The challenges surrounding the inheritance of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) represent, in my view, the most intellectually stimulating aspect of this research topic.

The interviews highlighted several pivotal aspects regarding the inheritance and challenges facing TCM. Key issues include inadequate national protection policies, the considerable time investment required for mastering TCM, and the substantial impact of the introduction of Western medicine on the development of TCM in China. The inheritance process is intricately linked to the family environment. For instance, although my family has been engaged in TCM since my grandfather's era, and my father expanded this legacy by also studying Western medicine, my siblings and I did not follow this path in our career planning. This decision was influenced by the freedom of career choice granted by our father and our lack of confidence in achieving the same level of proficiency in TCM as our predecessors. My older brother and I share similar sentiments; we have long harbored a periodic desire to delve into the study of TCM. However, sustaining this enthusiasm has proven difficult, as I believe the sense of responsibility often overshadows genuine interest. Consequently, it is challenging to consistently and resolutely choose to enter the TCM succession solely based on a sense of 'inheritance' duty. I also conducted an interview with Ms. Qing Xiaoqi, who hails from a traditional TCM family with a lineage tracing back to her great-grandfather. Despite her longstanding interest and her studies at one of China's most prestigious TCM universities, she currently has no plans to become a practicing physician. She confided in me that after enrolling in TCM university, she realized that the current standardized TCM training system demands a significant time commitment, which starkly contrasts with the educational environment of her father's era. This standardized training system is also one of the formidable challenges that TCM inheritance faces today. Children's preferences, coupled with China's one-child policy introduced in the 1970s, necessitate that TCM inheritance adopts a more inclusive and open approach, rather than relying solely on blood relations. Although TCM is frequently viewed as an experiential discipline, where certain prescriptions and formulas have long been considered the 'private property'of specific families or TCM schools, the most viable pathway for TCM inheritance might be through an apprenticeship system that is unrestricted by method or blood relation. For Chinese individuals with deeply rooted family values, imparting intellectual property to others requires a broad-minded and open-hearted approach. TCM is an integral component of modern medicine, and the challenges it faces in its development are diverse and multifaceted. The aforementioned one-child policy has compelled many older TCM practitioners, particularly those in academic or public service roles, to rely more heavily on the 'master-apprentice' system to fulfill inheritance goals by mentoring multiple disciples. Another critical factor is the influence of Western medicine on TCM. In 'The Influence and Implications of Western Medicine's Spread on TCM Medical Techniques' by Li Yanchen, Wang Lei, and Lü Hang, it is noted that Western medicine has become the preferred choice for most patients due to its advanced medical equipment and unique clinical treatment methods. The proliferation of Western medicine has also significantly impacted traditional Chinese medicine. With the pervasive influence of Western medical culture and technology, TCM medical techniques are continually evolving and adapting.' The report delineates the influence of Western medicine on TCM across four key areas: medical culture, diagnostic methodologies, treatment approaches, and therapeutic effects and costs, encapsulating the principal ways in which Western medicine has affected TCM development.

The TCM medical techniques are facing challenges such as a diminished market share and declining social credibility. The issue of credibility poses a significant challenge to the continued development of TCM. The slow onset of TCM treatments, coupled with the general public's limited awareness of the potential side effects of Western medicine, has deepened patients' skepticism regarding the efficacy of TCM. Moreover, some unscrupulous individuals, driven by profit, have exploited the name of TCM for fraudulent activities, causing disorder within the TCM medical system and heightening patient concerns. Government regulations targeting illegal medical practices have mitigated and improved this situation to some extent. The inheritance and development of TCM are not issues confined to a single family or individual. Government policies and strategic directives play an essential role in promoting the development of TCM. The Chinese government has clearly recognized this necessity. In 2023, the General Office of the State Council issued a notice detailing the implementation plan for major projects aimed at revitalizing and developing TCM, which emphasized the construction of a TCM service system designed to 'promote strengths, reinforce weaknesses, and address deficiencies.' The outlined construction tasks include establishing a series of national TCM specialty departments, enhancing the allocation of medical equipment, optimizing TCM diagnostic and treatment protocols, and improving TCM clinical efficacy. The plan further focuses on the development of approximately 130 key TCM hospitals at the prefecture level, with distinct characteristics, significant clinical efficacy, and a demonstrable influence. The supporting measures mentioned in the plan include encouraging TCM hospitals to establish and refine modern hospital management systems, implementing the 'two allowances' policy, deepening reforms in personnel and salary systems, improving hospital compensation mechanisms, and enacting preferential pricing and medical insurance payment policies for TCM services. Additionally, the policy encourages more flexible approaches in areas such as TCM preparation and the application of medical technology. The introduction of this comprehensive policy by the Chinese government has had a substantial impact on expanding the promotion of TCM and improving the infrastructure of the TCM medical system.