A Short Story About Ancient Chinese Acupuncture
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese method of medicine, involves inserting fine needles in the skin. We must look back at ancient China to understand the origins and practice of acupuncture.
Bone etchings are thought to be the oldest evidence of ancient Chinese acupuncture. They date back to around 1600 B.C. approximately 4000 years ago.
Through the past century, archaeologists discovered a variety of pointed stones that archeologists believe to be ancient acupuncture needles. These stones were used for medical purposes, making incisions on the skin and stimulating specific points.
These stones were the first use of ancient acupuncture. Later, slivers from animal bones were also used. Later, bamboo needles were also used for therapeutic purposes.
Another archeological dig was made in China at an archaeological site dating back to the Shang Period (1766-1122 BC). It found a tomb with a stone hook inside. This indicated that it was an object of worth. This was also an ancient Chinese medical instrument that was used in acupuncture.
The ancient medical instruments and needles are evidence that acupuncture was used in these times. History also has large bronze artifacts which prove the importance of ancient Chinese medicine.
To show acupuncture points, a bronze man of life was made to display them. This greatly helped to develop ancient Chinese acupuncture. Wang Weiyi, a bronze sculptor who was born in 1998 and died in 1067, had the brilliant idea to cast two statues of him in bronze. Each represented a man from his front and back. These statues had 657 acupuncture points inscribed. These statues were used to conduct the Imperial acupuncture exams in ancient China for new acupuncturists. The statues were covered in thick wax, then filled with water. The student would then locate the acupoints and insert the needle into the statue covered in wax. If the needle had been correctly inserted, a drop of water will be visible when it is pulled out.
Wang Weiyi also wrote the book Tonggren Shuxue Zhen Jiu Yujing, which is an illustrated manual of the Bronze Man showing Acupuncture Points and Moxibustion Points. Two stone steles, each measuring more than two metres high and seven meters wide, were also used to engrave the text of this work. They were placed at Kaifeng, capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, for public use. The ancient work of Wang Weiyi was the catalyst for great progress in ancient Chinese acupuncture. It was possible to map the points of the body, create ancient instruments and heal ancient Chinese people. For more details check Acupuncture in Nassau County, NY
The Songshi book contains a recorded history of ancient Chinese Chinese acupuncture. It tells the story of Emperor Renzong who was taken to the hospital in 1034 and then successfully treated with acupuncture. It helped to popularize ancient Chinese acupuncture. During the Southern Song Dynasty, acupuncture was the specialty of specialized doctors like Wang Zhizhong. Wang wrote A Description of Acupuncture and Moxibustion ( Zishengjing), a classic text about ancient acupuncture.
The Chinese do not own ancient acupuncture. The most important ancient Egyptian medical treaty is the papyrus Ebers, which dates back to 1550 BC. It is a book about vessels that could correspond with the twelve meridians in acupuncture.
To treat disease, the Bantu of South Africa may sometimes cut parts of the body. The Bantu use a hot metal probe to cauterize a portion of the ear in order to treat sciatica. This is similar to the Auricular or Ear Acupuncture method. Eskimos may practice simple acupuncture using sharp stones, similar to ancient Chinese acupuncture. A small tribe from Brazil uses a blowpipe to shoot tiny arrows into specific parts of their bodies.
The Chinese have made a significant contribution to the development of a systemic method. It is described and catalogued in numerous text books and can be reproduced under experimental conditions.
Although acupuncture has come a long distance since its humble beginnings, the methods and practices of acupuncture are still very much in demand.
