The sentence "Heart

office of monarch

is where spirit comes from"is from Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon（ 黄帝内经）

which could be considered as the general principle of heart governing spirit theory. From the aspect of content

the theoretical framework of heart governing spirit theory includes that heart is the house of spirit（ from shape）

heart is the master of spirit（ from function）

human lives owing to fullness of vitality（ from physiology）

as well as human dies due to loss of vitality（ from pathology）. From the aspect of form

the expression ways of heart governing spirit theory in Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon are direct and indirect. From the aspect of significance

heart governing spirit theory

not confined with principles of restriction and generation of five phases

is more flexible than five-Zang viscera storing spirit theory in explaining problems. One theory is combined; the other is divided. They are mutually reinforcing. Heart governing spirit is greatly challenged by the proposition of brain governing spirit. They both have important theoretical guiding significance and clinical practice value for later generations in diagnosing and treating mental

nervous and psychosomatic diseases.