• Journal of Korean Medical classics
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.59-71
• /
• 2019

Objectives : This paper looks at the history of East Asian acupuncture and moxibustion in the context of the general orientations of craft and art. It is understood that acupuncture and moxibustion was the ultimate integration of reason and craft in which text and experience mutually influenced each other throughout its development. In Joseon, the pursuit of integration between the body and the order of the Heaven and Earth was particularly prominent. Methods : As in the words of Zhunagzi(莊子), the state in which something that deeply touches the mind manifests in the hands has been understood as the ultimate state in modern and ancient art. Starting here, I examined the possibility that Korean acupuncture and art has evolved from such foundations step by step. Major acupuncture and moxibustion texts were examined historically, starting with "Shenyingjing(神應經)", leading to "Junggan-Shenyingjing (重刊神應經)", "Chimgu-Gyeongheombang(鍼灸經驗方)", "Chijongjinam(治腫指南)", "Chijongjinam-Joseonchambon治腫指南朝鮮?本", "Chimgutaegilpyeonjip(鍼灸擇日編集)", "Chimgu-Myeonggam(鍼灸明鑑)". Introductions and main contents of the texts were analyzed and presented appropriately. Results : East Asian acupuncture and moxibustion has developed based on the study of pathways that correspond to Shen, of the accordance and harmony between body and the order of Heaven and Earth together with theoretical refinement, technical development, and acceptance of new discoveries. In the perspective of craft, this was motivated by artistic passions such as '得於心 應於手' and '醫者意也'. In the case of refined acupuncture methods, due to their difficulty in education and transmission there has been some fluctuation. Conclusions : Korea, China, and Japan share a largely similar philosophical and cultural basis. Reason and craft, text and experience mutually influenced each other while the core of refined acupuncture was widely shared. However, a certain bifurcation point could be detected.