Exploration on the history of acupuncture in Chinese Buddhist Canon

Abstract

It is believed that acupuncture science of Buddhist medicine has a long history and great characteristics after the investigation, research and analysis on the historic literature of acupuncture in Chinese Buddhist Canon. The writers tried to give the statements from 4 aspects. 1. Science of acupuncture in the time of Buddha. Firstly, the Buddhist acupuncture was mentioned in the time of Buddha, including substantial acupuncture, finger acupuncture and mental acupuncture. The substantial acupuncture refers to metal needle, plant needle, stone needle, bone needle, etc. Finger acupuncture means taking finger as a needle. Mental acupuncture implies that the Buddhism idea is considered in acupuncture. Secondly, the Buddhist medicine is the combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine. The needle box had become the necessity of the medical scholars in traveling. 2. Achievements of medical Buddhists in dynasties. In the paper, 33 medical Buddhists were listed, such as AN Shigao, YU Fakai, etc. They made the great contributions to the development of Buddhist medicine of acupuncture. 3. The characteristics of Buddhist acupuncture in clinical diagnosis and treatment. 1) The combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine and this mutual supplementation; 2) Mutual treatment of acupuncture and psychological therapy; 3) Remarkable therapeutic effects of specific acupuncture techniques, such as Yan needling technique and acupotomy; 4) Medical cases of Buddhist acupuncture; and 5) Precaution of misdiagnosis and prevention of mistreatment. 4. The penetrating statement of acupuncture techniques by the Buddhists in dynasties. 1) The cause-effect theory is introduced in treatment and diagnosis by medical Buddhists. The effectiveness is achieved through causality system. 2) Cataract is treated with gold needle. 3) The medical master is not qualified if nothing to know on acupuncture. The authors believe that the substantial acupuncture techniques need to be further studied and the non-substantial one requests us to be perceived.