Traces of Chinese and Western medicine in the Kanbun bronze acupuncture figure / 中国针灸

Acupuncture figure is the model of human body for the learners and practitioners of acupuncture to learn and memorize the meridians points on the body surface in ancient time. The earliest bronze acupuncture figure was made in the fifth year of the North Song Dynasty and it had been cast continuously or even spread to overseas in the later dynasties. Specially, the imitation and production of bronze acupuncture figure in Japan in Edo Period were the most prominent. At present, the bronze acupuncture figure of the Edo era, with the complete and detailed historical background records, is preserved in the Tokyo National Museum of Japan and exhibited as a metal reticulated bronze figure. Such figure was named as Kanbun bronze acupuncture figure because it was cast during the Kanbun period. In the paper, the study achievements were collected on the Kanbun bronze acupuncture figure at home and abroad and its history was reviewed in terms of time feature, production background and producer. Based on the traditional Chinese thought and theory of acupuncture and moxibustion embodied by Kanbun bronze acupuncture figure, the value of the Kanbun bronze acupuncture figure in acupuncture and moxibustion was explored. Additionally, align with the introduction of Western medicine in Edo era in Japan and in consideration with the specific understanding on anatomical knowledge in Western medicine reflected by the bronze acupuncture figure, the value of the Western medicine was discussed. Finally, in view of the reticule structure of bronze acupuncture figure, the orientation and selection were analyzed under the influence of the eastern and western medicine in the Edo era, based on which, the motivation of the acceptance and creation of this bronze acupuncture figure in Japan was explored in the culture dissemination of medicine.

Textual research of origin and development of bronze acupuncture figure / 中国针灸

The origin, development and duplication history of bronze acupuncture figure (BAF) were explored by textual research of related literature. BAF was firstly recorded in period of North dynasty, which was made by under emperor's summons. It was a standard bronze figure with acupuncture points, so it was also called BAF. Thereafter, BAF was duplicated in different dynasties or even oversea, such as BAF made in period of Dynasty, self-made BAF made by , BAF made as rewards for the writers of in period of Dynasty, and BAF made by 's family of . In addition, BAF was made after the BAF was robbed by the Russian invasion army. Japan and Korea also made their own BAF. After the founding of China, the national government and scientific research institutes made new BAFs and donated it to World Health Organization as a gift in 2017.