The Legend of Hua Tuo
China's First Surgeon

Hua Tuo, the famous doctor of the Han Dynasty is said to have dedicated his life to the study of medicine after witnessing much suffering and death from epidemic disease, famine and war. Hua Tuo lived in good health for 97 years, and was therefore regarded as a divine physician throughout history. He studied medicine, astronomy, geography, literature, history, and agriculture in his youth. He became an expert in acupuncture, herbology, gynecology, pediatrics, and is considered the first surgeon in China. He developed such advances in science such as abdominal surgery, acupuncture anesthesia, and discovered new acupuncture points. He also created Qi Gong exercises to improve health, known as Daoyin. They were based on five animals: deer, bear, tiger, ape, and crane.

There are many stories associated with Hua Tuo, but perhaps the two most famous include the heroic general Guan Yu, and Emperor Cao Cao (pronounced "tsao tsao").

The first legend describes General Guan Yu pierced with a poisoned arrow during battle. Hua Tuo was summoned to remove the barbed arrowhead. Hua Tuo administered herbal anesthesia and surgically removed the arrow, nearly cutting to the bone. During the procedure, General Guan Yu was playing a game of chess. This story is the subject of many artworks.

The second story involves Cao Cao, the Emperor of Wei, who commanded Hua Tuo to serve as his personal physician. Huo Tuo either showed hesitation to provide treatments, or suggested brain surgery for Cao Cao's severe headaches. Either way, the emperor became enraged and ordered the great physician put to death in 207 CE. At age 97, while imprisoned, Hua Tuo handed over his collected works called "Qing Nang Shu" to the warden and implored him to use it to help save lives and relieve suffering. The warden was fearful of deadly repercussions and refused. Sadly, many of his ancient prescriptions were lost.

The Development of Modern Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was standardized during the great changes in China during the 20th century under the changing government leadership beginning with the last remnants of the Qing Dynasty, Sun Yatsen, Chiang Kaishek, and Mao Zedong. In 1911 the Qing dynasty, the last Chinese dynasty, collapsed under the revolution of the Kuomingdang, National People's Party, lead by Sun Yatsen.

At the turn of the 19th century in China, there were major imperialist influences by foreign powers such as the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Japan, and the United States. Missionaries had been established and protected by their home countries and spread the use of Westernized medicine. During the early part of the 20th century, China endured widespread epidemics of disease, poverty, and famine. This was a period where China underwent an identity crisis with multiple internal and foreign struggles for power and control of the country. Some Chinese pursued the study of Western medicine and spoke out their beliefs that China needed to modernize and do away with the old traditions, including medicine. Strong opponents to traditional medicine included Yu Ai, and Wang Qizang, wrote a written proclamation to abolish all old medicine... in 1929. Their influence caused the Central Ministry of Health to pass a law prohibiting the establishment of Chinese medicine schools. Even Mao Zedong paralleled the nationalist party's view on Chinese medicine in 1942.

Though Yu Ai and Wang Qizang’s opinions had strong influence in the newly formed Kuomingdang government, there was a widespread outcry amongst the Chinese medical communities and in the populous. They responded with heavy protests in Shanghai, March 1929, and the National Union of Associations for Chinese Medicine was formed. They declared March 17th as National TCM celebration day.

Chinese Medicine was widely used throughout China, even with the government's actions. There movement was formed to integrate Chinese Medicine with Western medicine. Leaders in this movement were Tang Zhonghai and Zhang Binglin.

In 1949, Mao Zedong gained control of China and Chiang Kaishek fled to Taiwan with the remaining Kuomingdang. In 1942 he had banished all "shamanistic and superstitious beliefs" from China, including Chinese Medicine. Mao reversed his stance in 1953-59, to use TCM as a source of Chinese patriotism and pride, and declared it a national treasure. This was also a way to take TCM out of the hands of time-honored lineage holders and put medicine within the authority of the centralized communist government. Mao's politics were focused on Chinese self-reliance, national pride, and patriotism. Although dependant on Russia for Western pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, he saw TCM as something that was purely Chinese and therefore another avenue toward China's self-reliance. The Department of Chinese Medicine was established under the Ministry of Public Health. In 1958 Mao wanted to promote the fusion of Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine as part of the Great Leap Forward, establishing a movement to integrate the two under the auspices of TCM. Throughout the great changes during the 20th century, China developed a history of applying modern research methods to Traditional Chinese Medicine and Herbal Medicine.

TCM took another blow, as did all educational institutions during The Cultural Revolution. It was a time where old traditions were demolished. The reform movement shut down all schools; and persecuted, imprisoned, and killed many doctors, professors, academics, artists and thinkers. Many oral and literary traditions were lost through the purge. Yet, in the post-Mao, new millennium there continues to be active discourse between the practice and study of Eastern and Western Medicine in China. Many TCM institutions were reconstituted. Technological advances are currently utilized for safety and sanitation, proper identification of herbs, and good research practices. There are many hospitals that include both Eastern and Western Medical wings, where patients are treated with both modalities seamlessly. No where in the world is Eastern and Western medicine so well integrated and available to the mass populous, as in China.

The term Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) is a term the profession uses to include the collection of information developed over thousands of years before TCM was standardized in the 20th century.

The 12 animals of Chinese astrological system are cyclical patterns of Qi as it undulates through time. These patterns have been recorded for thousands of years and collated into a framework that humans have developed into a course of study.

Of the 12 animals, the tiger is one living at the top of the food chain. (Although they are now in need of protection since humans have systematically reduced their population in recent centuries). The energy of the tiger is observant, unpredictable, strategic, powerful, intuitive, physical, impulsive, explosive. Tigers spend all day tracking it's prey while crouched in the grass. When the timing is perfect, it explodes into the hunt and kill. After gorging itself silly, it drags it's distended belly into a cave and sleeps the feast off for a few days. Tiger energy is extreme and highly contrasted. This kitty purrs and cuddles with family, then takes down an antelope at dusk.

The metal element has characteristics of precision and refinement, like a finely crafted sword. Judgement, ethics, clarity are metal attributes. Metal's keen focus combined with the tiger's powerful energy can be used well this year only if wisdom is cultivated. Otherwise, big energy without correct aim is disasterous on a massive scale. Big energy with thoughtful patience and compassion, could reap huge benefit. Aimed toward one's own path of enlightenment --revelatory. The qi of this metal tiger year can be used to ruthlessly slice through illusions, destroy fatastical notions to reveal what is truly valuble at one's spiritual core. It's not so useful to attempt to tame tigers, but learning to ride it's unpredictable nature with calm agility --now that's a skill no one outside of you can even touch.

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