A Literature Review of Conceptual Metaphors in the Traditional Chinese Medicine System

This literature review systematically synthesizes the body of existing research on conceptual metaphors within the theoretical and practical system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Grounded in the analytical framework of Conceptual Metaphor Theory from cognitive linguistics, the review consolidates scholarly findings to demonstrate that metaphors are not merely rhetorical expressions but are foundational cognitive constructs that organize TCM’s understanding of physiology, pathology, and therapy. By collating evidence from numerous studies, it categorizes the pervasive metaphors documented in classical texts such as iHuang Di Nei Jing/i into four primary types identified in the literature: ontological metaphors, structural metaphors, orientational metaphors, and philosophical metaphors. The synthesis confirms that these metaphorical frameworks are central to articulating and operationalizing core TCM doctrines, including the dynamics of Yin and Yang, the process of syndrome differentiation, and the principles of herbal formulation and acupuncture. Furthermore, the review addresses the adaptation of these traditional metaphors in contemporary contexts, particularly in digital and multimodal communication aimed at TCM communication. While highlighting their didactic and popularizing potential, it also notes challenges in multimodal representation and the risk of conceptual distortion in new media forms. This synthesis underscores metaphor as a pervasive and deep-seated cognitive mechanism that bridges TCM’s classical foundations with its modern interpretation and dissemination, with this comprehensive overview establishing metaphor as a fundamental structural element that links TCM’s historical foundations to its contemporary interpretive and communicative practices.