The Historical Evolution of the Characteristics of Ancient Chinese Acupuncture

Stone Age, Bronze Age

History background

In the Stone Age, Bianstone needles were the main acupuncture tools. For example, it is recorded in the "Shan Hai Jing": "The mountain of Gaoshi has many jades on it, and there are many admonishment stones under it". Bianstone acupuncture for treating carbuncle, "Shuowen Jiezi" also says: "Bianstone is used to prick the disease with a stone." "Su Wen·Xue Qi Xing Zhi Pian" also said: "Disease is born in the flesh, and it is treated with a needle stone. "A meteorite unearthed in 1963 at the Daowa Neolithic site in Duolun Banner, Inner Mongolia is considered the earliest medical meteorite, and various meteorites have been unearthed in many places since then. In addition to meteorites, there are bone needles and grass and wood needles that are also considered to be used for the treatment of diseases. Although some scholars do not agree that meteorites are the earliest acupuncture tools, most scholars believe that meteorites, plant and wood needles and bone needles are the earliest acupuncture tools and the origin of acupuncture.

In the Bronze Age, the appearance of bronze needles marked the beginning of metal needle tools. However, Bianstone needles were the most unearthed needles during this period, and bronze needles were relatively few. Bronze needles were not commonly used before the Warring States Period. , The reason may be related to the incomplete understanding of acupuncture and moxibustion at that time and the difficulty in producing needles with thinner needles and sharp needle tips by copper-making technology.

Needle Features

According to the existing unearthed objects and literature research, meteorites are mostly knife-shaped, needle-shaped, sword-shaped, etc., and are mainly used for warm ironing, hitting massage, superficial skin puncture, deep muscle puncture, or incision and drainage. The technique is still mainly simple cutting, stabbing, hitting massage and so on. Although bronze needles have been produced, their application in medical treatment is not yet common; however, at that time there was already a certain understanding of deep needling to treat diseases, rather than the superficial external treatment of the Stone Age. For example, some scholars interpret the word "Yin" in oracle bone inscriptions as "a person treats a disease with acupuncture", and bone needles have been found deeply piercing the human body in tombs from the Yin and Shang Dynasties. The material of bronze needles is generally harder, sharper than meteorites, and the needle body is thinner and smoother, but its toughness is poor, and the characteristics of the technique should be mainly pure acupuncture.

From the Spring and Autumn Period to the Southern and Northern Dynasties

History background

During this period, from primitive society to feudal society, productivity has been greatly improved, and iron smelting technology has promoted the production of iron needles. Philosophical ideas such as Yin Yang and Five Elements have been widely used and practiced in the field of medical theory, which has promoted the formation and development of acupuncture theory. The main symbols of the achievements of acupuncture and moxibustion in this period are "Huangdi Neijing", "Nanjing", "Acupuncture and Moxibustion Classics". The "Huangdi Neijing", which was written in the pre-Qin period, marked the formation of acupuncture theory. The meridian theory has changed from "Moxibustion of the Eleven Vessels of the Foot and Arm" and "Moxibustion Classic of the Eleven Meridians of Yin and Yang" which only record eleven meridians to the "Huangdi Neijing" which fully records the twelve meridian systems and the two meridians of Ren and Du. Yes, from less to complete, the theory and operation of clinical treatment and acupuncture form a complete system. The "Nanjing", which was written in the Western Han Dynasty, once again summarized and developed the "Huangdi Neijing".

Needle Features

The "Huangdi Neijing" is the formation period of acupuncture theory. Among the "Nine Needles", the filiform needle is the most widely used. Later acupuncture methods mostly refer to the filiform needle technique. Other needles can be used for bloodletting, pus drainage, diuresis, and pressing. The book describes in detail the needling methods such as pinching acupoints, inserting needles, moving needles, retaining needles according to weather conditions, and removing needles. The whole process emphasizes the importance of healing the spirit and gaining energy. "The truth of needling must first heal the spirit." Acupuncture needs to be based on pulse conditions, illnesses, and constitutions, and at the same time pay attention to the overall concept of the unity of nature and man, such as the four seasons and the environment. In terms of needling methods, combined with the disease site, condition, and stimulation methods, "five needlings", "nine needlings", "twelve needlings" and "three talent needling methods" were proposed; The principle of tonifying and reducing. The main methods of tonifying and reducing are breathing, welcoming, slowing down, opening and closing, twirling, and air-guiding; the auxiliary techniques include following, clawing, pressing, shaking, advancing, retreating, stretching, pushing, flicking, and touching. , which laid the foundation for later generations' "Fourteen Methods of Acupuncture" and "Eight Methods of Acupuncture".

The "Nanjing" mainly explains the gist of the "Huangdi Neijing", and also has a certain development on this basis. In terms of acupuncture operations, it emphasizes the use of left and right hands together; Lifting, interpolation, reinforcing and reducing techniques, "reducing the south and reinforcing the north", "child-mother reinforcing and reducing", "ying and guard reinforcing and reducing", etc., have all had an important impact on the development of later generations of techniques.

"Acupuncture A and B Classics" is a summary of predecessors. In terms of acupuncture techniques, it mainly contributes to shallow and deep needling and needle retention. The timing of shallow and deep needling and needle retention is determined according to the muscle thickness of the acupoint and the characteristics of the disease. , has far-reaching guiding significance for future clinical efficacy and safety operations. In addition, there are also a lot of descriptions on the tool selection, operation, taboos, etc. of pricking methods such as pricking and leopard pricking.

Although acupuncture theory has been formed in this period, and it has a complete system from theory to clinical practice, it has made leaps and bounds compared with the Stone Age and Bronze Age, but there are still certain limitations from the perspective of history. From the acupuncture manipulation techniques, it can be seen that the trajectory of manipulations in this period is mainly linear, and all of them are mainly lifting and inserting manipulations, straight in and straight out. It is difficult to achieve smooth twisting manipulations, and it is difficult to achieve needle body. Lying down, twisting and other forms, which may be related to the inability of ferroalloy technology to produce alloy needles with good toughness and hardness in this period.

Sui and Tang Dynasties to Song, Jin and Yuan Dynasties

History background

In the Tang Dynasty, the discipline of acupuncture and moxibustion received official attention. The experience of predecessors was collected and organized, and the contemporary experience was also carefully summarized. The clinical application of acupuncture and moxibustion has achieved unprecedented development. After the Tang Dynasty, the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms were in constant war, and the development of acupuncture and moxibustion entered a low ebb again. In the Song Dynasty, it ushered in a certain development again. Especially in the Northern Song Dynasty, various manufacturing industries were quite developed. Art came into being during this period. The Imperial Medical Office of the Tang Dynasty set up acupuncture doctors, teaching assistants, acupuncturists, etc. The official textual research specifically focused on acupuncture points and books. "Yao" and other records a large number of acupuncture and moxibustion content. These books mainly introduce the textual research on knowledge of meridians and acupoints, the application of various clinical subjects, and advocate the combination of acupuncture, moxibustion and medicine, and also record the use of "fire needle". Acupuncture and moxibustion also received official attention in the Song Dynasty. After Wang Anshi’s political reform, he paid more attention to the education of acupuncture and moxibustion medicine. During the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, it inherited the Northern Song Dynasty and continued down to the Ming Dynasty. During this period, a considerable number of physicians experienced the inheritance of acupuncture and moxibustion academics from the Northern Song Dynasty. At the same time, they obtained long-term practice in the subsequent wars. The wars also led to the loss of many medical records. Therefore, In the stable period of the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, doctors summed up their experience and expressed their opinions. There were many academic disputes and schools, and many famous scholars emerged, such as Zhang Zihe, Li Dongyuan, Liu Wansu, Zhu Danxi, Dou Hanqing, He Ruoyu, etc.

Needle Features

There are relatively few records related to acupuncture in the Tang and Song Dynasties, but some scholars believe that the real "twisting" technique was formed at this stage. However, the needles of that period were derived from meteorites, and it was difficult to form needles that were easy to twist. The bronze needles unearthed in the Dala pastoral area of Inner Mongolia and the gold needles in the tomb of Liu Sheng in Mancheng, Hebei both showed that the needle handles were square at that time, and could only be realized. Turning technique, it is difficult to realize the twirling technique of rotation. "Puji Fang · Acupuncture Classic" records the twirling technique, such as "when the needle is inserted... the left hand pinches the acupoint to make it fixed, and the law does not move the ground, and the right hand holds the needle, and it moves like the sky. Here, thirty-six Breathe. Once the needle is fixed, hold the breath in the right hand and twist the needle." The twirling technique is the second basic technique after the lifting technique, and has had a great influence on the development of later techniques. In addition, "Taiping Shenghui Prescription · Acupuncture Classics" also emphasizes that the first thing to do is to get qi when acupuncture is used for reinforcing and reducing. The first of its kind for tonifying and reducing. In addition, there are descriptions of practical applications such as three-edged needles, giant thorns, and acupuncture taboos.

During the Jin and Yuan dynasties, acupuncture theory and application achieved unprecedented innovation and development, which can be regarded as the mature period of acupuncture techniques. In terms of acupoint allocation, He Ruoyu's "Ziwu Liuzhu Acupuncture Classic" combined with time qi and blood flow injection to select acupoints. Zhang Zihe, Liu Wansu, and Zhu Danxi are good at taking some specific acupoints for pricking and bloodletting. Li Dongyuan is good at taking acupuncture points related to the treatment of spleen and stomach. Wang Hao Gu is good at the use of Wushu acupoints for tonifying and reducing, and Zhang Yuanyuan likes to use Wushu acupoints "Jingjing method". In terms of auxiliary techniques, there are "xun palpation, bombing anger" and so on. Acupuncture emphasizes the principle of deqi, and points out that when deqi, the operator feels a sinking, tight, astringent, like a fish hooked needle. In terms of acupuncture techniques, there are methods such as moving, retreating, rubbing, advancing, panning, shaking, and twisting. In terms of reinforcing and reducing techniques, compound techniques such as breathing, welcoming, twirling, lifting and thrusting were widely used in this period. In addition, Dou Hanqing clearly pointed out that "the method of strengthening and reducing is not breathing but in the fingers", emphasizing that The method is the deciding factor. In addition, the penetrating acupoint method also appeared for the first time in the "Jade Dragon Song" of this period.

In addition to the above, the most influential acupuncture achievement in the Jin and Yuan dynasties was the birth of twirling tonifying and reducing methods, which evolved on the basis of twirling techniques in the Tang and Song dynasties. The Twisting Reinforcing and Reducing Method was first recorded in "Biao You Fu": "Follow the right and relieve the coolness, and benefit the left to replenish the warmth." , The production of this technique is closely related to ancient astronomy, vitality theory, cyclone theory and other cognitions in theory. In addition, the author believes that the smelting technology at that time created the material conditions for the twirling tonifying and reducing method. The needle body is required to be smooth, thin, and sharp. The twisting method requires a spiral needle body to work. In addition to the above requirements, the filiform needle must also have good toughness and hardness. During the Song, Jin and Yuan dynasties, the metal smelting and processing technology was relatively skilled and refined, and the shape and processing technology of many living and production utensils was relatively close to modern times, which was different from the simple and simple style of the past. People use composite materials to improve the comprehensive mechanical properties of tools. The Taoist idea of "strength and softness" has been fully reflected in smelting, and the hardness, toughness, and sharpness have been improved. Copper and iron drawing technology has appeared, and gold-plated and tin-plated metal surfaces and other processing techniques. Therefore, under such a background, the material guarantee for the needles required for the twisting technique was provided, and it may also be an important factor for the prosperity of the technique during this period.

Ming and Qing Dynasties

History background

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the society was relatively stable, the culture and economy were prosperous, and Chinese medicine also developed further. During this period, the government organized and compiled a large number of ancient works, including TCM acupuncture and moxibustion, such as "Yongle Dadian", "Ancient and Modern Books Integrated Medical Department Quanlu", "Siku Quanshu" and so on. Both the Ming and Qing dynasties separated acupuncture and moxibustion into separate disciplines in the medical system. During this period, the training of acupuncture and moxibustion talents was still in the form of teachers leading apprentices. During this period, there was the casting of bronze figures of acupuncture and moxibustion, and a large number of influential monographs on acupuncture and moxibustion emerged, such as Xu Feng's "Complete Acupuncture and Moxibustion", Yang Jizhou's "Acupuncture and Moxibustion Dacheng", Gao Wu's "Acupuncture and Moxibustion Gathering Play", Wu Qian's "Medical Emperor Jin Jian · Acupuncture and Moxibustion Heart Techniques", etc. This period was the heyday of acupuncture. On the basis of inheriting the acupuncture methods of the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, the Ming Dynasty further theoretically and systematically summarized them and promoted them in clinical practice. lagged behind.