Research On The Schools Of Traditional Chinese Medicine In Singapore

In recent years,research on academic schools of traditional Chinese medicine has received increasing attention,and there has been no systematic study on academic schools in Singapore.This article relies on the development of traditional Chinese medicine in Singapore,sorts out the main academic schools of traditional Chinese medicine and their inheritance,analyzes their background,explores the life,works,academic thoughts,and clinical experiences of representative figures from the perspective of academic schools of traditional Chinese medicine,analyzes the difficulties encountered in the development of academic schools of traditional Chinese medicine,and puts forward corresponding countermeasures.This article is divided into four parts.The first part introduces the concept and criteria for dividing the academic schools of traditional Chinese medicine in Singapore,as well as the characteristics and inheritance relationships of the main academic schools of traditional Chinese medicine in Singapore.By consulting literature and materials on the development of traditional Chinese medicine in Singapore,10 medical experts were identified who made outstanding contributions to the development of traditional Chinese medicine,and whose life stories,medical cases,conversations,articles,or works have been passed down and reflect their academic characteristics.These experts include Li Bogai,Wu Ruifu,Zeng Zhiyuan,Chen Zhanwei,Xiao Jingwo,and Fu Bohua.The article investigates the lineage of these experts,reads their works,and analyzes their academic characteristics.Based on the connotations of people,education,works,and lineage in academic schools of traditional Chinese medicine,three main academic schools of traditional Chinese medicine in Singapore were identified:the "RUIFU School" represented by Wu Ruifu,the "SHICHENG Acupuncture School" represented by Xiao Jingwo,and the "Zhong Zhong Can Xi School"represented by Li Bogai.The article also summarizes the inheritance diagrams of these three main schools.Part two of this article discusses the background behind the emergence of academic schools of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)in Singapore.The development of TCM schools in Singapore is closely related to historical,regional,and developmental factors of TCM.Changes in political,economic,and cultural factors during different periods of history can influence the evolution of TCM theory and the formation of TCM schools.The emergence of local TCM schools in Singapore can be traced back to the early 20th century,when factors such as the presence of Chinese immigrants and businessmen,as well as the migration of TCM practitioners from Fujian and Guangdong provinces,contributed to the formation of these schools.Different regions and geographical environments may also lead to varying approaches to treating illnesses,resulting in the development of unique TCM schools in different regions.For example,in Singapore,there is a high prevalence of "hot"and "damp" diseases,which contributed to the development of the RUIFU school of TCM,known for its expertise in treating warm diseases.The SHICHENG Acupuncture school also takes into consideration the prevalence of such conditions in Singapore,and focuses on acupuncture rather than moxibustion.The Zhong Zhong Can Xi school emphasizes the integration of Western medicine and TCM,taking into consideration the disease and its symptoms.The third part explores the inheritance of the three major Chinese medicine academic schools in Singapore,as well as the life,works,academic thoughts,and clinical experience of representative figures of each school.The first school is the RUIFU school,represented by Wu Ruifu who migrated to Singapore from southern China.Wu was born in Tong’an,Xiamen,Fujian,and gained early fame as a doctor practicing in southern China.In the 1930s,he came to Singapore to avoid the war and became famous there.He wrote extensively throughout his life,and his representative work in Singapore is "Theory of Seasonal Diseases".This school of thought,which emphasizes Wu’s influence on TCM in Singapore,is known as the "RUIFU school".Wu Ruifu had many disciples,including Chen Zhanwei,Zeng Zhiyuan,You Xingnan,and Xu Yunqiao.This study focuses on two of his more representative disciples:Chen Zhanwei,who wrote "Zhen Yu Man Cao" and "Treatment of Damp-Heat Diseases";and Zeng Zhiyuan,who wrote"New Interpretation of Typhoid Fever" and "Theory of Seasonal Diseases" After Wu Ruifu migrated to Singapore,his academic ideas were most prominent in three aspects:firstly,he emphasized the classics;secondly,he paid equal attention to cold and warmth;and thirdly,he combined Chinese and Western medicine.His disciples inherited and developed these academic viewpoints.For example,Chen Zhanwei combined studying the classics with adapting treatments to local conditions.He made significant contributions in the treatment of damp-heat diseases,proposing "Five Musts and Four Prohibitions" for the treatment of such diseases,and emphasized post-illness recuperation and gastric protection.On the other hand,Zeng Zhiyuan expanded on Wu Ruifu’s ideas and became one of the first physicians in Singapore to annotate typhoid fever.He combined typhoid fever and warm diseases,categorized the six meridians in the diagnosis and treatment of seasonal diseases,and emphasized the importance of individualized treatment.Wu Ruifu’s academic ideas emphasized studying the classics,paying equal attention to cold and warmth,and combining Chinese and Western medicine.He was open-minded and adaptable,and precise in his treatment methods.His clinical experience was characterized by the use of gentle treatments that nourished fluids and protected the stomach,balancing the weight of damp-heat pathogenic factors,and adapting treatments to changing circumstances.Chen Zhanwei emphasized studying the classics and using clinical judgment as his guide.He tailored his treatment approach to individual patient needs,particularly in the treatment of damp-heat diseases.His clinical experience involved the balanced use of cold and warmth treatments,and emphasized the importance of post-illness recuperation and gastric protection.Zeng Zhiyuan emphasized the importance of diagnosing and treating illnesses through the use of classical texts,and was known for his independent and innovative ideas.He combined Chinese and Western medicine,and emphasized the importance of body temperature in his diagnoses.His clinical experience involved the use of individualized treatments that took into account the particularities of each case,the differential diagnosis and treatment of damp-heat pathogenic factors,and the categorization of seasonal diseases according to the six meridians.The second one is the SHICHENG Acupuncture School.The organized and systematic development of SHICHENG Acupuncture began in the 1930s.At the beginning of its development,it was greatly influenced by Mr.Cheng Dan-An.In the 1930s,Singapore opened three acupuncture colleges successively,namely the Yaohua Acupuncture Society,the Acupuncture Treatment Institute,and the Chinese Acupuncture Medical Institute.The heads of these three colleges had direct or indirect connections with Mr.Cheng Dan-An.In 1953,the Singapore Chinese Medicine School began teaching.According to the graduation publication at that time,the acupuncture lecture notes used were "Cheng Dan-An’s Essentials of Acupuncture".It can be said that Singapore’s acupuncture development began with the foundation of Mr.Cheng Dan-An.It has been confirmed that Fu Bohua was a direct disciple of Cheng Dan-An,and Xiao Jingwo was a disciple of Su Tianyou,Cheng Dan-An’s second disciple.Chen Bilian and Li Jinlong studied under Xiao Jingwo.After the 1970s,acupuncture in Singapore began to standardize and become more organized.Acupuncture development began to enter a new stage.In 1980,under the promotion of several doctors including Li Jinlong and Chen Bilian,the Singapore Chinese Acupuncture Research Institute was established,and its first president was Cheng Dan-An’s disciple Li Yongsheng.The exchange and learning of acupuncture among Singaporean physicians became closer,which resulted in the formation of the SHICHENG Acupuncture School,represented by Xiao Jingwo and Fu Bohua,and inherited and developed by Chen Bilian,Li Jinlong,and others.On the one hand,the SHICHENG Acupuncture School inherited the concept of "scientific acupuncture" and"acupuncture scientification" that the Chengjiang Acupuncture School always adhered to.On the basis of studying the classics,it uses both Chinese and Western medicine to explain the mechanism of acupuncture and the mechanism of acupuncture treatment of diseases.On the other hand,it has its own development.Representative figcures of the SHICHENG Acupuncture School,Xiao Jingwo and Fu Bohua,emphasize the mastery of acupuncture techniques,the intensity of acupuncture stimulation,and the use of more needles and fewer moxibustion during clinical treatment.This was well inherited by Chen Bilian and Li Jinlong,and Chen Bilian partially improved the theory on the basis of his predecessors,such as believing that the acupuncture point should be a "reverse cone" and not limited to a single point.In addition,Chen Bilian had many innovations in areas such as acupuncture along the meridians and specific acupoints.Li Jinlong,on the basis of his predecessors,emphasized the importance of flexible selection of acupuncture points,greatly expanding the scope of acupuncture treatment.Xiao Jingwo’s academic ideology is to integrate Chinese and Western medicine to explain the mechanism,emphasize basic skills to improve acupuncture instruments,and focus on the root cause of the disease and the patient.His clinical experience is to emphasize the importance of pre-operative disinfection for safety,improve acupuncture techniques for ease of mastery,and master the use of moxibustion for treating diseases.Fu Bohua’s academic ideology is to distinguish the syndrome and meridian to guide the selection of acupoints,emphasize the use of more needles and less moxibustion,and emphasize the importance of acupuncture techniques.His clinical experience is to carefully distinguish syndromes and use acupuncture and medicine together,combine Chinese and Western medicine,and use more needles and less moxibustion.Chen Bilian’s academic ideology is not limited to individual points,but rather focused on analyzing the whole region,emphasizing the Lung Meridian in the process of meridian circulation,selecting acupoints based on the meridian and considering both the primary and secondary aspects.His clinical experience is identifying the symptoms and applying appropriate stimulation,selecting acupoints according to the diagnosis and focusing on the key effects,one acupoint can treat multiple conditions though the convergence of the eight meridians.Li Jinlong’s academic ideology is basing on classical texts,interpreting acupuncture and moxibustion,integrating Eastern and Western medicine,explaining the mechanism of acupuncture,rigorous study and learning from various sources.His clinical experience is focusing on the basics of acupuncture,ensuring accuracy and precision;not being confined to ancient practices,selecting acupoints flexibly;utilizing acupuncture prescriptions to treat multiple diseases.The third is the "Zhong Zhong Can Xi" school that integrates Chinese and Western medicine.The biggest characteristic of this school is "integrating Chinese and Western medicine,and using Western medicine in Chinese medicine".Western medicine has been the mainstream medicine in Singapore for a long time,and Chinese medicine has not received government recognition and support for a long time,which has led to local medical practitioners starting to understand and study Western medicine more and trying to apply Western medical knowledge and techniques to the differential diagnosis and treatment of Chinese medicine.Representatives of this movement include Li Bogai,Xie Zhaisun,and Yang Songnian.The "Zhong xi Yi hui tong School" originated from mainland China,where the integration of Chinese and Western medicine was advocated.Representatives of this school include Tang Rongchuan,Zhang Xichun,Yun Tieqiao,and Zhu Peiwen,who believe that Chinese and Western medicine have their own strengths and should be used together for disease treatment.Li Bogai was a very representative figure in the early development of Chinese medicine in Singapore.He had academic exchanges with Zhang Xichun,while Xie Zhaisun and Yang Songnian were greatly influenced by Yun Tieqiao.At that time,due to the medical environment and related regulations in Singapore,it was not possible to combine Chinese and Western medicine as fully as in mainland China.The focus was mainly on gaining a deeper understanding of Western medical knowledge and some examination methods,and applying them to the differential diagnosis and treatment of Chinese medicine.Western medicine was used in Chinese medicine when necessary,and patients were advised to go to Western hospitals for relevant examinations and treatment,but Western medical techniques could not yet be used in the treatment of outpatient diseases.Therefore,this was summarized as the "Zhong Zhong Can Xi" school.Li Bogai’s academic ideas are:Yin-Yang and Five Elements are applied to the symbolism and numerology,and numerology is integrated with the principles of both Chinese and Western medicine.Li also inherits the achievements of predecessors,expands and develops them,and combines the strengths of various schools of medicine.His clinical experience is based on a scientific understanding of Chinese medicine and pharmacology,and emphasizes the correct use of medicine.He also believes in tailoring treatment to the individual.adapting prescriptions to different conditions and adopting flexible approaches.Xie Zhaisun’s academic ideas are:understanding Shanghan Lun is the foundation of Chinese medicine,and explaining Shanghan Lun by the theory of three yin and three yang.He also follows the "Zhong Zhong Can Xi" approach.His clinical experience emphasizes treating internal and external factors for infectious diseases,selecting different prescriptions for different diseases,and integrating treatment with recuperation.Yang Songnian’s academic ideas are:delving into the classics,seeking the origin and source,and combining the strengths of Chinese and Western medicine to complement each other.His clinical experience emphasizes treating different conditions with tailored treatments,and regulating the body’s vital energy as a fundamental approach to treating diseases.Part Four is about the challenges and prospects faced by the development of traditional Chinese medicine academic schools in Singapore.There are four main challenges:1)insufficient attention paid to the inheritance of academic schools;2)lack of communication and cooperation among different schools of traditional Chinese medicine;3)nonstandardized research methods;and 4)lack of interdisciplinary cooperation.In response to these challenges,this article proposes corresponding strategies to focus on the inheritance of academic schools,strengthen communication and collaboration among different academic schools,establish clinical data platforms,and pay attention to interdisciplinary integration.