animals Comment Historical Facts of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine—A Letter to the Editor Re: Magalhães-Sant’Ana, M. Animals 2019, 9, 168 Yusheng Hu and Zhongjie Liu * College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +86-136-6123-6016 Received: 13 February 2020; Accepted: 25 June 2020; Published: 15 July 2020 Abstract: A recent viewpoint paper by Manuel Magalhães-Sant’Ana (2019) discussed the evidence regarding history, conceptions and modern research related to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Acupuncture (TCVA). Based on the observation of an illustration of nine needles, the author suggested that the needles used in acupuncture are more like lancets than needles in ancient times; to support the view that acupuncture is analogous to bloodletting. In addition; the author does not believe that TCVA has not been practiced for thousands of years. This letter documents that the prototype of the modern filiform acupuncture needle has appeared as early as the Han Dynasty and that modern needles did not evolve from lancets. In addition, there is proof based on existing ancient books that TCVA has a history of thousands of years. Keywords: traditional Chinese veterinary medicine; acupuncture; bloodletting; history Dear Editor, Manuel Magalhães-Sant’Ana in his critique of Traditional Chinese VeterinaryAcupuncture (TCVA), discussed the evidence regarding history, conceptions and modern research related to TCVA. With the so-called “epistemological approach”, he asserted that the TCVA is analogous to bloodletting [1]. Based on our basic knowledge and acupuncture clinical experience, we believe that the author’s interpretation of the TCVA historical evidences is incorrect and does not support his claims. Based on the observation of only one nine-needle illustration, the author states that the needles should be described as lancets rather than needles, and, on this basis, the author concludes that acupuncture is similar to bloodletting. The concept of nine-needle first appeared in Huang Di Nei Jing [Ä帝内Ï, The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic of Medicine] (HDNJ), where the name, form and main treatment of nine-needles were discussed in detail [2]; however, there was no illustration of the nine needles. Since the Yuan Dynasty, there have been scholars in all dynasties who have shown illustrations of the nine needles based on the records from HDNJ. Until today, there are basically two painting styles regarding the shape of the needles. The illustration cited by the author (Figure1A), was drawn by Yang Jizhou [h继2]. Yang’s work was based on a similar illustration (Figure1B), which was drawn by Xu Chunfu [徐%+] in the Ming Dynasty, and was slightly modified. Another style is represented in Figure1C, which is the earliest existing nine-needle illustration [ 2]. Any reader who only looks at Figure1A will find that four needles (1, 5, 6, and 9) look like lancets, but this impression is largely due to the influence of the painting style. If Magalhaes-Sant’Ana would have seen the nine-needle illustration from Zhen Jiu Zhai Ying Ji [针xXñÆ, Collection of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Digests] and the modern nine needle model (Figure1C,D), in which only two out of nine (#5 and #9) look like lancets, he might agree that most of them could not be described as lancets. Animals 2020, 10, 1196; doi:10.3390/ani10071196 www.mdpi.com/journal/animals Animals 2020, 10, 1196 2 of 5 Animals 2020, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 6 Figure 1. Nine-needle illustrations and model. (A) Illustration of nine needles from Zhen Jiu Da Cheng Figure 1. Nine-needle illustrations and model. (A) Illustration of nine needles from Zhen Jiu Da Cheng [针灸大成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion] [1]. (B) Illustration of nine needles [针x'成, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion] [1]. (B) Illustration of nine needles in Gu Jin Yi Tong Da Quan [古今医统大全, Great Collection of Ancient and Modern Medicine] [2]. (C) in Gu Jin Yi Tong Da Quan [古Ê;统'h, Great Collection of Ancient and Modern Medicine] [2]. Illustration of nine needles from Zhen Jiu Zhai Ying Ji [针灸摘英集, Collection of Acupuncture and (C) Illustration of nine needles from Zhen Jiu Zhai Ying Ji [针xXñÆ, Collection of Acupuncture Mandoxibustion Moxibustion Digests Digests]] [2]. (D) [2]. Modern (D) Modern nine-needle nine-needle model model made madeaccording according to the todescription the description of nine of- 黄帝内经 needlesnine- needles from Huang from Huang Di Nei Di Jing Nei [ Jing [Ä帝, 内TheÏ ,Yellow The Yellow Emperor’s Emperor’s Inner InnerClassic Classic of Medicine of Medicine]] [3]. The [3]. sameThe same number number in each ineach figure figure represents represents the same the same kind kind of needle. of needle. BasedIt is obviously on the observation not correct of to only only one judge nine by-needle the illustration illustration alone, the because author states of the that influence the need of theles shouldpainting be style. described Therefore, as lancets it is more rather appropriate than needle tos infer, and the, on shape this basis, of the the nine author needles concludes according that to acupuncturethe descriptions is similar of their to bloodletting. shape and details The concept of their of use. nine All-needle illustrations first appeared were drawnin Huang according Di Nei Jing to [the黄帝内经 description, The Yellow from the Emperor’s HDNJ, soInner the Classic captions of inMedicine] different (HDNJ) illustrations, where were the name, relatively form consistent. and main treatmentThrough theseof nine captions,-needles wewere can discussed divide these in detail nine [2] needles; however into three, there categories: was no illustration in the first of one,the ninethe needles needle ares. Since slender, the thin Yuan and Dynasty, long, similar there to today’shave been acupuncture scholars needles,in all dynastiesincluding who Huozhen have shown [k针] illustration(#1 in Figures 1of), Changzhenthe nine needle [ 长针s based] (#2, Figure on the1 ),records Haozhen from [ ë HDNJ针] (#3,. Until Figure today1), and, there Yuanlizhen are basically [X) two针] painting(#4, Figure styles1). Their regarding main function the shape is toof puncture the needles. the body.The illustration The second cited category by the is massageauthor (Figure equipment, 1A), wasincluding drawn Dizhen by Yang [针 Jizhou] (#7, Figure [杨继洲1)] and. Yang Yuanzhen’s work [wasX针 based] (#8, on Figure a similar1), which illustrati has noon sharp(Figure point, 1B), whichand is mainlywas drawn used by for Xu pressing Chunfu and [徐春甫 rubbing] in the Ming body surface.Dynasty The, and third was typeslightly is similar modified to the. Another lancet, styleincluding is represented Pizhen [铍针 in F]igure (#5, Figure 1C, which1), Fengzhen is the earliest [ 锋针 existing] (#6, Figure nine1-needle) and Chanzhen illustration [ 针 [2]] (#9,. Any Figure reader1). whoAmong only these look threes at needleFigure types,1A will Fengzhen find that and four Chanzhen needles were(1, 5, mainly 6, and used9) look for bloodletting.like lancets, but Among this impressionthe nine kinds is largely of needles, due onlyto the two influence are mainly of the used painting for bloodletting, style. If Magalhaes and more-Sant'Ana than half (6would/9) of themhave seenare di thefferent nine in-needle appearance illustration from from the lancet. Zhen Jiu The Zhai author’s Ying conclusionJi [针灸摘英集 “most, Collection of them of would Acupuncture be better anddescribed Moxibustion as lancets, Digests] similar and to thosethe modern used by nine European needle barber model surgeons, (Figure 1 ratherC and thanD), in needles” which only therefore two outappears of nine incorrect. (#5 and In#9) addition, look like fromlancet thes, he HDNJ might [4 agree], we knowthat most that of modern them could acupuncture not be described technology as lancetsand the. needles had their origin in the Han Dynasty. Therefore, there is no support for the author’s statementIt is obviously that the modern not correct needle to cameonly fromjudge the by improvementthe illustration of thealone lancet. because The of author the influence also quoted of the paintingdescription style of. bloodletting Therefore, it therapy is more from appropriate HDNJ and to ancient infer the Korean shape veterinary of the nine books needle [5,6]sin according the attempt to theto prove description that needlings of their was shape used and for details bloodletting. of their Indeed, use. All there illustrations is a therapy were associated drawn according with bleeding, to the descriptionwhich is called from Xuezhen the HDNJ [@, 针so, the Hemoacupuncture] captions in different [7]. However,illustrations as onewere of relatively many acupuncture consistent. Through these captions, we can divide these nine needles into three categories: in the first one, the needles are slender, thin and long, similar to today's acupuncture needles, including Huozhen [火针] Animals 2020, 10, 1196 3 of 5 treatments, Xuezhen is far less widely used than Baizhen [}针, filiform needle acupuncture] and Dianzhen [5针, electro acupuncture]. The author stated that the TCVA does not have a thousand-year history. Because we are unable to access the full text of the literature cited by the author, we are not sure what the basis of the author’s argument might be. However, there is written evidence that the TCVA has been used for thousands of years. Si Mu An Ji Ji [øg安¥Æ, Collection on the Treatment of Equine diseases] (SMAJJ) is the earliest and relatively complete veterinary work in China [8]. Its content mainly describes the treatment of equine diseases, with many references concerning acupuncture (PDF1 in Supplementary Materials) [9]. The date of completion of SMAJJ is about 838 A.D., 1183 years ago [10]. In addition, acupuncture was also mentioned in the bamboo clip book of Yi Ma Shu [;lf, Equine Veterinary Manual] from Lao Guan Shan Tomb of Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-8 A.D.) in Chengdu in 2012 [11].