中文摘要：

君药在一首方剂构成中占重要地位,《方剂学》中对君药的定义是“针对主病或主证起主要治疗作用的药物”,而这一定义会造成初学者理解上的困惑和模糊.中医的病和方证相应在层次上不能对等,不能反映病机,使君药的选择和确定缺乏针对性.方剂的主治证病机往往具有内在的相关性,很难确定主证和兼证,而君药针对的往往是病机的主要方面,因此提出从病机的角度确定君药,君药是针对疾病病机的主要方面发挥作用这一定义易于理解和掌握。

英文摘要：

The sovereign herb occupies particular position in forrnulaology, which is defined as the herb which has a major therapeutical effect on major diseases or major syndromes. The author considers this defini- tion is unclear and unreasonable. This article takes the perspective of the major diseases and the major syn- dromes and makes a specific analysis of sovereign herb. Especially, the thought that the herb has the major therapeutical effect on major diseases can＇ t make sure the sovereign herb in a formula. At the same time, the major syndromes and accompanied syndromes are a reflection of the pathogenesis, and it is difficult to distin- guish between primary and secondary syndromes. Thus, in most cases, it is difficult to identify which herb has the major therapeutic effect on major syndromes. The authors propose to define ＂sovereign herb＇as ＂the herb which has a major therapeutical effect on major aspects of pathogenesis,＂ which is easily understood.