A Brief History of the Development of Traditional Chinese Massage
Massage, also known as Tuina, Anqiao, Jiaomo, Qingzhang, etc., was commonly referred to as massage before the Ming Dynasty. It was only in the mid-Ming Dynasty that people started using the term Tuina. Geographically, Tuina is more commonly used south of the Yangtze River (southern style), while Anlu is more commonly used north of the Yangtze River (northern style). In the Central Plains, it is called "Tui An". In short, regardless of its name, there is no fundamental difference in essence. Massage therapy is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine and belongs to external treatment. It is based on the principles of the four diagnostic methods and eight principles of traditional Chinese medicine. The practitioner uses different techniques with their hands (or limbs) to perform treatments on different parts and acupoints of the body to achieve a balance of yin and yang, promote positive energy, expel pathogenic factors, and prevent and treat diseases. This therapeutic method has a long history and was gradually developed and formed by the Chinese working people in their long-term struggle against diseases. From the perspective of social development history, in the early stages of human civilization, people only used their hands for labor. It was only after the accumulation of labor experience that various tools were gradually used. When humans encountered injuries and pain during the labor process, they naturally used their hands to massage the affected areas, which often resulted in a reduction or disappearance of pain. Thus, the role of self-massage was recognized. Sometimes, there was no injury or pain, but rather an itchy sensation in certain areas of the body. By scratching or rubbing against trees or rocks, the itchiness would go away. Based on this understanding, the practice of massage continued to evolve through continuous accumulation of practical experience and continuous improvement over the course of thousands of years before gradually taking its current form.
Throughout history, our ancestors have accumulated valuable experience in massage therapy through their labor and struggle against diseases. With the gradual development of production, massage therapy has also made continuous progress. The ancient classic medical book "Huangdi Neijing" contains the following record: "In the center, there is harmony between heaven and earth, and all living things are born from it. The people eat a variety of foods without labor, so their diseases are mostly due to external cold and heat. The treatment should be guided by manipulation and massage." Wang Bing's annotation states: "Guided manipulation means shaking the tendons and bones, moving the branches and joints; massage means pressing and kneading the skin and flesh; manipulation means quick lifting of the hands and feet." The book also mentions: "When the body is shocked or frightened, the meridians become blocked." It is said in the chapter on "Blood, Qi, Form, and Spirit" in "Shiji" (Records of the Grand Historian): "When the disease arises from lack of benevolence, it should be treated with massage and herbal medicine." The commentary on "Shiji" mentions: "In ancient times, there was a physician named Yu Fu who treated diseases not with decoctions or herbal medicines, but with scraping stones, pulling and stretching, massage, and hot compresses." The "Zhou Zha" annotation also mentions: "Bian He, a physician, treated Prince Zhao's paralysis by instructing Zi Ming to cook soup, Zi Yi to check the pulse and spirit, and Zi You to perform massage." Based on the above historical records, it can be inferred that massage had become a major medical treatment during the Spring and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period, and the Qin and Han Dynasties (722 BC - 220 AD). At that time, there were already specialized books on foot massage. Unfortunately, these books have been lost and no longer exist.
During the Sui and Tang Dynasties (581-907 AD), with the development of production and the flourishing of communication between the north and south and overseas, cultural exchanges and development were promoted, and there were great advancements in medicine. Massage therapy became very popular during this time. The "Sui Shu Baiguan Zhi" already mentioned the existence of "two doctors of massage". This indicates that a massage department had been established during the Sui Dynasty, and the position of massage doctor was created. During the Tang Dynasty, massage therapy flourished even more. According to the "Jiu Fu Shu Baiguan Zhi", it states: "The chief physician of the imperial medical office is proficient in medical treatment and has four subordinates: daily doctors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, and exorcists. There are doctors who teach them." The "Duan Tang Shu Baiguan Zhi" states: "There is one massage doctor and four massage therapists. They are ranked below the ninth rank and are responsible for teaching and guiding the treatment methods to eliminate diseases, and they are in charge of treating injuries and fractures." In addition, the "Tang Liu Dian" states: "The imperial medical office has 56 massage workers and 15 massage apprentices." It can be seen that since the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the official medical administrative institution, the Imperial Medical Office, not only established a specialized department for massage treatment, but also began teaching massage. At that time, massage therapy was also used to treat traumatic injuries and skin diseases.
