwards, some doctors expanded this theory beyond children and applied it as a general principle of the body. Based on the theory of there being no excess of the Kidney, it could be thought that while there could be excess symptoms of the Kidney, the root mechanism lies in Kidney deficiency. The importance of the Kidney as the basis of heaven-bestowed life, which is responsible for reproduction, growth and development, is what motivated the theories on the Kidney as what needs to be preserved and never drained. It could also be argued that the symptoms of Kidney excess, which were mentioned post-Neijing, got dealt with within the context of other Zhangfu differentiation patterns and deficiency symptoms, and became increasingly less designated to Kidney excess.