A Brief Story of Ancient Chinese Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese system of medicineShowing Acupuncture and Moxibustion Points). The
which involves the practice of inserting fine needlestext of this work was also engraved on two stone
into the skin. To research the beginnings of the art andsteles more than two meters high and seven meters
practice of acupuncture we must pierce the folds ofin width, and were erected at Kaifeng, then capital of
time and cast our minds back to ancient China.the Northern Song dynasty, for public benefit. Wang
The oldest records of ancient Chinese acupunctureWeiyi’s ancient work provided the impetus for a
are found on bone etchings thought to be from aroundgreat leap forward in ancient Chinese acupuncture.
1600 B.C. or almost 4000 years ago.The points on the body had been mapped out, the
Archaeological excavation of sites around Chinaancient instruments had been created and ancient
through the last century has brought to light a numberChinese people were being healed.
of pointed stones which archeologists haveRecorded history of ancient Chinese acupuncture
determined are ancient acupuncture needles. Thesefrom the book, Songshi (History of the Song Dynasty)
stones slivers were for medical treatments, used torecounts that Emperor Renzong, who fell ill in 1034,
make skin incisions and to stimulate specific points onwas cured successfully through acupuncture. This
the body.helped popularize ancient acupuncture and the art and
The history of ancient acupuncture originated with thepractice of acupuncture became the forte of
use of these stones, then slivers of animal bones werespecialized physicians such as Wang Zhizhong during
used. Later still, bamboo needles were used forthe Southern Song dynasty. Wang was the author of
therapeutic purposes.A Description of Acupuncture and Moxibustion,
Another archeological dig in China, at a site from the(Zhenjiu Zishengjing) published in 1220, a classic text on
Shang Period (1766-1122 BC), excavated a tomb andancient acupuncture.
found a stone hook which was contained in a lacquerAncient acupuncture is not the exclusive possession of
casket, indicating an object of value. It was determinedthe Chinese. The papyrus Ebers of 1550 BC is the
that this was also a medical instrument used in ancientmost important of ancient Egyptian medical treaties. It
Chinese acupuncture.refers to a book on the subject of vessels which
Not only do the medical instruments and ancientcould correspond to the twelve meridians of
needles show us that acupuncture was being used atacupuncture.
these times, but history has large, bronze artifactsThe Bantu of South Africa sometimes scratch parts
proving the importance of ancient Chineseof the body to cure disease. In the treatment of
acupuncture.sciatica the Bantu cauterize with a hot metal probe a
A life sized bronze man was created to showpart of the ear. This practice corresponds with the
acupuncture points on the body and greatly contributedacupuncture method of Auricular or Ear acupuncture.
to the development of ancient Chinese acupuncture.Some Eskimos practice simple acupuncture with sharp
The creator of this figure, Wang Weiyi (c.987-1067),stones, just like ancient Chinese acupuncture. An
had the idea of casting two statues in bronzeisolated tribe in Brazil shoot tiny arrows with a blowpipe
representing a man from the front and behind. Oninto specific parts of the body.
these statues were engraved 657 acupuncture points.The great contribution of the Chinese to the primitive,
These statues were used in the Imperial acupunctureor largely local form of acupuncture practices
exams for new acupuncturists in ancient China. Thementioned above, is that they have developed a fairly
statues were coated in thick wax and then filled withcomplete systemic method. Cataloged and described
water. The student taking the exam would locate thein many text books, it is taught at universities and is
acupoint and needle into the wax covered statue.reproducible under experimental conditions.
When the needle was withdrawn a small drop ofThe methods and practice of acupuncture have come
water would be evident if the student had needled thea long way since its ancient beginnings but the interest
correct point.and desire to understand this ancient art is as fresh as
Wang Weiyi also compiled the book Tongren Shuxueever.
Zhen Jiu Yujing (Illustrated Manual of the Bronze Man