<b>Comparison Traditional Medicine Educational Systems </b><b>in Japan and China </b> / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

Traditional medicine educational systems in Japan and China were compared.<br>In Japan, Kampo medicine has been integrated into the core curriculum of undergraduate education in all medical colleges since 2001. Japanese university medical schools give 6,000 hours of western medical educa tion, and only 30 hours of Kampo education. In China at Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) universities, nearly half of teaching hours are devoted to TCM, and half to Western medicine. And even at medical univer sities that specialize in Western medicine, students will usually have 80 hours in TCM courses. Usually it takes five years to graduate. In Japan, Kampo education puts a special focus on the <i>Shang-han-lun </i>and <i>Jin-kui-yao lue </i>texts, which still influence daily practice. In China, on the other hand, TCM doctors rely on traditional theories of Chinese medicine such as the Yin-Yang theory, the Five Elements theory or relationships between meridians and organs. Kampo specialists have been increasing in recent years, although in China, the number of TCM doctors has been decreasing. However, better traditional medicine education would play a role in in creasing our inheritance of both in Japan and in China.