Study On Tujia Traditional Medicine Culture Change

Medical activities are inherent need for human beings. Tujia( one of 55 Chinese ethnic minorities) traditional medicine is a set of experiences to prevent and cure disease which has been accumulated by Tujia ancestors in the long-term social practice, the development and utilization of nature and the fight against disease. After many years’ tests, generalizations and gradual improvements this kind of experience has become Tujia national traditional medicine with its own distinct, which is also a significant and indispensable cultural item in the history of Tujia ethnic minority.However, with the development of times, constant enhancement of people’s education and mass use of western medicine the development of Tujia traditional medicine has been greatly affected. Even it is labeled as “superstitions” and regarded as the “dross”due to the fact that some views about Tujia traditional medicine cannot be explained scientifically. Therefore, the soil for Tujia traditional medicine culture to apply is becoming less and less and it is inevitable for it to change in trends or conditions.Based on the investigation of Enshi Tuja traditional medicine the thesis will probe into the following issues from the perspective of medical anthropology: its origin, form and development, the inheritance, investigation of cases and people’s awareness. Besides, it will explore causes of the change and the direction of transformation from the perspective of medical culture change based on Theory of Culture Change. What’s more, it aims to absorb and inherit the essence of traditional culture of ethnic minorities, continue to serve for people’s health, protect the part that can not be explained scientifically as well as the diversity of culture.The thesis consists of six chapters and conclusion. The first chapter is a general introduction including the research background, significance, literature view both at home and abroad, research contents, research methods and related concepts. The second chapter describes the history of Tujia traditional medicine covering its origin,formation and development, and summarizes the basic characteristics of Tujia traditional medicine. The third chapter is about the present situation of Tujia traditional medicine. The fourth chapter uses the interviews and questionnaires toexplain people’s awareness about Tujia traditional medicine and does case study from medical anthropology. The fifth chapter analyzes the contemporary changes of Tujia traditional medicine covering changes of system and function, inheritance,medical techniques and medicinal herbs, holding that the change of Tujia traditional medicine is gradient and resulted from cultural exchange and communication, the change of medical model, the change of the external ecological environment, change of cultural field and population mobility.The sixth chapter puts forwards some suggestions for the development of Tujia traditional medicine and some solutions for practical application.