Office Hours episode 29: Roots, Trunks, and the Foundation of Yin and Yang with Sabine Wilms

In this episode of Office Hours, Toby and Angelique sit down with Sabine Wilms, PhD to explore classical Chinese medicine, translation, and the deeper meaning behind foundational texts. Sabine shares how her background in East Asian studies, anthropology, and medicine led her to a lifelong practice of translating and teaching ancient Chinese texts.A major theme of the conversation is the difference between literal translation and lived interpretation. Sabine explains how her book Humming with Elephants grew out of years of teaching and how it aims to bring the Su Wen out of an overly dry academic setting and into a more practical, resonant clinical context. She also breaks down why terms like ben and gen matter, and how small translation choices can completely change how practitioners understand core ideas like “the root” and “the foundation.”The discussion also goes deep into Sun Simiao’s work, especially the ten months of pregnancy in Yang Tai, postpartum care, and the broader importance of nurturing not just the fetus, but the mother, the family, and the whole cycle of life. Sabine shares that her upcoming projects include a pregnancy volume and a book on Yang Xing (self-cultivation, longevity, and moral/spiritual care).Another rich thread in the episode is self-cultivation. Sabine reflects on moderation, rest, activity, qigong, swimming, farming, service, and the importance of listening to the body and the seasons. The conversation closes with reflections on presence, silence, poetry, and the deep connection between Buddhism and Chinese medicine.Topics CoveredSabine Wilms’ path into Chinese medicine and translationHow translation shapes clinical understandingThe meaning of ben, gen, and bingPregnancy, postpartum care, and nurturing the motherSun Simiao, Yang Xing, and self-cultivationBalance, moderation, and seasonal livingBuddhism, Chinese medicine, and presence in careNotable Quotes“It’s not correspondences, it’s resonances.”“You must pursue it in the foundation.”“You should feel the classics, not analyze them.”Key TakeawaysClassical Chinese medicine is about more than formulas and point prescriptions; it’s about resonance, context, and worldview.Translation is interpretive work, and a single character can shift the entire meaning of a text.Pregnancy and postpartum care in early Chinese medicine place equal importance on the mother, not just the baby.Self-cultivation is a daily practice of moderation, presence, and listening to the body.Links:Sabine’s books and classes: happygoatproductions.comcmbenevolentacademy.org