The Great Intent

Acupuncture Odes, Songs and Rhymes

Richard Bertschinger

Songs and rhymes have been used by physicians for centuries in China as a means of memorising and passing on methods of practice and behaviour, moral attitudes, effective points, diagnostic tips and rules of thumb. These newly translated poems offer a rich insight into the life and thought of these skilled doctors, as well as practical indications for treatment. Contemporary acupuncturists can see from these poems the depths of the tradition, better understand a breadth of diagnostic skills and treatment planning, and as a result greatly improve their appreciation of intent within their own practice. The poems also serve as a gentle introduction to the philosophy behind acupuncture practice.
 
This is the first translation of these acupuncture odes, songs and rhymes from the Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion compiled by the Chinese physician Yang Jizhou during late Ming China. The book includes a comprehensive introduction that places the work in historical, cultural, and medical context, a symptom index, a point index glossary and a list of helpful points for common signs and symptoms encountered in acupuncture and physiotherapy clinics.

Contents

Preface. Original Introduction to The Golden Needle. Introducing The Great Intent. The Odes, Songs and Rhymes. Ode to the Whole Body's Points and Channels. Ode to the One Hundred Symptoms. A Song on the Rule of the Hundred Points. A Song on how the Six Qi Create Disease. The Song 'Four All-encompassing Points'. The Song 'Nine Needles which Revive the Yang'. Ode to the Streamer out of the Dark. Ode to the Magnanimity of the Mat. Ode to the Golden Needle. A Song on how the Cycling Five of Heaven Control Disease. A Rhyming Guide to Essential Indications when Needling. Ode to the Jade Dragon. Old Teacher Mulberry's Rhyme 'Secrets of the Stars'. Ma Danyang's Song on the Twelve Points. Shining Bright as the Starry Sky and Able to Heal all the Many Diseases. Ode to the Importance of Penetrating the Dark Mystery. Ode to the Magic Brightness. Ode to Holding Back the River. Ode to Intricacies in the Circulating Flow. The Song 'Tricks to Keep up Your Sleeve'. The Secret Rhyme on Needling 'Barriers Within'. Tonifying and Reduction Swept Clear as Snow. The Song 'General Pointers When Needling'. The Song 'Opening the Door to Needling Law'. Symptom Index. Point Index.Glossary. Bibliography. English/Chinese Point Name Index. Index to Chinese Point Names. Brief Dynastic History. General Index to the Odes.

Reviews

'It is a difficult job to read traditional Chinese medical canons in the classical style - even for the young Chinese - but an exceptional translation into English can miraculously benefit scholars worldwide who wish to study the real ancient meaning of Chinese medicine. Richard Bertschinger's The Great Intent is such a book.'

- Professor Dr Bo-Ying Ma, MD, MA, PhD, FRSM, Chairman of the Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, UK

'If you love Chinese medicine, read this book. You will actually feel that you are part of a centuries-old tradition. In a way, it's a bit like having the handouts from a Ming dynasty college. But it's more. Richard, in a labour of love, conveys across centuries some of that ineffable “stuff” called wisdom.'

- John Hicks, joint principal and co-founder of the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine

'The Great Intent by Richard Bertschinger truly demonstrates that the Chinese acupuncturists were much more adept at using language to aid learning when compared to the simple mnemonics and acronyms used in Western medicine. This unique book would be of great interest to experienced acupuncturists wishing to understand more about the complexities of traditional assessment, diagnosis and treatment.'

- Helen Oakes, Clinical Editor of the Journal of the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists

'The heritage of the ancient Chinese masters has made its way down to us via the written and the oral traditions, the latter partly in the form of songs and odes. Richard Bertschinger had the inspiration of translating for the Western world Yang Jizhou's written collection of these odes. The Great Intent is an absolute must for any practitioner of Classical Acupuncture.'

- Dr Hamid Montakab, author of Acupuncture for Insomnia and founder of the Academy of Chinese Healing Arts, Switzerland

Author information

Richard Bertschinger studied for ten years with the Taoist sage and Master, Gia-fu Feng. A practising acupuncturist, teacher of the healing arts, and translator of ancient Chinese texts, he works and practises in Somerset, England.