Reference; https://mbp-japan.com/tokyo/seino-1987/column/5101351/
Modified and translated by CFJA
In conclusion, here is the summary of the article, which was mentioned in the beginning.
To those who have vague thoughts on acumoxa therapy and its history as such,
- China is the origin of acupuncture therapy
- Acupuncture therapy was brought from China
- Acupuncture therapy in China is advanced
- Acumoxa therapy in Japan is behind compared to China
we are writing the blog to inform and educate the following points:
- Response to the first point:
- China is not the origin of acupuncture therapy, but it was practiced all over the world.
- Response to the second point:
- Acupuncture therapy has been practiced since the ancient period in Japan and it was fused with the acupuncture therapy brought from China.
- Response to the third point:
- For a certain period, acupuncture therapy had stopped being practiced in China; later, acupuncture therapy in China was restored by reimporting it from Japan.
- Response to the fourth point:
- Acupuncture therapy in Japan has been developed through scientific research; Japan established the world’s first university for acupuncture and moxibustion.
- There is an aspect of the Japanese continuing to pass down the ancient Chinese therapy to the next generation and have been practicing it until today.
- Japan has been treating illnesses with a wide range of techniques and various fine and delicate needles that have been created by high-level craftsmen. In contrast, China has been sticking to limited techniques.
- In Japan, acumoxa therapy is for any symptoms or disease, whereas in China, the targeted symptoms or diseases are limited.
*In the blog, the term “針” and “鍼” are being used differently. 針 is an orthographic character (正字) and 鍼 is an alternative character (異体字).
In China, 針 is the only character used.
In Japan, 鍼 is used as well.
鍼 is made from the characters 金 and 咸. The character ‘咸’ means ‘important thing’. The character ‘金’ means ‘metal’ or ‘money’, which is also considered as an important thing. Therefore, it can be presumed that many medical practitioners and intellectuals liked using the character 鍼 because they thought that it had the meaning of an important tool (needle) and therapeutic method (medical technique) in preceding a medical practice.
Dr. Seino uses 針 to represent a tool (needle). Thus, filiform needle 毫針 is not written as 毫鍼.
In contrast, 鍼 is used to represent a technique. Thus, acupuncture technique 鍼術 is not written as 針術. However, 針師 (acupuncturist) is written as such. At that time period in the literature, that was how it was written. Since Japan has imitated the medical system from China, the character 針 is being used. As the context moves closer to the modern period, it will be written as 鍼医 (acupuncture doctor).
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