Table 1.
Review of characteristics in Sasang typology
| Sasang type (prevalence) | Tae-Yang (太陽) (<0.1%) | So-Yang (少陽) (20%) | Tae-Eum (太陰) (50%) | So-Eum (少陰) (30%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin of the nature | Sorrow (哀) by benevolence (仁) | Anger (怒) by righteousness (義) | Gladness (喜) by courtesy (禮) | Enjoyment (樂) by wisdom (智) |
| They feel sad when they realize their self-transcendent idea is obstructed. | They become angry when they are blocked. The anger can be regulated by fairness. | Social approval can be obtained with courtesy. They are glad when they get what they want. | Worries can be relieved with wisdom. They enjoy what they have now. | |
| Personality or temperament | Masculine, move forward, original | Active, externally oriented, talented for business. | Feminine, withdrawn, conservative. | Still, internally oriented, self-directed. |
| Independent, creative, positive, persistent, progressive, charismatic, disinhibited. | Unstable, easily get bored, sacrificing, righteous, easily acceptable, quick tempered, active, easy-going. | Gentle, commercial, warm, endurable, humorous, look foolish, reflective, social, hospitable, coward. | Neat, mild, negative, intelligent, organized, patient, jealous, perseverant, passive, static, meticulous. | |
| Rash mind (急迫之心) | Anxious mind (懼心) | Afraid or fearful mind (怯心) | Nervous mind. (不安定之心) | |
| High Extraversion and low Neuroticism (NEO-PI). High Novelty-Seeking and low Harm-Avoidance (TCI). High SPQ | In the middle of So-Yang and So-Eum as for the Extraversion, Novelty-Seeking, Harm-Avoidance and SPQ. High Positive Affect (PANAS). Low in Trait Anxiety (STAI). | Low Extraversion and high Neuroticism. Low Novelty-Seeking and high Harm-Avoidance. Low SPQ. Low Positive Affect. High in Trait Anxiety. | ||
| Body shape or constitution | Developed nape of the neck, slender waist | Developed chest, small hip | Thick waist, weak nape of the neck | Developed hip, weak chest |
| Short and little | Tall and big | Short and little | ||
| Similar to the So-Eum type, but less small and slim than So-Eum type | High BMI, BMR, body fat mass, bone density and Waist-hip ratio. High width-height ratio of face. Bigger neck and chest circumference | Low BMI and Waist-hip ratio. Low width-height ratio of face. Smaller neck and chest circumference | ||
| Pathophysiological characteristics | Large lung system, small liver system (肺大肝小) | Large spleen/stomach system, small kidney system (脾大腎小) | Large liver system, small lung system (肝大肺小) | Large kidney system, small spleen/stomach system (腎大脾小) |
| Strong sympathetic activation, weak anabolism and energy-storing | Strong intake and digestion, weak waste discharge | Strong anabolism and energy-storing, weak sympathetic activation | Strong waste discharge, weak intake and digestion | |
| High SDFI and low FDQOL. High insulin resistance. high Triglyceride, cholesterol concentration, and blood pressure | Low SDFI and high FDQOL. Low immune function | |||
| Concerns for the good health | Enough urination | Easy with defecation | Enough perspiration | Good digestion |
| Avoid dehydration and overexertion of mental and bodily resources | Avoid over-activation and overloads of bodily functions | Maintain adequate level of catabolic, sympathetic and circulatory system | Maintain healthy digestive function, peristalsis, and body heat | |
| Frequent symptoms or disease | Emesis, nervousness/neurasthenia, sudden weakness in lower extremities | Constipation, gastroesophageal (laryngopharyngeal) reflux disease, affective disorder, insomnia, heat on chest | No perspiration, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, stroke, obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome | Indigestion or dyspepsia, upper respiratory infection, neurotic symptoms |
| type-specific medical herbs | Chaenomelis Fructus, Acanthopanacis Cortex, Phragmitis Rihizoma | Rehmanniae Radix, Corni Fructus, Hoeoen, Alismatis Rhizoma, Osterici Radix, Angelicae Pubescentis Radix | Ephedrae Herba, Liriopis Tuber, Schisandrae Fructus, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Platycodi Radix, Coicis Semen, Puerariae Radix | Ginseng Radix, Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Cinnamomi Cortex, Citri Pericarpium, Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus |
| type-specific acupuncture points | Diagnosis with HT8. Treatment with LR3(+)/ LU9(−) | Diagnosis with HT3. Treatment with HT7(+)/ SP3(−) | Diagnosis with HT4. Treatment with LU9(+)/ LR3(−) | Diagnosis with HT7. Treatment with SP3(+)/ LI4(−) |
TCI, Temperament and Character Inventory; NEO-PI, NEO Personality Inventory; SPQ, Sasang Personality Questionnaire; PANAS, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule; STAI, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory; SDFI, Sasang Digestive Function Inventory; FDQOL, Functional Dyspepsia-Related Quality of Life; BMI, Body Mass Index.