Dear Z’ev: Does “xia� mean really “precipitation?

[Guest guest]

In the Mitchell et al Shang-han Lun, they chose the word precipitation for the

word “xia†in the context of purgation.

Webster’s New American Dictionary says, “Precipitation: 1: rash haste 2: the

process of precipitating or forming a precipitate 3: water that falls to earth

esp. as rain or snow; also: the quantity of this waterâ€

“Precipitate1: to throw violently 2 to throw down 3 to cause happen quickly or

abruptly 4 cause to separate from solution or suspension 5 to fall as rain,

snow, or hail

Precipitate3: showing extreme or unwise hasteâ€

Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary says’ “Precipitation: 1. Process of

substance being separated from a solution by action of a reagent so that a

precipitate forms 2. The sudden and unprepared-for delivery of an infantâ€

No meaning of “purgation†whatsoever, but Mitchell et al say in their note,

p. 48, “precipitation, xia: To cause expulsion of stool; to eliminate evil

through the bowels.â€

They created new meanings!!

Nigel Weisman’s English-Chinese, Chinese-English Dictionary of Chinese

Medicine says “precipitate: xiaâ€

“xia: down; downward; descend; descent; precipitate; precipitation; lower

body; swallow; downward movementâ€

No purgation.

I already showed you several problems of Weisman.

Why do you recommend Weisman so strongly?

Shinjiro

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Nigel answers your question in the following way:

 

" Precipitate means to cause to go down (xia4).

Purge means to cleanse.

The four movements, in, out, up, down, a very yin yang conception,

and so I decided to refelct that by choosing a word that meant to

cast downward. "

 

Sounds fine to me.

 

He tends to save the term purging for the use of harsh medicinals

such as ba dou, da ji, etc. in prescriptions such as shi zao tang

when there is trapped rheum in the chest or abdomen.

 

Take care,

 

 

 

On Mar 26, 2006, at 7:20 AM, Shinjiro Kanazawa wrote:

 

> In the Mitchell et al Shang-han Lun, they chose the word

> precipitation for the word “xia” in the context of purgation.

> Webster’s New American Dictionary says, “Precipitation: 1: rash

> haste 2: the process of precipitating or forming a precipitate 3:

> water that falls to earth esp. as rain or snow; also: the quantity

> of this water”

> “Precipitate1: to throw violently 2 to throw down 3 to cause happen

> quickly or abruptly 4 cause to separate from solution or suspension

> 5 to fall as rain, snow, or hail

> Precipitate3: showing extreme or unwise haste”

> Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary says’ “Precipitation: 1.

> Process of substance being separated from a solution by action of a

> reagent so that a precipitate forms 2. The sudden and unprepared-

> for delivery of an infant”

> No meaning of “purgation” whatsoever, but Mitchell et al say in

> their note, p. 48, “precipitation, xia: To cause expulsion of

> stool; to eliminate evil through the bowels.”

> They created new meanings!!

> Nigel Weisman’s English-Chinese, Chinese-English Dictionary of

> says “precipitate: xia”

> “xia: down; downward; descend; descent; precipitate; precipitation;

> lower body; swallow; downward movement”

> No purgation.

> I already showed you several problems of Weisman.

> Why do you recommend Weisman so strongly?

> Shinjiro

>

>

>

>