Table 1:

Comparison of different medical traditions to the new revolutionary medicine.

	Elite Chin. Med	West. Med	Mao’s Rev. Med	Actual Rev. Med
Basis of medicine	Knowledge	Knowledge	Will ideology	Knowledge
Knowledge transmission	Lengthy master-disciple systematised knowledge	Lengthy classroom, preceptorship systematised knowledge	Brief class, mainly practice unsystematised knowledge	Brief class, master-disciple/preceptor, practice unsystematised knowledge
Medical Practice: basic stance and response to the unknown	Generalist. Innovate within tradition and consult with head of medical lineage	Specialist. Implement newest protocol vetted by experts and referral	Generalist. Constantly innovate practice based on current conditions (indigenisation)	Specialist and collaborating specialists. Innovate in and beyond own tradition helped by other specialists
Medical community	Very hierarchical	Hierarchical	Hierarchical (prior bottom on top)	Less hierarchical, more collaborative
Professional identity	Member of a medical lineage	Accredited physician	Peasant engaged in altruistic brotherhood via personalised care	Caring healer