ABSTRACT
In two East Asian countries (South Korea and China), the relation between body and soul has an impact on the use of meaning-making coping strategies among cancer patients. The chapter examines the use of meaning-making coping (existential secular, spiritual, and religious coping) among cancer patients in China as well as the impact of culture on choice of coping methods. The chapter observes four coping resources among the Korean participants: belief in the healing power of nature, mind-body connection, relying on a transcendent power, and finding oneself in relationships with others. Use of various body-mind-spirit techniques to ease pain or to cope with illnesses is an old traditional cultural habit among people in East Asia. The chapter also observes among both Chinese and Korean informants the use of meaning-making coping methods related to the doctrine of a body-mind-spirit relation: inner peace among the Chinese and peaceful mental attitude among South Koreans.
