Pre-Qin-Han Dynasty 500-200 BCE - Chinese cognition and processing methods

Huangdi Neijing, the most fundamental ancient text in Traditional Chinese medicine.

Heart disease is called "mental disease", "heart worry", "depression disease" and "madness", which is related to the imbalance of qi and blood and emotional disharmony; it is believed that the "seven emotions cause disease" (joy, anger, worry, sadness, fear and shock).

Classical period in Ancient Greek (480-323 BCE) - Western cognition and processing methods

Portrait of Hippocrates, who proposed the humoral imbalance theory

Ancient Greeks believed that mental illness was caused by an imbalance of humors (e.g., "excess black bile") (Hippocrates) or by divine punishment (e.g., madness).

Sui–Tang to Song–Yuan Dynasties 600-1300 BC - Chinese cognition and processing methods

An image about acupuncture, an important part of Traditional Chinese medicine. It involves inserting very thin needles into specific acupuncture points.

Developing the theory of "emotional illness", Chinese medicine links psychological problems with liver depression and mental malnutrition; it often treats them through regulating qi, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and persuasion.

Medieval period (476-1000 BC) - Western cognition and processing methods

Illustration of Medieval Exocrism

In the Middle Ages, mental disorders were considered to be "demon possession" or "witchcraft", and treatment relied on extreme measures such as exorcism, burning at the stake, and confinement.

Ming and Qing Dynasties 1368-1911 BC - Chinese cognition and processing methods

Hand-copied Medical Case Reports from the Qing Dynasty

A large number of medical records of "heart disease" emerged, which were called "epilepsy", "madness" and "depression"; they emphasized "regulating the heart and nourishing the nature", and sometimes also supplemented it with Confucian moral education.

Pre-modern Psychiatry 1600-1900 BC - Western cognition and processing methods

Historical Photograph of Psychiatric Asylum

After the Renaissance, the trend shifted towards naturalism and rationality, and categories such as schizophrenia and depression began to emerge; but imprisonment was still the main form of treatment.

Modern Period (Late Qing–Republic of China, 1900–1949 CE) - Chinese cognition and processing methods

Hand-copied Classical Chinese

Exposure to Western medicine and psychology, but still restoring the unity of medicine and Taoism; mental patients may be classified as "demon-possessed" or "neurotically weak"

Psychiatric Era Development of Personality Theories 1900-1940 BC - Western cognition and processing methods

Portrait of Carl Jung

Freud's psychoanalysis and Jung's personality theory emerged; mental illness began to be viewed as a scientific issue.

Contemporary 1949-now - Chinese cognition and processing methods

Traditional Chinese medicine psychology, Taoist mind-regulating psychology and modern psychology coexist; psychological counseling still carries a sense of "stigma", but is gradually becoming popular.

Contemporary 1949-now - Western cognition and processing methods

Establishing clinical psychology and psychiatry systems, standardizing DSM classifications, and making mental health a common issue