Old Japanese acupuncture text

I have one book about old acupuncture and moxibustion medicine in Japan.
It was written by Masatoyo Hongo in the Edo era (1718).
The book is titled Shinkyu choho ki.
There was a person who was one of the renowned acupuncturists in recent times in Japan.
His name is Katsunosuke Yagishita (1854-1946)
It is said that he read only one book about acupuncture and moxibustion in his life, and the book he read was Shinkyu choho ki (acupuncture and moxibustion handbook)

This book has been translated in to modern Japanese and a lot of translated books are available now.
However, I wanted an old book described in the original words.
So, I was looking for such one, and I was able to get one.
My book was published in 1748.
This book is a manual of the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment in those days.
I think, by reading this book, I can get a glimpse of what kind of treatment acupuncturists in the Edo era were using.

"Secrets into Which Our School Has Been Initiated"
At first, for every disease, hit the [tanden] ([dantian]) with a [hari] (acupuncture needle).
The [tanden] is at a spot two sun (sun is an old unit of length, and two sun is about 6 cm) lower than the navel.
The [tanden] is a place to move the [jin-ki] ([jin]: kidney, [ki]: [qi].
the [jinki] controls vitality), and is the source of the 12 major [kei] (12 major meridians).

Hit the [tanden] with a [hari] at first, and then apply the technique of [sanshin] (a technique of [hari] to scatter [ki]) to move [genki] (one of [qi] in human and is brought by [jin]). At this time, do not concern yourself in the [keiketsu] (acupuncture points).

Hit with a [hari] only spots where [jaki] ([ja]: bad, [ki]: [qi]. [jaki] is bad [qi]) stays to open a way of [genki], and the [genki] will go along this way and the [ki] will begin to move.
If the [ki] moves, tan (phlegm, too much body fluid, or energy of water) moves according to it.
If the tan moves, [netsu] (too much body heat, energy of fire) goes away.
If the [netsu] scatters, fu (energy of wind) passes away in the physical inside.
In addition, if [ki] moves, [ketsu] (blood of bloodstream) is activated.
If the [ketsu] is activated, moisture occurs.
If the moisture occurs, [sei] (vitality, energy, spiritual strength, or power to constitute the body) increases.
When the [sei] increases, strong [shin] (spirit, mind, or power to control life activity) is born in a person.
This is an effect of the acupuncture.


Yo shin do
Hiroshi Yamamoto


Translator, Ichibay
http://sakeandkimono.blogspot.com/