In Chinese, the common term for a doctor is Dàifu (大夫). To understand its essence, we must look at the characters: Dà (大) means greatness, and fu (夫) typically refers to an adult man. Originally, the term described a "great man" or a "man of high social status."

Historically, Dàifu was not a medical title but a high-ranking government office—positioned above the scholar-officials (Shi) and below the high ministers (Qing). It wasn't until the Song Dynasty, when the court established official medical positions like "Medical Dàifu," that the term began its transition. Out of deep respect for the medical profession and its moral standards, society began addressing doctors by this official title, a tradition that continues to this day.

When we encounter Dàifu in our daily lives—whether in hospitals, or when referring to practitioners of Western or Traditional Chinese Medicine—different people may have different realizations. To me, the title Dàifu carries a profound moral weight, which can be understood through the lenses of Zhen (真), Shan (善), and Ren (忍)—commonly translated as Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

Zhen (真 - Truthfulness): This is the pursuit of medical accuracy and personal integrity. A Dàifu must respect objective facts and seek precision in every diagnosis, without exaggeration or falsehood. As the saying goes, "To know what you know, and to know what you do not know, that is true knowledge." In the rigorous field of medicine, any lack of Zhen can cost a human life.

Shan (善 - Compassion): This is the "benevolent heart" of the healer. Shan transforms medical skill into a "benevolent art." It manifests as a doctor’s conscious drive to save lives and heal the wounded, treating all patients with equal care regardless of their wealth or social status. This selfless, wholehearted devotion to others is the highest expression of Shan.

Ren (忍 - Forbearance): This requires immense focus, endurance, and a tolerant spirit. Medical work is often repetitive and high-pressure. A Dàifu needs the "kung fu" of Ren to study complex maladies and maintain absolute concentration during grueling hours at the operating table.

The Statesman and the Healer There is a subtle but vital distinction between a mere practitioner and a true Dàifu, even though the logic of healing a body and healing a nation is interconnected. The famous Song Dynasty statesman Fan Zhongyan once prayed that if he could not become a Great Chancellor to govern the world, he wished to become a Fine Doctor to save the people. This led to the famous saying: "If one cannot be a great chancellor, let him be a great doctor."

While a chancellor uses power to cure the nation's ills, a Dàifu uses "benevolent arts" to alleviate the suffering of the people. Both are driven by the same core: compassion and responsibility. We see this in Zhang Zhongjing, the Governor of Changsha, who opened his government office not to try legal cases, but to feel the pulses of the sick. We see it in Sun Simiao, the "King of Medicine," who declined official court positions to remain among the common people. He proved that the dignity of a Dàifu comes not from a royal title, but from the depth of one's character.

I was inspired to reflect on this after encountering the term Dàifu in an extraordinarily precious book. These are merely my surface-level reflections and the inspirations I've drawn; the true, deeper inner meanings can only be found by reading the original text in its entirety.