Art in Medicine: Acupuncture History & Illustration

Xin kan tong ren zhen jiu jing : qi juan

Book/Printed Material

China, 1271

Source: Library of Congress

March 2024 Art In Medicine topic is about Acupuncture History & Illustration.

Lucinda Bennett, the Medical Librarian at Ascension St Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, MD,  publishes a regular series on Art in Medicine and The Health Humanities.    

It's only 1-2 pages with gorgeous images, so it won't take you long to read ... and just might enrich your life.   

This month, Lucinda is featuring Acupuncture History & Illustration.

For as long as humanity has experienced pain, we have attempted to alleviate it. Congruently, the depictions of ailments and treatments alike have been produced in any number of media; from paint to mosaic and then to paper. One of the most ancient and ongoing practices of pain medicine is acupuncture, and imagery used for teaching tools come down to us through the ages in the form of medical texts. Acupuncture is a blend of philosophy as well as knowledge of human anatomy. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica the definition of acupuncture is as follows:

“Acupuncture, ancient Chinese medical technique for relieving pain, curing disease, and improving general health. It was devised before 2500 BCE in China and by the late 20th century was used in many other areas of the world. Acupuncture consists of the insertion of one or several small metal needles into the skin and underlying tissues at precise points on the body.  Acupuncture grew out of ancient Chinese philosophy’s dualistic cosmic theory of the yin and the yang. The yin, the female principle, is passive and dark and is represented by the earth; the yang, the male principle, is active and light and is represented by the heavens. The forces of yin and yang act in the human body as they do throughout the natural universe as a whole. Disease or physical disharmony is caused by an imbalance or undue preponderance of these two forces in the body, and the goal of Chinese medicine is to bring the yin and the yang back into balance with each other, thus restoring the person to health.”

The image [above] comes from the archives of the Library of Congress, and originally was published in the 13th century as a manual of acupuncture during the Song dynasty (960-1279 C.E.)  Although the initial publication had a limited printing run, later scholars adapted and republished it at a later date. The chapter on acupuncture was specifically targeted for updates, marking the importance of the practice even through the fall and rise of various dynasties. “...during the Yuan dynasty this particular chapter was taken out, edited, and the title changed to Xin kan tong ren zhen jiujing. It details the China positions of acupuncture points and the cures, with 12 illustrations of acupuncture 1271 points. It preserved a large portion of the original sources on acupuncture dating back before the Song. It is a very valuable document in the history of the science of acupuncture.” (Library of Congress)

Credit:  Points of the Fourteen Channels

Shi si jing xue ge

Book/Printed Material

1500 - 1900 C.E.

Library of Congress

Another item from the Library of Congress, Songs of Acupuncture Points of the Fourteen Channels, demonstrates the breadth of the venn diagram where the medical and humanities disciplines overlap in this ancient practice. Within this manual are elements of Confucian, Taoist and Buddhist perspectives pertaining to the human body.  Great attention is paid to the gravity of honing the body as well as the mind - all for the balanced relationship between physical life and the soul.

“This manuscript is a detailed account of the 14 channels, also called meridians, and the acupuncture points in the human body. Each channel is described as having a number of acupuncture points...12 channels run from inside the body to the limbs and joints and their names chiefly refer to locations and functions. Some are anatomical names or characteristics; others refer to physiological functions, pathological changes, or therapeutic effects.
Examples are "Taiyin Lung Channel of Hand", "Shaoyang Sanjiao Channel of Hand", "Taiyin Kidney Channel of Foot", and "Jueying Pericardium Channel of Hand." In this work, the Shaoyang Sanjiao Channel of Hand has depiction of acupuncture points only; the other 11 channels have both illustrations and text in verse. The remaining two channels (the "Conception Channel" and the "Governor Channel") only have fen cun ge (with prescribed distances of the acupuncture points).” (Library of Congress)

When did acupuncture spread outside of China?

“Chinese medicine was first mentioned in Western literature as early as the 13th century AD in the travelogue of William of Rubruck,17 but the Western world became aware of needling a few centuries later. By the late 16th century, a few stray manuals, now held by the Escorial in Madrid, Spain, had reached Europe. Accounts of actual practice soon followed, some quite detailed. It reached the USA somewhat later. It has since been rejected, forgotten and rediscovered again in at least four major waves, including the current one.” (Acupuncture: Past, Present, and Future)

In the modern era, the ancient practice of pain alleviation has seen an explosion of interest outside of China, especially in Western countries. There is even evidence that suggests the use of acupuncture can help with serious pain caused by cancer.  

“During the past 40 years, acupuncture, a therapeutic technique of oriental medicine, has become more and more popular, evolving into one of the most utilized forms of complementary integrative medicine interventions in the United States. In fact, more than 10 million acupuncture treatments are administered annually in the United States alone. Its rise
in popularity, particularly in the West, can be attributed in part to its effectiveness for pain relief and in part to the fact that scientific studies have begun to prove its efficacy. Consider oncology treatment: Studies conducted on both humans and animals suggest that acupuncture may strengthen the immune system during chemotherapy and can reduce the side effects of nausea and vomiting. Studies done on animals support the use of electroacupuncture to relieve cancer pain.” (Acupuncture: Past, Present, and Future)

References:
Library of Congress: Shi si jing xue ge
Encyclopedia Britannica - acupuncture
Acupuncture: Past, Present, and Future
A true history of acupuncture

Reprinted with the generous permission of Ms. Bennett.