Abstract: Responsibility, life and living constitute a three-dimensional ethical structure of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), in which the contents covered by the three elements are from “far” to “near” and the objects referred to are from “medicine” to “human”, thus laying the foundation for the ethical identity of TCM inheritance. Firstly, the ethics of responsibility manifests the ethical responsibility of TCM in medical affairs, which is accepted and pursued by most members of the society. For example, the ideal ambition that “The best doctors run a country” belongs to the holism position that “There is a responsibility for the rise and fall of a nation”. Secondly, bioethics is the essential concern of TCM, which contains the philosophical thoughts and practical methods of understanding, respecting and treating life well. For example, the value judgment that “human life is the most important” implies the philosophical spirit of “harmony between man and nature”. Thirdly, living ethics is the daily presentation of life ethics, which gives new content and significance to healthy living. The discussion of relevant ethical norms and identification approaches highlights those ever-existing ethical implications, which is conducive to “adhering to the right but not the old-fashioned paths” and promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of TCM culture.

Key Words: Traditional Chinese medicine inheritance; Ethical identity; Ethics of responsibility; Bioethics; Living ethics

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