[Investigation on the title of bu mei (sleepless)].

There are various titles applied for "sleepless", including mu bu ming (unclosed eyes), bu de mian (unable to sleep), bu de wo (unable to lie down), shi mian (insomnia). The implications of the titles vary according to different periods. Bu de wo (unable to lie down) was first appeared in Zu bi shi yi mai jiu jing (Moxibustion Classic of Foot and Arm Eleven Channels) and Yin yang shi yi mai jiu jing (Moxibustion Classic of Yin-Yang Eleven Channels), while bu de wo, mu bu ming, and ye bu mei were appeared in Huang di nei jing (Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor), bu mei was first seen in Nan jing (Classic of Questioning). When bu de mian and bu de wo were applied in Zhang Zhongjing's Shang han lun (Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases) and Jin kui yao lue (Synopsis of Golden Chamber), it exerted good influence in later generations. The title of bu mei was more popular after the Ming and Qing dynasties. This titles is the most appropriate one from the standpoint of syndrome itself as viewed from its semantic implication and its accuracy.