RESUMO
Intercourse between heart and kidney and harmonization of fire and water are important concepts in TCM.At present,discussions about them are not clear,but confused.This paper concludes the concepts and meanings about intercourse between heart and kidney and harmonization of water and fire,based on opinions of ancient theories of yin and yang,and five elements.It also expounds the differences and relations about harmonization of yin and yang,harmonization of water and fire,and intercourse between heart and kidney,and puts forward that the concept of intercourse between heart and kidney should be divided into aspect in two parts which are in broad sense and in narrow sense.In broad sense,it indicates kidney qi and heart qi interacts in all aspects;in narrow sense,it indicates the intercourse between heart fire and kidney water.The pathway,the time and other meanings about intercourse between heart and kidney are also reviewed in this article.