ChaeLab - Sasang Typology

"That infinitely variable organism without which human disease is impossible" [Hippocrates, BC 460?-337?]

"It takes two to make a case of illness; he who gets sick and the bug that bites him" [Gray, 1941]

The Sasang [Sa-Sang] Typology (or Sasang Constitution) is a traditional Korean medical typology, which was systematically theorized by Jae-Ma Lee in his book "Dong-Yi-Soo-Se-Bo-Won [the principle of life preservation in oriental medicine] in 1894. In Korea, it is widely used by fifteen thousands Korean Medicine Doctors (equiv. to MD or OMD) clinically.

Sasang typology explains the individual differences in behavioral patterns, physical characteristics and susceptibility to a certain disease based on their bio-psychological traits. So the Sasang typology is the real Personalized medicine used for hundred years. It also shows temperament-based guideline for safe and effective use of acupuncture and medical herbs not only Ginseng and Ginger but even with significant adverse events, such as Ma-Huang (Ephedra Sinica) and Aconite.

The Sasang typology has not been introduced to western society so far, since it has unique philosophical, psychological and biological characteristics which can not explained easily in English, even with Korean. In this web site, the typical concept and characteristics are illustrated with scientific research data obtained lately by our team.

The most interesting and unique thing about Sasang typology is that it has both philosophical and medical basis. The Sasang typology got its characteristics from Neo-Confucianism of late 19th century Korea and tradition of Korean medicine. This made this medical typology can show us both the bio-psychological and medical description of each types. Literally, the Sasang typology is a systemic incarnation of medical typology that is poised to explain the influence of emotionality, behavioral patterns and tendencies, and physical and physiological characteristics in the treatment of diseases.

The Sasang Typology shows unbelievable homology with the western personality theories, from the Four Humors of Hippocrates/Galen to the Pavlov and Eysenck.

Four Humors of Hippocrates/Galen - The starting concept of western medicine shows dramatic analogy to that of Sasang Typology, although it has significant different philosophical differences. Black bile / Melancholic is pessimistic and gloomy which was the main concept of Sasang So-Eum type. Blood / Sanguine is cheerful, optimistic and passionate which compared to Sasang Tae-Yang type.

Somatotype of Sheldon - Sheldon divided into three types, such as Mesomorph, Endomorph and Ectomorph, based on their body shape. Unlike other typology of western culture the Sasang typology is a systemic incarnation of 'medical' typology that is poised to explain the influence of emotionality, behavioral patterns and tendencies, and physical and physiological characteristics in the treatment of diseases.

Personality of the dog by Ivan Pavlov ?On of the most famous figure in psychology is the Ivan Pavlov who showed the conditional response in dog. He found four types of pattern in dogs in conflicting situations like ringing a bell means signal for food at the same time another bell signaled the end of the meal. One dog took it well and maintained their cheerfulness although another got angry and barked like crazy. The third just lie down and fell asleep while the fourth whimpered and whined and seemed to have an nervous breakdown. You can guess what character represents which dog.

PEN theory of Eysenck - The Extraversion and Neuroticism are two important psychological trait of human, and major axis for dividing four typical types. The Introvert-Neurotic type of Eysenck has Moody, Anxious, Rigid, Sober, Pessimistic, Unsociable, Reserved and Quiet tempers. It is interesting that the Sasang So-Eum type is Neat, Mild, Negative, Intelligent, Organized, Selfish, Jealous, Persistent and Nervous mind, and reported to have low Extraversion and high Neuroticism (from reference 3).

The Western and the Eastern ?People liked to talk over the personality of nationality for thousands years. You can also find the similarities between the East and the West like follows, which like Eysenck was concerned about comparing the personality of the English and Japanese.

Sasang typology also utilizes herbs and acupoints found in traditional Chinese medicine, but is quite different from traditional Chinese medicine in the following aspects.

First, traditional Chinese medicine is based on Taoism and explains the universe with Yin-Yang theory and the five-phases idea. In contrast, the Sasang typology is based on the combination of Neo-Confucianism and the medical tradition of Korea, and describes the nature with quaternary.

Second, the traditional Chinese medicine places a great importance on the harmony between humanity and nature, whereas Sasang typology puts more weights on the harmony of social life and building up one’s character. Therefore, the Sasang typology has a sociological as well as a biological facet.

Third, the major factor for selecting herbs and acupoints placed on the type of person itself rather than specific diseases. So the prescriptions for patients are composed of 70-90% type-specific and 10-30% disease-specific herbs.

In Sasang typology every human beings are classified into four Sasang types; Tae-Yang type, Tae-Eum type, So-Yang type and So-Eum type, which represent different temperaments, body shapes and psycho-physiological features.

The Yang and Yin lies as the main axis. The psychological characteristics and body shapes are described to each Sasang types. English, Korean and Chinese characters are used for easy understand. [from Reference 2]

Tae-Yang type is a creative and visionary person, who is gifted for starting social acquaintance but not for sustaining it. So-Yang type is a sharp and clean looking person, who is extroverted and interested in outside work. Tae-Eum type is a conservative and cautious person, who is talented for sustaining social relationships. So-Eum type is an inactive, prudent, narrow-minded, resolute and self-directed person, who is concerned in his or her own world. General characteristic features of Sasang types described in the Lee's book can be summarized as this table [from reference 1, 2].

To discriminate each types in Sasang typological perspective, you should read and understand the book, "the principle of life preservation in oriental medicine" written by Lee. And, you should finish six years of education to understand bio-psychosocial features, phenotype and type specific treatment of Sasang typology for clinical use. Although it takes a lot of time to learn how to discriminate each types, there is a Sasang typology-based inventory, QSCC (Questionnaire for the Sasang Constitution Classification), to help this. So far, only the Korean version was developed.

Fortunately the bio-psychological traits of each types are reported as follows. With this information, the Sasang type of non-Korean can be discriminated. Your interests and suggestions are welcomed.

The Yang (Yang) types (Tae-Yang and So-Yang) are extroverted and the Eum (Yin) types (Tae-Eum and So-Eum) are introverted. The So-Yang type has high Extraversion and low Neuroticism, and the So-Eum type has low Extraversion and high Neuroticism. The Tae-Eum type is supposed to be extraverted and neurotic. As the body shapes, the Tae-Eum type has higher Body Mass Index than the So-Eum and So-Yang type [from reference 3].

The physiological characteristics are made from four emotions, sorrow, anger, gladness and enjoyment, which determines weakness or firmness of four basic organs. For example, the sorrow of Tae-Yang type repress the liver function and boost up the lung function. The body shape of each type is also the results of each organs' size. Big lung make the nape of neck big, and small liver make the waist slender (see the general characteristics above).

Unlike other typology theories, the major point lies not on dominant functions but on weakness of the internal organ/bowel or 'un-developed organ'. The pathologic tendencies comes from the not-sufficient-functions. For example, the stomach of So-Eum type is weak and not fully functional, the Indigestion is the key factor for So-Eum type-specific symptoms and treatment (See the type-specific treatment below). So, the maintaining good health and methods of treatment should be based on individual's constitutional characters.

The Sasang typology showed details great physicians wanted to know. It has type-specific (temperament-based) guideline for safe and effective use of medical herbals and acupoints (and type-specific diet, exercise and care-giving!). Sasang typology explained the reason why type-specific treatment is needed from the constitutional perspective.

Here shows some representative acupoints and medical herbs. For example, in case of the common cold Cinnamon is used for the So-Eum type although Ephedrine is used for the Tae-Eum type. You can contact Dr. Chae or licensed physicians for more information.

Tae-Yang

So-Yang

Tae-Eum

So-Eum

Suitable Herbs

Pine knot

Grape root

Gypsum

Nepetae spica

Ledebouriellae radix

Angelica koreanae radix

Rehmariae radix preparata

Ephedra sinica

Puerariae radix

Rhei rhizoma

Cocicis semen

Cinamonia ramulus

Aconiti tuber

Panax ginseng

Zingiberis rhizoma

Suitable Acupoints

LR3 (+)

LU9 (-)

KI3 (+)

SP3 (-)

LU9 (+)

LR3 (-)

SP3 (+)

LI4 (-)

The genetic profile of Sasang typology is one of the interesting prespectives these days. This section will be added soon.

The ultimate goal of modern medicine lies on understanding and prevention of disease before it's break. The Sasang Typology sheds light on integrating western and eastern medical tradition, and biological and psychological studies. The type-specific intervention can be a clue for the personalized medicine, and the type-specific bio-psychological traits can provide bridge connection psychology and biology.

The contents in this web-sit is under the protection of copyright law, which means not permitted to use without written permission from Dr. Chae. ALL ABOUT SASANG TYPOLOGY (Ver. 2.2)

The contents of this web-site was designed solely for research purpose, and not for clinical and/or patient educational purpose. No attempt should be made to use any information in this web-site as a form of treatment for any specific conditions without the approval and guidance of certified physician. Anyone with any health complaints should seek the care and consultation of an appropriate licensed physicians (the Society of Sasang Constitutional Medicine).

Hans J. Eysenck (European)		Italian	Arabic	English	Russian
	Humidity	Wet	Dry	Wet	Dry
	Temperature	Warm		Cool
Jae-Ma Lee (Asian)		Korean		Japanese	Chinese
	Size	Small	Large	Small	Large
	Yin-Yang	Yang		Yin