Common
Knowledge of Chinese Culture
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is one of the nine branches of
practice recognized in medical science among the Chinese and is of most ancient origin,
having been in use from time immemorial. If we are to believe tradition, the Emperor Huang
Di was the originator of it. In the sixth century B.C., Pien Ts'iao was skilled in its
application; and there is extant to this day a work, written in the third or fourth
century B.C., which treates of it. During the time of the Song dynasty, it may be said to
have been reduced to a science; for one of two copper figures of the human body, made in
1027 A.D. by order of the then ruling Emperor, with markings to illustrate its principles,
still exists. There are 367 of these markings, every square inch on the surface having its
own name and being assigned some relationship, purely imaginary, with the internal parts.
It is considered to be a universal panacea. It was carried over from China to Japan before
the dawn of history.
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