Reference; https://mbp-japan.com/jijico/articles/32330/
Modified and translated by CFJA
The Decline of Traditional Medicine in China During the Qing Dynasty; Japan’s Adoption of Modern Medicine Post-Meiji Era
In Japan, after the 1500s in the Muromachi period, Kampo medicine, known as *hondo*, rapidly advanced and reached a high level by the late Edo period (late 1700s). By the Boshin War in the Meiji era (1868), Western medicine (modern medicine, significant for treating war injuries) had been introduced into the national healthcare system, allowing patients to choose between Kampo and Western medicine, or both simultaneously.
However, the Meiji government announced a policy in 1869 to prioritize Western medicine (German medicine) in medical education. In 1874, the “Medical System” was enacted, and by 1884, “doctors” practicing primarily Western medicine were established. This was the second medical system reform since the 701 Taihō Code, with an innovative exam-based physician selection system. Although the plan was to promote Western medicine, by 1885, due to high demand, acupuncture and moxibustion were permitted. In 1911, practitioners of “acupuncture,” “moxibustion,” and “massage” were recognized under the condition of incorporating modern medicine.
After the third medical reform in 1948, massage therapy was split into massage therapy and judo therapy. However, the post-war Japanese government did not recognize herbal medicine (Kampo), a branch of Kampo. It wasn’t until the 21st century that questions about Kampo medicine appeared on the national medical licensing exam. Currently, the six qualifications for “licensed practitioners who can perform treatment” are doctors, dentists, acupuncturists, moxibustionists, judo therapists, and massage therapists.
In China, moxibustion brought from Japan was largely abandoned by the end of the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). By the Qing dynasty in 1644, massage therapy had disappeared, bone-setting in 1801, acupuncture in 1822, and by the founding of the Republic of China in 1912, herbal medicine was no longer practiced, resulting in a complete shift to Western medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine was revived in 1956, six years after the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
The current acupuncture and moxibustion practices in China incorporate some modernized Japanese techniques, rebuilt in 1960, but the significant advancements in Japanese moxibustion during the Edo period are rarely practiced. Traditional medical theories remain undeveloped, and treatment methods aligned with theories have not been established. Although the medical system has been restored, the focus on Western medicine persists, and it appears unlikely that centuries of neglect can be easily overcome.
Japanese Acupuncture,Moxibustion and Judo Therapy(Bone-Setting) are Being Developed with the Latest Medicine at Universities and Graduate Schools
Japanese traditional medicine has continued uninterrupted throughout history. Japan has continued the practice of moxibustion introduced from China and the Chinese style of acupuncture and can be said to be a country that has preserved medical practices that were temporarily lost in China. Since 701, it has been maintained as a national qualification system, inheriting it for 1,322 years as of 2023.
In 1978, Japan established the world’s first acupuncture university. Master’s and doctoral programs have been established to work on the scientific study of acupuncture and moxibustion. As of September 2023, there are 14 universities where one can obtain eligibility to take the acupuncture and moxibustion national exam and 9 universities with graduate programs researching acupuncture medicine. A university for judo therapy(bone-setting) was also established in 2002. There are 14 universities, one junior college, and 8 graduate schools where one can study judo therapy(bone-setting) and obtain eligibility for the judo therapist(bone-setter) national exam. Japanese researchers work tirelessly with research institutions worldwide to advance the fields of acupuncture, moxibustion medicine and judo therapy(bone-setting).
For many years, acupuncture and moxibustion treatment were considered unscientific and unreliable as a form of medicine. However, since 1885, pioneers have worked on its scientific validation, and 138 years have passed. It’s been 45 years since the establishment of universities and 31 years since the creation of graduate programs in 1991. While research is still in its early stages, the perception that acupuncture is unscientific and therefore unreliable as medicine is changing.
Before choosing drug treatment (internal medicine) or surgery (surgical treatment), it is worth considering acupuncture and moxibustion treatment (internal and external treatment), which can stimulate internal organ function from the outside of the body, or judo therapy (internal and external treatment), which treats fractures and dislocations from the outside of the body.
The term 養生”Yosei treatment” as used by Dr.Seino refers to maintaining proper daily living.