A Study On The History Of Shaolin Medicine

PurposeThere are few people to research Shaolin medicine so that people do not understand its development of history. So this paper is aimed at arranging and researching the history of Shaolin medicine mainly from books of Shaolin medicine and Shaolin monk medicine to start. We not only can explain the development of Shaolin medicine, but also can understand the characteristics of Shaolin medicine so that it can provide important reference for the further development of traditional Chinese medicine.MethodsAccording to prosperity and decline of Shaolin Temple and the development of Shaolin traumatology, we can take the history of Shaolin medicine into four stages by using methods of historiography. They are the stages of advent of Shaolin medicine before the Song Dynasty, development of Shaolin medicine in Song, Jin, and Yuan Dynasty, maturity stage of Ming, Qing Dynasty and decline and recovery of Shaolin medicine after the Republic of China. Then we begin to study the characteristics of shaolin medicine of every stage in detail. It includes books of Shaolin medicine, Shaolin monk medicine, Shaolin Qi-Gong, Shaolin regimen, Shaolin Medicine Bureau etc.ResultsBefore the Song Dynasty Shaolin medicine just goes the stage of advent. In that period, Shaolin medicine was growing from nothing. Because of Buddhism was shocked, it developed slowly. The books of Shaolin medicine and the famous monk medicine are few. But it was so pity that a lot of contents had lost. Shaolin Qi-Gong and Shaolin regimen as the characteristic of Shaolin medicine account for a large part of the phylogeny of Shaolin medicine. Shaolin Qi-Gong is one of the earliest schools of Qi-Gong and traditional health preservation. Practicing Qi-Gong can use the basic theories of medicine which is the main and collateral channels, QI-blood, yin and yang etc. Its function not only can protect body, but also can cure disease. It is called dirigation. Shaolin regimen is produced by meditation and life experience of the monks. For example, meditation of the monks can affect the function of the main and collateral channels and QI-blood so that they may get diseases. So they begin to sense the important of regimen. Shaolin regimen begins to develop.In Song, Jin, and Yuan Dynasty Shaolin medicine goes the stage of development. In order to develop Shaolin medicine, Shaolin Medicine Bureau was built by the abbot of Shaolin Temple named Donglin Zhilong in the Jin, Yuan Dynasty. The establishment of Shaolin Medicine Bureau has an important historical significance for the development of Shaolin medicine. Fuyu advocated guideline which is monk medicine should take traumatology seriously and enhance the ability of internal medicine, pediatrics. All diseases can be cured. That is delivering all living creatures from torment. So Shaolin medicine and the skill of monk medicine developed so fast. Shaolin medicine gets a huge progress, but it also has few relevant Shaolin medicine’s books and Shaolin monk medicine.In Ming, Qing Dynasty Shaolin medicine goes a maturity stage. Medical theory and therapeutic techniques have matured. It has more Shaolin medicine’s books and Shaolin monk medicine. About ten books are briefly arranged and made a study of academic characteristics. The advent of the school of Shaolin traumatology pushes Shaolin medicine to the summit. Yiyuan Zhenren is the representative of the school of Shaolin traumatology which takes the main and collateral channels, QI-blood seriously. More importantly, the school cures diseases by attacking a vital point. A book called "Die Sun Miao Fang" involves a theory of " the source of blood walks acupoint",diagnosing wound by seeing eyes and so on. It fills a vacancy about traumatic injury of Shaolin traumatology. After that period, many people continue to research it. The value of research has an advantage for the further development of department of Chinese traditional traumatology. Treating diseases by attacking a vital point which is one of the characteristic of Shaolin medicine comes from this book. According to the theory of "treatment of deficiency-syndrome by reinforcement, treatment of excess-syndrome by purgation, treatment of cold-syndrome with hot-natured drugs, treatment of heat-syndrome with cold-natured drugs", it has four methods which are touching(a way of reinforcement), stunning(a way of dot), kneading(a way of warm), rowing(a way of cold).After the Republic of China, Shaolin medicine goes the stage of decline and recovery. In 1928, the elite (including ancient books of Shaolin medicine) which was hidden by Shaolin Temple was almost ruined in the tangled warfare among warloads. From then on, it fell into a black depression. Until now, Shaolin Temple begins to arrange ancient surviving books. At the same time, Shaolin Temple published some secret prescriptions in order to promote the development of traditional Chinese medicine. In April 2000, "The Esoterica of Shaolin Wu-Gong Yi-Zong" was published finally. It is absolutely illustrate that Shaolin medicine want to develop and let people benefit from it.ConclusionsThe development of Shaolin medicine benefits from the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine. So Shaolin medicine is an important branch of traditional Chinese medicine. In all the history of Shaolin medicine, it combines traditional Chinese medicine with Buddhist medicine. At last, it becomes a characteristic Shaolin medicine. Many books and famous monk medicine have contributed to the development of Shaolin medicine. Based on this, it is indispensible for us to figure out its phylogeny, research its special theory of medicine and enrich the culture of traditional Chinese Medicine.