From digits towards digitization: the past, present, and future of traditional Chinese medicine

Digitization is the inevitable path for the natural development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The goal of TCM digitization is to generate intelligence from numbers. Originating from the reasoning paradigm of Xiangshu (象数, image-number) or phenotype-numerology thinking, TCM came with a deep correlation of clinical observations with digits and laid a strong theoretical basis for digitization. The digitization of TCM should start from the clinical aspect, solve the problem of electronic medical records, achieve standardization and informatization, and on this basis, form a TCM knowledge base through knowledge-building. This process depends on the combined efforts of multiple disciplines such as medicine, mathematics, and engineering to achieve the digitization and intelligent transformation of TCM. This era calls for TCM to break down barriers, embrace opportunities, and move towards digitization. However, during the transformation, it should maintain its essence, avoid simplistic conversions, be guided by scientific value, leverage cutting-edge technologies, and enhance the depth and breadth of the interpretation of TCM connotations. The digitization of TCM will also improve its service capabilities, create an innovative digitally-intelligent TCM service platform, and contribute to the development of “Healthy China” initiatives with wisdom and solutions.