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

Wang Shaoci

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12

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

Wang Shaoci^*

Published in International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 14, Issue 1)

Received: 9 December 2025 Accepted: 22 December 2025 Published: 19 January 2026

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Abstract

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 Huang Di Nei Jing 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.

Published in	International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 14, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12
Page(s)	9-17
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Conceptual Metaphor, Cognitive Linguistics

References

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APA Style

Shaoci, W. (2026). A Literature Review of Conceptual Metaphors in the Traditional Chinese Medicine System. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 14(1), 9-17. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12

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ACS Style

Shaoci, W. A Literature Review of Conceptual Metaphors in the Traditional Chinese Medicine System. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2026, 14(1), 9-17. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12

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Shaoci W. A Literature Review of Conceptual Metaphors in the Traditional Chinese Medicine System. Int J Lang Linguist. 2026;14(1):9-17. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12,
  author = {Wang Shaoci},
  title = {A Literature Review of Conceptual Metaphors in the Traditional Chinese Medicine System},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {14},
  number = {1},
  pages = {9-17},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20261401.12},
  abstract = {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 Huang Di Nei Jing 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.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Literature Review of Conceptual Metaphors in the Traditional Chinese Medicine System
AU  - Wang Shaoci
Y1  - 2026/01/19
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12
T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
SP  - 9
EP  - 17
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-0221
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12
AB  - 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 Huang Di Nei Jing 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.
VL  - 14
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Wang Shaoci

The Foreign Language Department, Cangzhou Jiaotong College, Huanghua, China;The Centre for Research in Language and Linguistics, The National University of Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia

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http://orcid.org/0009-0002-0869-808X

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APA Style

Shaoci, W. (2026). A Literature Review of Conceptual Metaphors in the Traditional Chinese Medicine System. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 14(1), 9-17. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12

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ACS Style

Shaoci, W. A Literature Review of Conceptual Metaphors in the Traditional Chinese Medicine System. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2026, 14(1), 9-17. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12

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AMA Style

Shaoci W. A Literature Review of Conceptual Metaphors in the Traditional Chinese Medicine System. Int J Lang Linguist. 2026;14(1):9-17. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12,
  author = {Wang Shaoci},
  title = {A Literature Review of Conceptual Metaphors in the Traditional Chinese Medicine System},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {14},
  number = {1},
  pages = {9-17},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20261401.12},
  abstract = {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 Huang Di Nei Jing 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.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Literature Review of Conceptual Metaphors in the Traditional Chinese Medicine System
AU  - Wang Shaoci
Y1  - 2026/01/19
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12
T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
SP  - 9
EP  - 17
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-0221
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20261401.12
AB  - 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 Huang Di Nei Jing 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.
VL  - 14
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download