Fracture images in temple murals for sacrificial activities in the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Shanxi

Abstract

A great number of 'fracture images' in murals remain in some temples in Shanxi province, describing Buddhist rituals for sacrificial activities in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Some 'fracture images', such as 'splint fixation method' and 'suspension fixation method', were found in Puguang Temple, Yunlin Temple and Yong'an Temple. These murals with 'fracture images' demonstrated characteristics of secularisation and realistic style, as vivid portrayals of surgical medicine in the Ming Dynasty. For instance, one of the pictures in Puguang Temple clearly described the shape of orthopedic splints at that time. The depictions in 'fracture images' in temple murals were basically consistent with the records in ancient literature based on the investigation on fracture treatment in the history of traditional Chinese medicine. They provided visual materials for further study of orthopedic history.