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Home , Bian Que, Chao Yuanfang, Zhang Zhongjing

Ancient Science of Life, Vol No. VI No. 1 July 1986, Pages 24 - 29

CHINESE AND THE INTRODUCTION OF MASSAGE INTO CHINA BEFORE THE 8TH CENTURY

LI JINGWEI

China Academy of Traditional, Chinese Medicine, Dongzhinen Nei, Beijing, China.

Received: 19 March 1986 Accepted: 28 April, 1986 ABSTRACT: This article deals with history of Chinese massage and the introduction of Indian massage into China.

INTRODUCTION

Massage, as a treatment, though carries different names in health care of various Chinese massage has a long history which nations, is perhaps one of the most age – old can be traced back to the primitive society. methods for removing fatigue and curing Lushi Chunqui Guyepian said : “At the trauma in the health work of mankind. beginning of Tao Tang Dynasty, due to the excessiveness and accumulation of the Yin There are different titles for massage in principle, the water way was blocked up and different period in China, viz: Jiaoyin, didn’t go to the right way and thus effected Anwu, Jiaomo, , Zhezhi, Anjiao, the people who then suffered from Mosha, Tuina, Anmo etc. Since the stagnation of (vital energy) and spasm of pronunciation “massage” in western the tendons, pain and stiffness of the joints. language is quite similar to the Mosha of the Dancing was thus proposed and applied for Chinese, some scholars believe that the eliminating these diseases”. This indicated massage of the western world might be that as early as the Tao Dynasty 5000 years originated from China. Although the terms ago, the Chinese people were aware of the mentioned above and the therapeutic fact that wet surroundings causes widely modalities are varied, they all share common spread disease of joints, and that dancing, a contents and theories. Applying no drugs, form of ceremony for celebrating victories, massage therapy features a series of could cure such diseases. Dancing was then manipulation of pressing, rubbing, pulling, developed with characteristics of Chinese pinching and rotating, exerting on certain massage and Daoyin by imitating the parts of the patient, so as to ease his / her movements of birds and beasts, which were body and extremities and eventually cure the named five or six animal frolics. These diseases. So, massage and Daoyin (Chinese experiences through the long course of setting – up and therapeutic exercises) are history, eventually lead to the appearance of closely linked with the subject of prolonging professionalized doctors specialized in life during its early period of development. massage before 1000 years B. C. Shiji (Book of history), Biographies of Bianque and The Origin of Chinese Massage Changgong, written by the famous historian

Pages 24 - 29 shima Qian, recorded that “I heard that them, the Illustrations of Daoyin and fifty- doctor Yu treated the patients without two prescriptions for diseases provide even using decoction and wine but , more valuable materials for history of massage, exercises and hot compress in development of massage. Although these ancient times”. This story was told by works were buried as funeral objects in 168 Zhong Shuzi, an attendant of prince of the B. C. and might be written not very far Guo State, who was suspicious of doctor before buried. By comparing its contents, Bianque’s compatibility of curing the crown character and technical terms with Nei prince’s severe shock. It is interesting that (the Internal Classic), scholars believe that Zhong Shuzi’s story revealed significant these books were edited earlier than Neijin. material for probing the details of massage The fifty two prescription for disease 3000 years ago. Also, it indicates that there recorded both the treating experience and were specialists of massage in that time. theory of fifty two kinds of disease out of Bian – que and his students Zi Yiu, Zi Bao which, 20 pieces deal with 7 kinds of were all distinguished representatives and disease treated by massage, including experts in massage in 5th Century B. C. pressing and rubbing the part of sacrum for when they were rescuing the prince, suffered curing urodialysis; massage with application from severe shock, besides acupuncture, hot of ointment and other medicines on the skin compress and decoctions, they applied for curing scar and dermal itch with massage as a treatment. Obviously, Jiaoyin satisfactory results. and Anwu are the ancient names for massage in its semantic sense. Neijin laid down the theoretical foundations of traditional Chinese medicine and is At the end of 19th century, a lot of oracle respected as a canon by medical professional inscriptions (characters carved on beast’s of successive dynasties. Although Neijing bone or tortoise’s shell to keep as records of isn’t monograph for treatment and medical events) were unearthed from a ruins of the technique, nor a monograph for massage, ruling center of the Yin Dynasty some 3000 yet, the skill and instruments of massage are years ago with rich contents on knowledge distinctively emphasized, for example: of human anatomy, diseases of human body concerning the origin of massage, Neijing and treatment. These provide much claims that the people living in the plain of valuable materials for researchers. Among central China where the surroundings is others, the characters and of oracle bone damp and rich in natural products, with a inscription show that “the method of diversity of edible foods so that they are lack applying massage for treatment of diseases in labour and weak in joints, and apt to of the body and abdomen had already suffer from rheumatic arthritis. Massage appeared in the Yin Dynasty (17 – 11th Cent. and Daoyin are indicated for these diseases. B. C.)”. Anyhow, experiences handed Hence the technique of massage and Daoyin down, either verbally according to scholars are produced from the plain of central of literally by records 3000 years before, all China. The indications of massage pointed corroborate that massage in China has a by Neijing are obstruction of channels, remote origin. numbness of extremities and rheumatic arthritis. For instruments of massage, the In 1973, fourteen kinds of medical work round needle with a cylindrical body and were unearthed from Ma wangdui Han tomb oval tip is mentioned in Neijing. When in province by archeologists. Among round needle is applied on the body, the

Pages 24 - 29 injury of skin and muscle can be avoided. time, this refers to Huangdi Qibo Anmo Massage mentioned in Neijing shows no which was divided into ten volumes as differences with that of ancient legends recorded in Han Shu. Unfortunately it was indeed. What Neijing describes has been the lost and its content could no longer be summarization of the medical experience of known. massage since ancient time. Slowing down of development of massage Now, let us read some books on massage written by authors other than medical The conclusion that Chinese massage was at professional from which we can get to know a low ebb during several hundred years the situation of massage from the around the Christian era, may not be so contemporary intellectuals. Meng zi stated correct. However, judging from the that when Meng zi (372 – 289 B. C.) visited available materials, no other conclusion can King Hui of the Liang State, he said “he be drawn. During these times, Traditional couldn’t work on massage for aged man, he Chinese medicine was developing fast and could do it, but he didn’t like to do”. The many famous doctors appeared in the field paragraph signifies that professional of medicine. Unfortunately, nothing about aspiration of the youth at that period. Also, monograph of massage can be found. the record proves further that professional However, the condition of massage therapy doctor of massage already came into being can be interpreted through case records in as early as 2000 years ago. some historical works. There was a medical case recorded by , which said, a Xingqi Yupei Ming is a piece of epigraphy patient suffered from dizziness for several carved on a jade – decorations. According years unable to keep his head erect with his to the research by archeologists, the visual function lost, his clothes were then epigraph was carved before 380 B. C. and loosened and Huatuo hung him by the feet had 45 Chinese characters, which described with his head 1 – 2 cm above the ground, the method and technique of breath – and his body was cleaned with wet cloth, exercise and Daoyin for keeping health, then rubbed with medical extract, covered preventing and treating disease. The with quilt. Profuse sweating occurred, he epigraphy is explained as one kind of “Xing was then offered a drink and medical qi” (flowing of vital energy) literatures by powder composed of semen lepidic sen Guo Moruo, while another author descurainiae and dog’s blood. He recovered Shou claimed it as a monograph of physical at once. Doctor Zhongjing (2nd A. exercise therapy. The contents of massage D.) emphasized that if one preserves Zhen mentioned in xingqi Yupei Ming, The Qi (the vital energy) in the body and avoid Illustration of Daoyin, Fifty two pathogenic wind, one can avoid suffering Prescriptions for diseases and Meng zi, from disease; if pathogenic factors attack Huai Nan Zi were all written approximately someone’s channels and he feels ill in limbs at the same period and closely linked in its and body, he must apply Daoyin and breath meaning. They indicated that technique of exercise, or acupuncture and massage to massage had reached a high level in treating stop the pathogenic factors go along the disease and applied widely for medical use. channels before obstruction of the nine body Of course, the literatures mentioned above orifices occurred. Early application of are not monograph of massage, however massage is an advanced treatment, but no there were monographs of massage in that concrete technique and steps were left down

Pages 24 - 29 by Zhangh Zhongjing, only when he showed very little influence on Chinese discussed to rescue the patient who died of medicine, so did Indian massage. hanging himself, he mentioned pressing and rubbing chest and limbs of the patient. Bodhidharma (? – 528), well – known as the Judging the great achievements made by 28th grandfather of Indian school of Chan Hua Tuo and , their works Buddhism and the Father of Chinese school on massage therapy seems quite of Chan, arrived Guangzhou, China in 479 unimportant. A. D. by sea. Route. Then, he went to Shaoling temple, Shongshan country, Henan The outstanding doctor and Tao province. He “sits on ground and faces to Hongjin are also well-known for their wall, keeps silent all day long”, called “the knowledge in seeking longevity and seeing wall” by the people. His teaching of alchemy over the century. Although they throwing away all the feelings such as love, wrote many books, they did not write any hate and sexual passion has an extensive monograph on massage, only mentioned, impact. The old story saying that Yi Jin Jing here and there among the treatments of their was written by Bodhidharma and Yi Zhi books, such as pressing and rubbing with Chan (one technique of massage), taught by paste, drug or bolus in Gehong’s book Bodhidharma were not true because Zhouhou Beiji Fang. The technique is Bodhidharma didn’t help people using similar to those applied by Zhang Zhongjing massage and there was not any record about and ancient doctors. Ge Hong also his teaching of massage when he lived in mentioned some monograph of massage China. Some scholars claimed that even if followed Neijing in his book the Yi Zhi Chan came from India, it was not Neipian.Xialan including Canan of Massage taught by Bodhidharma for it was introduced (one volume) and Canon of Daoyin (ten into China several centuries after volumes), that were lost also. Tao Hongjing Bodhidharma. His successors, attributed highly appraised massage theoretically. He some book for Bodhidharma’s name, which emphasized that if one only know how to just likes Neijing carries the title Huangdi use medicine for preventing disease without and Yinghai Jingwei the title . knowing the application of massage and This style of study is not seldom seen in Daoyin, he will fail in getting good result. ancient China. Bodhidharma had effected Yet, he neither described massage on development of Chinese Buddhism but theoretically nor systematized ancient not linked with Indian medicine and experience. It should be pointed out that, in massage introduced into China. It is a view of the emphasis on massage made by strong proof when and other Tao and Ge, it signified that the slow doctors were organized by Sui government development in a period of several hundreds to collect medical books from national of years will soon come to an end. library and folk doctors for editing Zhubing Yuanhe Lun in 7th Century A. D. To sum up, though Indian Buddhism exerted great influence at that time, however, Prosperous Chinese Massage and the massage and Daoyin, breath exercises still Introduction of Indian Massage in to preserved pronounced colour of scholars of China Huang Lao and that bear native Chinese smell. Accompanied with the During the 7th and 8th century A. D., spread of Buddhism, Indian medicine traditional Chinese massage developed

Pages 24 - 29 prosperously and fast, meanwhile Indian Doctor of massage is the main teacher, while massage was introduced and incorporated massagers and practitioners are the doctor’s into the sea of Chinese massage. Thus, assistants. Chinese massage became more colourful and flourished. Institutions were set up for education of massage. The institution of Sui and Tang Education of massage : Schooling of Dynasties indicated clearly that doctor of traditional Chinese medicine was established massge teachers the students of massage to in 6th century and developed speedily in 7th learn skill of removing – resting and Daoyin century. The medical university – Tai Yi which can treat eight sorts of disease, Shu organized by Tang Government had set including wind, cold, summer heat, wet, strict demands in educational system, hunger, full, overworked and leisure. If teaching material, examination and teachers. there were diseases of the limbs and organs It had more than 300 staff, including caused by stasis and obstructions, it can be teachers, students, workers and other faculty relieved and dispersed from body and the of persons. Massage was one of the four pathogenic factor can’t invade the body; departments in the university. At the while for traum and fracture, it will apply beginning of 7th Century, the government of the method of bone setting. We can see no Sui Dynasty gave much support to the trace of Indian massage influencing the education of massage. The department of educational institutions of massage and set massage included 20 doctors of massage, lessons. 120 massems and 100 students. When the Tang government replaced Sui government, The speedy massage development can also it followed the policy of Sui government, be seen in its extensive application in health but it cut down the numbers of department care in imperial family. The Sui of massage, only kept one doctor of government trained many massers that had a massage, four masseure, thirty students of close relation with emperor Yangguang who massage, and added sixteen practitioners of sought ease and comfort, and was indulging massage. This reduction might had in wine and sexual life. In the hospital of something to do with the ending of war and Imperial care – the Shang Yao Ju had more experience learned from the over throwing than one hundred masseurs with master of Sui Dynasty. physicians and doctors for imperial family’s care, but later on the number of masseurs Besides the required course of basic theory were considerably reduced and remained such as Neijing, Maijing for diagnosis: very few in imperial family of the Tang Bengcao Jing for pharmacy; Jia Yi Jing for Dynasty. acupuncture; Xiao Pin Fang for prescriptions, students of massage should The flourishing of massage can also be seen study methods and skill of massage, Daoyin, from the attitude of famour doctors. breath exercise as main courses in Masseurs had a low position in department of massage, also they should contemporary society and generally, people grasp the idea of “The pivot may not be were averse to this profession, and massage corroded because it keeps moving while were belittled by other medical flowing water is not decayed because it professionals. General folk masseurs were keeps running”, so one must keep joints not well educated and lack of extensively moving actively and blood flows smoothly. and profound knowledge, they had difficulty

Pages 24 - 29 in summing up the experience and its theory, Sit with the body reclining towards left and that was an important factor for the lack of right alternately. massage works. However, by the 7th Century, such an atmosphere was changed. Hold head with hands and turn to left and The fact that Chao Yuanfang and other right alternately. doctors gave much stress to massage was but few of the examples. Later, the well Bend body with two hands press the ground, known doctor Sun Simiao (581 – 682) gave then put up hands three times. even more pages to massage. By summarizing the experiences of keeping Strike back with left and right first good health of the predecessors, he recorded alternately. not only traditional massage from Chinese Lao Zi but also that of Tian Zhu State from Sit with one’s leg stretched and kick left and India. He made a great contribution on the right foot in rotation. preservation and development of Indian massage. The full text of massage from Put hands on ground and turn head to look Tian Zhu as recorded by Sun Shimiao may backward like a tiger’s watching. be quoted as follows: Stand up and bend body towards back three Massage of Tianzhu state is a method of times. Brahma. Hold hands as a circle, step on hands with Hold and rub hands as if he is washing his left and right foot alternately. hands. Stand up with one leg support the body Cross the hands and more towards chest and weight, the other leg move forward and to depart from chest repeatedly. backward alternately without touching the ground. Then, perform on the other leg. Hold hands to press left and right leg alternately. Sit with leg stretched. Then, hold the left and right foot with two hands towards the Press the thigh heavily with the hands and knee and press by hands. turn the body towards left and right alternately. If an old person performs these eighteen postures three times daily for months, most Pull the hands as if one is opening a bow of his diseases will be relieved and his steps with force equals to live Dan and alternates will become lively as a galloping horse, his the hand left and right. eyes can see much clearer, he can eat much and doesn’t feel tired after work. Then he Hold fist and extend forward. will achieve longevity.

Pestle with left and right alternately. Although we didn’t know the author of massage of Tian Zhu State and its date of Push with left and right fist alternately. writing, the date of its introduction into China, yet it actually should have much influence on Chinese massage. Now, we

Pages 24 - 29 have difficulty to recognize which skill is of Indian massage around Sun Simiao’s age. actually introduced from India. Yet, it is an Therefore, it is clear that the effect of this active appraisal in itself that massage of branch of Indian was limited in 7th Century Tianzhu State was recorded in Qianjing Yao A. D. To probe this problem, though the fang by Sun Simiao, a doctor whose name Chinese are good at absorbing foreign should go down in history. culture and assimilate the essence into that of its own culture; however, Chinese So much for spreading the effect of Indian medicine was one of the most advanced massage in China for it is difficult to find medicines at that time, the introduction of out other sources on this topic. According Indian massage aroused no attention to the to Zhubing Yuanhe Lun, one of the most of the contemporary famous doctors. important books in Chinese medical history describing pathogeny, pathology and The period of the 7th – 8th Century was the symptoms and sings without clinical prosperous period of Chinese massage, in diagnosis and treatment, it was recorded that which a lot of achievement was obtained various types of and skills were and its content was getting rich with the useful to the treatment of diseases. passage of time. There were frequent Although it is obviously influenced by cultural exchanges between China and Indian medical theory such as four element foreign countries. The Chinese people not (earth, water, wind and fire) and 404 kinds only absorbed the knowledge of Indian of diseases, yet, nothing in massage can be massage, but also passed this education of recognized with an Indian origin. To take Chinese massage and skill into Japan, and another example, many books were thus, in turn, promoted the development of collected by the Sui government, even there Japanese massage. were over ten kinds (more than 1000 volumes) of Indian medical books collected Massage is the most age – old subject, and recorded in Suishu Jingji Zhi, and there which should be promoted and developed was no monograph on massage. One great for the urgent need of highly effective health medical prescriptions book…(752 A. D.) care as the problem of the ageing brought mentioned massage plentifully. Again, about by the development of human society nothing of Indian tract or origin of massage becomes more distinct. can be found. We cannot find the existence

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