HISTORY 70F Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Mao Zedong, Invented Tradition, Barefoot Doctor
Document Summary
Last two weeks = divergence between chinese and western medicine. Following opium wars, chinese government adopts attitude that if they want to become a strong modern nation, they need to get rid of traditional chinese medicine: backward, superstitious, negative response from public and practitioners of chinese medicine. Realized that if they want to preserve it, they should make it more scientific. By turn of 20th century, only unpracticed healers, artisan healers, nomadic healers practice it. Gave herbal prescriptions, didn"t incorporate acupuncture in their regimen (considered it lower class) Due to debate between what is scientific and what is unscientific. After a year of studying, concludes it"s possible to map meridians/acupoints onto western anatomy/physiology. Argues that if we want to salvage acupuncture for future generations, we have to precisely locate and systematize acupoints. Make it empirical, a universal practice (doesn"t vary by practitioner)
