Kansas Health Institute | Information For Policy Makers. Health for Kansans.

There is a story about a famous Chinese doctor who was greeted with gifts by his grateful patients and was named the greatest doctor of his time.

He humbly refused to accept the title. He then told the story about his two older brothers, who were also doctors. Below is a version of the story:

"I am the doctor that cures the disease when it has already occurred and is doing damage. My second brother is the doctor that cures the disease when it just starts to occur. My oldest brother is the doctor that prevents disease.

"My ability to repair physical damage is easily noticeable, and the word of my ability has spread far throughout the country.

"My second brother's ability to cure the disease before it does any major damage is less noticeable. He is, therefore, only known around this region.

"My oldest brother's ability to prevent disease before it occurs is hardly noticeable. He is, therefore, hardly known in his province.

"Dear friends, even though I am the most famous of the brothers, I am not the greatest doctor because I can only repair the damage.

"My second brother, even though he is less famous than I am, is far greater than I because he is able to correct the disease before it does any damage.

"My oldest brother, the least known, is the greatest of us all because he is able to prevent problems before they occur."

-This story is taken from "Tai Chi Chuan, 24 & 48 positions with Martial Applications," by Master Liang, Shou-Yu & Wu, Wen-Ching," published by the YMAA Publication Center of Roslindale, Mass. Copyright 1993