Master DOU Han-qing's academic achievements in acupuncture and moxibustion

Abstract

Master DOU Han-qing is one famous acupuncturist in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties of China. In consideration of his newly neatened works DOU Taishi Zhenjing (Master DOU's Canon of Acupuncture,《》), Zhenjiu Jicheng (Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion,《》) and Panshijin Zhici Michuan (Panshijin Secretly Bequeathed Techniques of Straight Needling,《》) which were not paid enough attention in the past, we make a systematic and comprehensive summary about his academic achievements in the present paper. There are six main aspects about Dou's academic achievements: blending the essence of sages' acupuncture theories and clinical experience, correcting predecessors' mistakes; innovating the needlingmethods; expanding the clinical applications of acupoints and paying attention to combination of meridian acupoints and extra-points in clinical practice; inheriting and developing acupuncture prescriptions in the Song Dynasty, creating new diagnostic and treatment modes; initiating needling techniques of various schools in the Ming Dynasty; and describing the contents of acupuncture and moxibustion in the form of odes. Moreover, we also put forward some of our enlightenments and considerations about DOU Han-qing's academic achievements.