This attractive scroll begins with three large figures of the human body — front, rear, and side views — with locations of acupuncture points (red dots) and moxibustion locations (black dots). Each of the acupuncture pressure points are labeled in manuscript with their names. The moxibustion points are also labelled but with notes giving their locations. The three images are delicately painted with flesh colors and black hair. The anterior view depicts the 21 bones of the spine. Many of these are numbered with references to specific organs. Again, pressure points are displayed.

These illustrations are derived from the Ling-shu [the “Vital Axis”], a rare collection of dissertations on moxibustion and acupuncture, written in about the second century BCE, which “formed [along with the Su Wen] the theoretical basis of classical Chinese medicine…the Ling-shu…discusses mainly therapy — mostly centered on medicinal prescriptions, but also including physical therapies such as bonesetting and breathing exercises, and stimulation treatments such as acupuncture, moxibustion and massage.”–Sugimoto & Swain, Science & Culture in Traditional Japan, p. 85. More

Vol. I with a number of small text illus. & Vol. II with 18 full-page drawings (several using blue, brown, & red ink as well as black) & one diagram. 48; 19 folding leaves. Written throughout in one fine & legible hand. Two vols. 8vo (255 x 182 mm.), orig. wrappers (Vol. I in blue wrappers; Vol. II in drab brown wrappers), new stitching. [Japan]: at end of the vols.: “copied in 1734 & 1735.”

A most unusual manuscript, on a topic we have not yet encountered: this is, amongst other subjects, very largely concerned with how to accurately draw meridians and acupuncture points and how to label them on acupuncture models... More

Ten full-page brush & ink illus., highlighted in red. 26 folding leaves. 8vo (258 x175 mm.), orig. wrappers, new stitching. [Japan]: dated on final leaf “April 1685.”

This early manuscript on the use of needles in acupuncture contains family secrets, passed from one generation to another. The information comes from many sources including manuscripts from the highly respected Sanmi hogen (or Sani hogan) family of doctors. On the final page of the manuscript, we learn that Tsushin Tadateru Mizuno gave the information described here to Kihei Hirano.

The text begins with a discussion of the relationship between doctor and patient: they must deal with... More

Five full-page woodcut illus. Eight folding leaves (several split at fore-edges). 8vo, orig. wrappers (quite rubbed & somewhat worn, some occasional soiling), early manuscript title label on upper cover “Tanza ryu ekigoku byoketsu,” new stitching. Edo: Ichirobee Shokai, mid-Spring 1656.

First edition of this extremely rare and early acupuncture book describing the Tanza School of acupuncture’s techniques; WorldCat lists only the Kyoto University copy, which lacks the final leaf. This is one of the earliest books to be published by Ichirobee Shokai, one of the first commercial book publishers of Edo (see Kornicki, The Book in Japan, p. 200); Shokai’s first book... More