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From AD 220 to 280, China was divided into three warring states: Wu, Wei, and Shu. These states competed fiercely to dominate and unify China, leading to the period known as the Three Kingdoms.
In 234 AD, Wei general Sima Yi and Shu military advisor Zhuge Liang faced off for more than 100 days. Zhuge Liang, eager to fight Sima Yi and determine the victor, repeatedly challenged him to battle, but Sima Yi refused to engage. One day, Zhuge Liang sent a soldier to deliver colorful headscarves, beautiful hair accessories, and women’s clothing to Sima Yi, hoping to provoke him into a duel. Instead of questioning the soldier about military matters, Sima Yi asked kindly: “Is your military advisor in good health? Can he sleep peacefully every night? There must be a lot of delicious food at every meal, right? Is he tired from working?”
The soldier, believing Sima Yi’s concern to be genuine, replied: “Our general gets up early and goes to bed late. He personally reads and replies to all the official documents himself, which is very taxing. He can’t eat and has lost a lot of weight.” After the soldier left, Sima Yi told those around him: “Zhuge Liang eats little and is overworked. He will pass away soon.”
Indeed, not long after, news came that Zhuge Liang had died of illness. A few years later, Sima Yi defeated the Shu and Wu states, unifying China.
This story illustrates how Sima Yi predicted Zhuge Liang’s death based on his poor appetite, indicating a lack of stomach qi.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, “stomach qi” refers to the body’s ability to digest and absorb food. If one can digest and absorb nutrients, they can live. Conversely, if they lose this ability, they will become ill and die. Therefore, gastrointestinal function is crucial from the perspective of Chinese medicine. Practitioners assess a patient’s stomach qi through symptoms, tongue patterns, and pulse conditions. If abnormalities are detected, acupuncture and Chinese medicine are used to regulate it, and patients are advised to pay attention to their diet.
In clinical practice, I often encounter patients with various gastrointestinal digestive dysfunctions. One of my patients in his 60s had gastric cancer. Before his surgery, the doctor suggested removing his entire stomach. I advised retaining as much of the stomach as possible for better post-operative recovery. The doctor, very conscientious, removed the cancer bit by bit, sending each section for biopsy until no cancer cells remained. In the end, one-third of the stomach was left. With proper postoperative care, this patient was still alive and well 10 years later.
Another patient asked me how many days a person can go without eating or drinking. I said seven days. She later told me that her friend, after refusing any food due to illness, died on the seventh day.
By Ginger Zhang
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