[Crisis and vitality: new evaluation of the development of the Chinese Medicine in the Republican period].

By investigating the development process of the Republic of China with pluralistic perspective, it can be seen that contemporary TCM was undergoing the crises of theory, value, and survival, and rights which were a necessary steps when entering a new historical stage. The mainstream of the development of TCM during this period included fighting for its existence and self-strengthening, which had gained five achievements, including prevention of the attempts of abolishing TCM; involvement into the modern national political system; inheritance of the integrity of academic system; the formation of embryonic shape of new business, and the experience attained in the integration of Chinese and Western Medicine. All these manifested its strong vitality, though it was somewhat limited in its developmental level. It had laid down the basis for the embryonic stage of developmental model of Chinese medicine after the twentieth century.