..续本文上一页specially the first line-- has become a source of controversy and has lost its original meaning. If taken literally, how can we taste medicine before we give it to our parents

　　 Isn”t it dangerous to casually take medicine that is not prescribed for one

　　 Let us explain the meaning of the Chinese character “chang 尝” for "taste," and then this verse will become easier to understand.

　　尝，本来在中国是一种秋祭的名称，就是秋天农作物收成后，用新谷来祭祀山林土地众神，以表感恩；祭典之后，人家都吃一点祭过的新谷，看看味道好不好？这叫“尝新”。因此，尝就有“用舌头辨别滋味”的意思，也引申出来“试一试”，或“鉴定”的意思。

　　The character chang was a term used in ancient China during harvest Lime. After the newly harvested crops were ritually offered to the mountain, forest, and earth spirit to give thanks, everyone would taste a little bit of the offering. That was known as chang xin 尝新"tasting the new." Thus chang meant "using the tip of the tongue to distinguish the flavor," and it also came to mean "to taste" or "to give expert evidence. "

　　因为古代中国的药，是用天然药草，加水熬成的一碗浓缩药汁。在这儿，尝药的意思，便是用舌尖轻轻碰触药汁，以辨别这个药；只是浅尝，并不是叫你吃到肚子里去。如果是今日的药丸、药片，当然就无法尝了；就是尝，除舔了到表面的糖衣外，也尝不出个所以然，所以不需要去尝它。

　　In ancient China, natural herbs were boiled and decocted to make medicine. Thus, chang meant to lightly taste the herbal decoction with the tip of the tongue, not to swallow it down. Of course, there is no way to taste modern medicines which come in the form of pills and capsules. All you would be able to taste is their sugar coating.

　　那么尝药的作用，既然是为了辨别，辨别什么呢？第一，辨别药汁的温度；第二，辨别药的正确性。因为药汁必须趁热吃才有药效；但也不可太烫，而烫伤了虚弱的病人。可是，手对温度的感觉是不太能凭恃的，它会因人、因碗的质地，以及不同的药性，而有些差别；唯一的方法，便是以舌尖浅尝一下了。细心的孝子是不会冒冒失失地，就端一碗热腾腾或凉兮兮的药给父母的。

　　The purpose of tasting medicine is to determine (1) how hot it is, and (2) whether it is the correct prescription. Chinese herbal decoctions are effective only if taken warm. However, they cannot be too hot, for overly hot medicine can harm weak patients. Our hands are not reliable for measuring the temperature of the decoction, since the accuracy of the measurement would depend on the person measuring, the material of the container, and the properties of the medicine. The only way to do it is to lightly test the decoction with the tip of one”s tongue. A concerned filial child will not recklessly serve his parents a steaming hot or cold bowl of medicine.

　　那又怎么辨别药的正确性呢？中国药草之多，较常用的，也有几千种，却不外酸、苦、甜、辣、咸五味，主治心肝脾肾肺五脏。大略地说，味酸的治肝脏、风疾，味甜的治脾胃、郁闷等病，味苦的治心，味辛辣的治肺、气管诸疾，味咸的治肾；把药汁一尝，马上可以试验出医生的药方，或药房抓的药，有没有被搞错。

　　How can one determine whether the medicine is the correct one

　　 Among the numerous varieties of Chinese medicine, there are several thousand which are commonly used. Yet all of them can be classified according to the five flavors: sour, bitter, sweet, acidic, and salty. The five flavors are primarily used to treat the five organs: the heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs. Generally speaking, sour medicine”s are used to treat liver diseases and rheumatism. Medicines of a sweet nature are used to treat diseases of the spleen and stomach, depression, and other such ailments. Bitter medicinal herbs are for the heart, acidic herbs for the lungs and bronchial tube, and salty ones for the kidneys.

　　当然这只能试个大概，除非深谙医理和药性的人，无法验得准确，不过这是孝子的一点心意。所以我们现在对这一段文字比较了解了，应该没有可以非议的了吧？那么对于今日的药丸、药片，我们的“尝”，就是检查，看看父母服用的时间、药量对不对，有没有拿错了药，因为有的病人并不只吃一种药。这是我们应该要谨慎服侍在病床边的理由之一。

　　As soon as one tastes it, one can get a general idea of whether the medicine obtained is the correct one. Although only someone who is well-versed in medical lore and the properties of medicines can get a really accurate idea, tasting the medicine before giving it to his or her parents is a gesture of concern on the part of a filial child. Now that we have a better understanding of this verse, we should have no reason to criticize it. With regard to the pills and tablets of modern medicine, the word "taste" can be interpreted as "examine," that is, to make sure…

《弟子规浅释 Standards for Students 第二章：孝 Chapter Two： FILIAL PIETY - 9》全文未完，请进入下页继续阅读…