Evolution Of The Republic Of China Acupuncture And Moxibustion

Acumoxology in the Period of Republic (Republic of China, 1912-1949) is an important ring of its long historical chain. Up to the date there has not been specific research on this topic which results in the detachment of understanding contemporary acumoxology from its ancient ancestor, thus, it is not clear that why the acumoxology resumes its current form. This thesis focuses on the various aspects of acumoxology during the Period of Republic, including analysis of historical background, examination of related literatures, systemic comparison of literatures of that period with the classics, and the investigation and discussion of the evolution of theories regarding the channelology, acupointology and puncture methods.The "scientification" of channel theory is explored within the background of evolution of channelology. The professional circle interpreted the acumoxology from the view of Western medical sciences in the light of research on the mechanisms of acumoxology in Japan. However, the real "scientification" was not achieved because of no deep understanding of both traditional concepts and Western medicine. Nevertheless, the historical role of "scientificizing" Channel Theory can not be underestimated: This trend came out in the new social environment which inspired the confidence in acumoxology among the students and encouraged an educational fervent wave. This movement provides a guidance to the future development, demonstrating that the "scientification" of Channel Theory will be possible only with deep and thorough understanding of both the tradition and modernity.The thesis discussed the newly-added modern anatomical description of acupoint locations and the therapeutic nature of the acupoints.Anatomy is used to present the features of acupoints understood in their location. It was realized that "acupoints were associated with the nerve trunks" so that "anatomical description should be applied to every acupoint" was required. As the further understanding of the Channel Theory and the nature of acupoint, the concept of "association of acupoints to the nerve trunks" was compromised. However, the anatomical representation of acupoints was preserved because of the requirement for safety and the layered needling method.The theory of "Therapeutic nature of acupoints" was formulated in comparison to the inductive summary of therapeutics of Chinese herbs. This, though only a concept, has a huge influence over the following development of acumoxology. On the theoretical basis of the "therapeutic nature of acupoints" prescription of point selection was formulated and a system was constructed differently from the traditional differential diagnosis and treatment of acumoxology. This thesis indicates that the difference in the differential diagnosis and treatment between traditional acumoxology and traditional Chinese medicine lies in that the acumoxology is a medical system that emphasizes the pursuit of the pathological locations. This becomes clear after understanding that why the concept of "therapeutic nature of theacupoints" was not used to organize and summarize the therapeutic indications of the acupoints.The development of the concepts of "Qi Arrival" and "Qi Obtaining" and of the manipulation with tonification and reduction needling is discussed regarding the changes in needling methods."Qi Arrival" is the evidence to terminate the needling manipulation in Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor's Cannon of Internal Medicine) and it also predicts the prognosis. However, historically the understanding of "Qi Arrival" has deviated from generations to generations that this deviation has influence over the acumoxology of the Period of Republic. During this time, the acumoxologists explained the needling reaction from the perspective of Western biomedicine, which, in fact, induced more needling sensation in patients. Yet the "Qi Obtaining" and the "Qi Arrival" conceptually belong to different categories and the lack of this misunderstanding results in the loss of "Qi Arrival" function.The tonification and reduction of needling had evolved during this time. The acumoxologists inclined to guide their tonification and reduction methods according to Western biomedicine because they believed that the needling sensations are generated from "the puncturing the nerves", thus, the concept of strong or weak stimulation corresponding the tonification or reduction was formulated. Zhao Jing-sheng indicated, after his research on the literature, that the concept of strong or weak stimulation corresponding the tonification or reduction formed during the Period of Republic in fact is agreeing with that of Nei Jing. Using strong or weak stimuation as tonification or reduction opens the road to quantification and objectivity of tonificationa and reduction manipulation.In summary, this thesis analyzes how the causation for evolving changes for channelology, acupointology and needling manipulation was nursed during the Period of Republic and how it exerted the influence over the future development of modern acumoxology. Therefore, both positive and negative lessons are explored that may facilitate the development of contemporary acumoxology.