What is the Tian gui 【天癸】 (The celestial water)?
According to Chinese medicine Tian gui is related to male and female reproductive system. It is in charge of growth, life development and good physical health. The celestial water is a product of the kidney essence, and when it is abundant Tian gui arrives and matures.
The meaning of Tian gui is very important since it is associated with female fertility, menstruation, conception, and pregnancy. It is believed to play a crucial role in regulating a woman’s reproductive system and supporting the health of the uterus, ovaries, and other related organs. The term Tian gui was first mentioned in the Yellow emperor in the first chapter of the Su wen:
“二七而天癸至，任脈通，太衝脈盛，月事以时下，故有子”
“At fourteen years old, the Tian gui arrives, Ren mai flows through, the great Chong mai is exuberant, and the menses descend in time, therefore she has children”.
Until now there have been many arguments about what is the correct meaning of the Tian gui.
Is it the male or woman’s sperm or eggs? Is it menstruation blood or the qi between the kidneys?
Heaven and earth have a hidden and unknown source, this is a place where the human soul does not reach. They are the basis of life, the beginning and the foundation for individual existence.
Tian 【天】means heaven, in Ba Gua it refers to the Qian Gua 【乾卦】- a pure Yang Gua charactrized by three solid lines 三 which symbolizes the absolute yang that can create life on earth. The root and source for creating the “ten thousand” things. Heaven allows life and continuity- a cyclic movement of nature, it determins fertility.
Gui【癸】is the tenth stem, it represents Yin within Yin, a Yin aspect of winter time, the most Yin aspect of the north. At winter we store things inside, so this Gui comes from the deepest Yin, from a quiet or a still place. Tian gui has a nature of Yin fluids, these fluids are tranquil like dew. What is the concept of the Tian gui? What does it provide us?
In this lecture we will discuss and compare different Chinese commentators along the history and their points of view about the meaning of the Tian gui.
We will try to see if we can imply a western understanding to the functions of the Tian gui in our body and which Zang Fu organs might be imbalanced when the Tian gui is not abundant.
Can we influence and support the Tian gui? How?
Join me for a theoretical and a clinical journey about the deep philosophical concept of the Tian gui.
Course outline:
Part 1: What is the meaning of Tian gui? (9:39 mins)
Part 2: What is the basic condition for Tian gui to arrive (9:33 mins)
Part 3: The concept of Tian gui in ancient Chinese medicine scholars (10:34 mins)
Part 4: The arrival of Tian gui and its functions in our body (10:04 mins)
Part 5: Clinical strategy- How can we support the Tian gui? (12:09 mins)
Part 6: Clinical strategy- Acupuncture and herbs to regulate Tian gui (16:15 mins)
