Who Can Ride the Dragon?: An Exploration of the Cultural Roots of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Who Can Ride the Dragon? offers a unique introduction to the cultural and linguistic foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Rather than focusing solely on clinical theory, this engaging text explores the language, philosophy, and historical traditions that shaped Chinese medicine, helping readers develop a deeper understanding of the concepts behind the medicine itself.

Ideal for students beginning their study of Chinese medicine, as well as practitioners, translators, and anyone interested in the origins of TCM, the book illuminates how Chinese language, culture, and worldview continue to influence modern clinical practice.

The authors' thoughtful scholarship makes complex cultural and linguistic concepts both accessible and engaging, providing valuable context that enriches the study of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Steven Given, Dean of Clinical Education at Yo San University, writes:

"Their interweaving of language, religion and culture results in a cogent and highly readable discourse that ties together the elements of culture and medicine. Zhang and Rose's examination of the etymology and structure of the Chinese language is a major contribution to our understanding of how traditional Chinese medicine functions today."

'(The authors) have performed a great service by clearing a path into the formidable dense thicket that constitutes Chines medicine in the West. This text provides... a window of inestimable value into a world of meaning that satisfies a yearning on the part of many who hunger to know the substrate from which Chinese medicine emerges.' Harriet Beinfield - Author, Between Heaven and Earth, A Guide to Chinese Medicine