The History of Acupuncture針灸的歷史

How Acupuncture has evolved over centuries？

數千年中，針灸是如何演變的？

Acupuncture is an ancient holistic healing technique practiced for thousands of years， and now Acupuncture in Brooklyn is loved by thousands of people. It originated in China and is a critical component of Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM）.

針灸是一門古老的整體療法，傳承已有數千年，如今在布魯克林受到成千上萬人的青睞。它起源于中國，是中醫的重要組成部分。

In Acupuncture， fine， sterile needles are inserted at specific points on the body to correct energy imbalances and stimulate the body’s natural self-healing abilities. It is primarily used to treat chronic pain， fatigue， infertility， digestive issues， arthritis， anxiety， insomnia， and other conditions.

針灸療法通過將消毒過的細針刺入人體特定穴位來調和能量失衡，激發人體與生俱來的自愈能力。該療法主要用于治療慢性疼痛、疲勞、不孕、消化問題、關節炎、焦慮、失眠等病癥。

This article explores the origins of Acupuncture and its incredible journey， transforming over centuries to become a revered therapeutic practice worldwide.

本文追溯針灸的起源，探尋其非凡的發展歷程——針灸歷經數世紀的演變，已經成為一種在全球都備受尊崇的治療手段。

Acupuncture’s beginnings in ancient China

針灸在古代中國的起源

Acupuncture’s early origins trace back to China around 100 BC. According to traditional Chinese medicine theories， Acupuncture was founded by Huang Di （the Yellow Emperor）.

針灸的早期起源可追溯至公元前100年左右的中國。根據中醫理論，針灸由黃帝創立。

The Yellow Emperor allegedly invented the practice after observing arrows piercing the bodies of soldiers during battle. He noticed improved energy and vitality in the areas surrounding the arrow wounds. This inspired him to research techniques for unblocking energy channels through strategic needle placement.

據傳，黃帝在戰場上觀察到刺入士兵身體的箭矢后發明了這一療法。他注意到，箭傷周圍局部人體的力量和生命力有所增強。這一現象啟發他研究通過在關鍵穴位針刺來疏通經絡的技法。

Acupuncture likely evolved over centuries， with many contributors who refined the practice. Archaeological evidence shows acupuncture needles made of stone and bones dating back to around 6000 BC. The earliest written record of Acupuncture is found in the Huangdi Neijing （Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon）， the revered foundational text of TCM published around 100 BC.

針灸可能歷經數世紀的演變，歷代醫家不斷完善這一療法。考古證據顯示，早在公元前6000年左右便存在石制與骨制的針灸工具。針灸最早的文字記載見于《黃帝內經》，這部備受尊崇的中醫奠基之作在公元前100年左右問世。

Japan amp; Korean Acupuncture： The spread

針灸在日本和朝鮮的傳播

Acupuncture diffused over the centuries from China to neighboring regions like Korea and Japan. It was the primary health system in these countries for centuries， along with herbal medicine and other healing modalities1.

針灸歷經數世紀從中國傳入朝鮮與日本等鄰近地區。幾個世紀里，針灸與草藥等療法共同構成了這些國家的主要醫療體系。

Japan adopted Acupuncture in the 6th century. By the 17th century， Acupuncture was taught at family-run accredited schools in Japan. Korea also fully embraced Acupuncture and featured it in their traditional medicine. Styles like Constitutional Korean Acupuncture are still practiced.

日本于6世紀引入針灸。至17世紀，日本家族經營的正規醫校中開設針灸課程。朝鮮亦全面接納針灸，并將其納入傳統醫學。諸如朝醫四象醫學針刺法等流派仍在沿用。

Korea and Japan cultivated distinct acupuncture techniques and traditions alongside Chinese Acupuncture. For instance， smaller and thinner needles tend to be used in Japanese styles compared to Chinese Acupuncture.

朝鮮和日本在中國針灸的基礎上形成了獨特的針灸技術和傳統。例如，相較于中國針灸，日本流派傾向于使用更細更小的針具。

Introduction to the Western world： Acupuncture in Brooklyn

傳入西方世界：布魯克林的針灸

For centuries， Acupuncture remained confined to Asian countries. It was virtually unknown in the West until the 17th century.

數世紀時間里，針灸始終局限于亞洲國家。直至17世紀前，針灸在西方幾乎不為人知。

The first written accounts of Acupuncture by Westerners appeared when Dutch doctor Willem ten Rhijne published about the practice in 1683 after living in Japan. He was followed by Engelbert Kaempfer， another Dutch physician， whose book on Japanese Acupuncture was published posthumously in 1712.

荷蘭醫生威廉·滕·賴恩旅居日本后于1683年發表了關于針灸的文章，這是西方人對針灸的首次文字記載。緊隨其后的是另一位荷蘭醫師恩格爾貝特·肯普弗，其關于日本針灸的遺作于1712年出版。

However， these early introductions to a skeptical Western audience needed to gain significant traction or persuade European doctors of Acupuncture’s merits. It remained obscured and poorly understood in the West for over two centuries.

然而，面對持懷疑態度的西方受眾，這些早期介紹既未引發廣泛關注，也未能讓歐洲醫生相信針灸的優點。此后兩個多世紀，針灸在西方世界仍舊鮮為人知且不被理解。

French interest and influence in Acupuncture history

針灸史上法國的關注與影響

The 19th century it marked a turning point in Acupuncture’s popularity in the West.

19世紀是針灸在西方普及的轉折點。

France， mainly， took great interest after French priest and physician Father J. A. F. Pouro hit upon Acupuncture while serving in China in the 1830s. Upon returning to France， he published extensive works about Chinese medicine that introduced Europe to Acupuncture for the first time.

19世紀30年代，法國神職人員兼醫生J.A.F.普若神父在中國傳教期間偶然接觸針灸，這引起了法國對針灸的極大興趣。普若神父返回法國后，發表了大量介紹中醫的作品，讓歐洲人初步了解了針灸。

Building on early French influence， Acupuncture slowly started gaining traction across Europe by the 20th century as more research appeared and its pain relief benefits became acknowledged. The 1930s saw the establishment of some early European Acupuncture therapy clinics catering to upper-class clientele in France and Switzerland. But Acupuncture was still generally viewed as a bizarre and suspect practice in the medical mainstream.

繼早期在法國引起關注后，隨著更多研究涌現及其緩解疼痛的效果逐漸被認可，到20世紀，針灸開始在歐洲慢慢流行起來。20世紀30年代，法國和瑞士建立了一些面向上流階層客戶的早期歐洲針灸治療門診。然而，主流醫學界仍普遍將針灸視為一種怪異且可疑的療法。

Acceptance following President Nixon’s China visit

尼克松訪華后西方接納針灸

The significant shift in perceptions about Acupuncture in the West occurred in 1972 when President Nixon visited China.

西方對針灸認知的重大轉變發生于1972年尼克松總統訪華期間。

At a widely publicized demonstration2， a New York Times journalist underwent significant abdominal surgery in Beijing using Acupuncture as anesthesia. He reported experiencing no pain during or after the surgery， only mild euphoria.

在一次受到廣泛宣傳的演示中，一位《紐約時報》記者在北京接受了一次重要的腹部手術，全程采用針灸麻醉。他說術中術后均無痛感，僅有輕微欣快感。

This mind-blowing display of Acupuncture’s power made global headlines. Research groups burgeoned across US universities and hospitals within months as American doctors rushed to study TCM modalities. It sparked enormous interest in integrative approaches blending Western medicine with holistic Eastern healing arts.

這一令人震撼的針灸療效的展示登上了全球媒體頭條。數月內，隨著美國醫學界爭相研究中醫模式，美國大學與醫院的研究小組迅速涌現。這激發了人們對融合西醫與中醫整體療法來治療疾病的極大興趣。

Nixon’s visit proved the tipping point that finally brought Acupuncture into the mainstream after two centuries of lingering skepticism in the West. It set the stage for explosive growth in the practice.

尼克松訪華是一個轉折點，它使針灸在西方歷經兩個世紀揮之不去的質疑后躋身主流醫學，也為針灸的爆發式發展奠定了基礎。

Growth of Acupuncture in the US

針灸在美國的蓬勃發展

Following President Nixon’s visit to China， Acupuncture experienced meteoric growth across the United States：

尼克松總統訪華后，針灸在全美迎來了迅猛發展：

· The first legal certification processes for acupuncturists began in the mid-1970s in states like Nevada and Maryland.

· 20世紀70年代中期，內華達州、馬里蘭州等州率先建立針灸師法定執業認證制度。

· According to recent surveys， over 10 million Americans undergo treatment annually.

· 最新調查顯示，每年有超過1000萬的美國人接受針灸治療。

Evolution of Acupuncture techniques

針灸技術的發展

As Acupuncture spread globally， its devices and techniques continued evolving through innovation：

隨著針灸在全球傳播，其工具和技術也在創新中不斷發展：

· Needles—The original stone and bone needles gave way to finer stainless steel or silver needles from the 17th century onwards. Disposable pre-sterilized needles appeared in the early 1900s.

· 針具——自17世紀起，最早的石針與骨針逐漸被更纖細的不銹鋼針或銀針取代。1900年代早期，一次性無菌針具出現。

· Moxibustion—Burning the herb mugwort near needles to amplify effects became part of traditional techniques. First mentioned around 100 BC， it remains in use.

· 艾灸——指在針旁燃燒艾草以增強療效的傳統技法，公元前100年左右此法首次被提及，至今仍在沿用。

· Laser Acupuncture—Applying low-intensity laser beams to acupuncture points instead of needles emerged in the 1970s and continues today.

· 激光針灸——20世紀70年代，以低強度激光束替代針刺穴位的技術問世，并延續至今。

· Acupressure—Using massage and pressure instead of needles became popular for needle-shy patients.

· 指壓療法——針對畏針患者，以推拿和按壓替代針刺的療法逐漸流行。

· Ear Seeds—Miniature beads or seeds placed on ear points evolved as a modern micro-acupuncture method.

· 耳穴壓豆法——將小珠子或種子貼于耳穴，演變為一種現代微針療法。

From rudimentary bones to sophisticated electrotherapy， Acupuncture reveals a remarkable evolution while staying true to its holistic roots.

從原始骨針到復雜精妙的電療法，針灸堅守其整體醫學根基的同時，走出一條非凡的發展演變之路。

Current practice of Acupuncture

當代針灸實踐

Today， Acupuncture is an established medical discipline with systematic education for practitioners：

如今，針灸已成為一門成熟的醫學學科，從業者接受系統化教育：

· More than 50 accredited teaching colleges offer Graduate degrees in Acupuncture and TCM across the US. The programs blend Eastern theories with Western medical sciences.

· 全美50余所認證教學機構開設針灸和中醫研究生學位，其課程將東方理論與西方醫學相結合。

· Acupuncture is widely used in pain clinics， integrative health centers， private holistic medicine practices， and hospitals.

· 針灸廣泛應用于疼痛診所、融合醫療中心、私立整體醫學診所及醫院。

· Research has accelerated， with clinical trials confirming Acupuncture’s efficacy and physiological mechanisms. Major insurance providers cover it.

· 相關研究加速推進，臨床試驗不斷驗證針灸療效與生理機制。主流保險機構將其納入承保范圍。

· Styles like Japanese Acupuncture， Korean Acupuncture， Five Element Acupuncture， etc.， allow customized therapy based on approaches best aligned with each patient.

· 不同針灸流派（如日式針灸、韓式針灸、五行針灸等）可基于最適合每位患者的方法采取個性化治療。

Acupuncture has cemented its place as a respected method of holistic healing grounded in ancient wisdom but supported by indisputable evidence-based benefits.

針灸扎根古老智慧，有著無可辯駁的實證療效，是日益得到推崇的整體療法。

（譯者為“《英語世界》杯”翻譯大賽獲獎者）

1 modality治療程式。

2 原文此處文字存疑。有史料顯示，比較有影響的公開針灸演示發生在尼克松訪華后：1972年5月9日，兩位中醫師受邀到美國加州舊金山做了一次演示，當場明顯改善了一位患者嚴重的關節炎癥狀，現場觀摩的有500名美國西醫師和一些加州議員。另有資料顯示，下文提及的《紐約時報》記者的腹部手術發生在尼克松訪華前：1971年，該報記者詹姆斯·賴斯頓（James Reston）在華突患急性闌尾炎，到北京協和醫院進行了手術，術后出現腹部脹痛后經針灸治療得到緩解；他將這段經歷撰文刊出，引起極大震動。